What Size Pump?

[kk4rosie]

I'm setting up a 180g. I have 4 holes in the bottom for a closed loop 1 drain and 3 returns. I currently have a iwaki wmd-40xltr. is this pump far undersized for this application or will it be alright. I have my 2 returns for my overflow/sump powered by a mag 24. I was looking at a few other threads and have a chance to get either a dolphin 4000 or a dolphin 4700 are these pumps too big for the closed loop?

 

[SteveDola]

I would think yes 1200 gph for a CL on a 180 is undersized but then again it depends what you are going to be keeping in your 180 to determine the pump you need.

 

[kk4rosie]

Right. For now till I can get my lighting situated it will be mostly soft and lsp eventually sps. I suppose I can get the larger pump then just throttle it back if I have to right?

 

[NateHanson]

yep, that sounds like a good strategy. I'd guess you'll probably want a few thousand gph of flow in an sps tank that size. The 4000gph pumps probably wouldn't be completely out of the ballpark, and you could throttle them back.