Question on Power heads

E

elinder

I'm trying to decide if I should buy power heads or 1 pump for a closed loop. Any sugestion on size external pump for a 180 gal. I would have about 4ft of head.

Would it be cheaper just to buy maxi jet power heads? If so how many and what size should I get for a 180 gal? I'm fixing this tank up so I will be able to keep sps corals in about 4 months.
 
Personally, I wish I would have setup a closed loop on my 150. Instead I have 4 powerheads (Maxi 1200 and Penguin 550). It is cheaper to buy a MAG7 or 9 than 4 powerheads. You will get more flow and your water temp will stay a little cooler.
I think a closed loop is the way to go. If you have 2 returns a MAG9 should work, maybe a MAG12 if you go with 4 returns. That should be enough flow, I don't think you would want to go with anything bigger than a MAG12. Just my opinion. I am using a MAG12 for my sump return (t'd to 2 returns about 4 or 5 feet up and 2 to 3 feet left/right as well) and I get plenty of flow, plus the 4 power heads...
Good luck.
 
I don't have holes drilled for the closed loop. I was going to go with the design like Marc used on his tank. So for a 180 could I buy a mag 12 or higher and plumb it all together. Also can you run a Mag external?
 
You can run them externally without any problem. I'm using a Mag 9.5 externally on a closed loop on my 90 gallon.

If you're looking at a Mag 12 or higher, you might want to consider looking at different brands. At higher output, a mag might not be the best to use with a closed loop.
 
The Mag 12 would be nice, but any pump moving more than 1000gph would be ideal. Head pressure is negligent in a closed loop. You lose flow due to friction within the pipes and at every elbow you install. A pressure rated pump might help maintain best flow, but that is a WAG on my part. I like Mag pumps, but Sequence is releasing the new "UNO" pump next week I heard, and it might be the perfect one for your needs.

Pricewise, the closed loop will cost you a bit more to set up, because you'll have the pump plus $30 in plumbing connections. The Maxijets will be eyesores over time, and four things that need cleaning. If you decide to buy a wavemaker to plug the maxijets into, you have another $60 or more tied up in that system.
 
Unless you want to use monster plumbing of 1.5" I would forgo the Mag and shell out the extra cash for a pressure rate pump. Believe me you won't regret it. I use Iwaki's but several other brands work well.

If you use a Mag 12 and 1" piping you will get like 6-800GPH probably split at least 2 ways you will not be satisfied with the flow belive me.

An Iwaki 55 will get you roughly 1200 GPH with 3/4" plumbing.
 
Should work fine for you. I don't know about the reliability of them but the pressure curves are very simular to the IWAKI.
 
I'm going to order this and use it for awhile and when my money starts to build up again I'll switch to a better brand and use this for a back up.
 
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