Mag 7 or 9.5 - Don't know which one to use

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[I just got done finishing my 55 gal sump/refugium and slowly finishing my new stand. I traded an eel for an overflow box at fish gallery and was wondering which pump i should use. Mag 7 or Mag 9.5??? The overflow box was rated for a 60-100 gallon tank. My display tank is a 55 gallon with a 55 gallon sump/refugium. With the new stand, the top of the tank is going to be exactly 5 foot high. The drain pipe on the overflow box is 1in pvc. I was planning to go with mag, but if there is a better pump for my application please let me know.]
 
[Hello,
My situation was about the same as yours.Except I was attaching a SCWD wavemaker to mine aft of the pump and my sump is only 17 gals. With my head pressure at 4' as well I chose the mag 7 .With 4 each 90 degrees angles and allowing for the 20% flow reduction of the SCWD it gave me 448 gph.With your additional foot of head pressure a Mag9 would have given me 685 gph.With your overflow box and 1" plumbing it should about match whatever your draining out. I dont have any ball valves in mine.Also if you do choose to go w/ a mag7 let me know- I JUST bought mine a month ago and will be selling it as soon as I get my new 100 gal.Ill sell for like $45 ,I will be upgrading to the mag9. Let me know.Heres a head loss calculator for you:

http://reefcentral.com/calc/hlc2.php

Andy]



Edited By Maldivan on 1086536401
 
[My 55 is a very similar setup and I chose to go with a mag 7, and have always wished I had bought the 9. I do get good flow from the 7 but I think the overflow could handle a bit more, and you certainly dont want to have too little flow for your overflow or you risk getting a bubble in the U tube.
If the 9.5 turns out to be too much flow you can add a T to the return line just above the pump and divert some of the water back to the sump with a ball valve. Both of my tanks are plumbed this way just so I have more control. There is a picture of this plumbing diversion on melevsreef.com, and I will try to find it for you.]
 
[Hard to say, I used a Mag9 with a HOB americle overflow box with a 1" U Tube and a 1" bulkhead. The Mag9 had to be valved down to not overflow the tank. I belive the overflow was rated at 600gph. What is your overflow rated at? If you use a Mag9 be prepared to valve it down or feed something else with it etc as its probably a bit much for the overflow box.]
 
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55_newsump_r.jpg
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This is a pic of the diverted water line I was referring to and is the same as what Mwolek is talking about also. Hope this helps you visualize it a bit.]
 
[I have a Mag 9.5 on my 55g, and get a bunch of flow with 1" plumbing. Here's another picture with some descriptive comments:

return.jpg
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[Thats an even better setup because it doesn't put any backpressure on the pump, access water is just diverted back to the sump. I ran my Mag9 externally at half force with just a ball valve for 6 months no issues though.]
 
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