pump for my 500 gallon (96 x 40 x 30) aquarium sump

[Denzx12]

Should be good with 5-7 times/hr is probably fine for those fish

so should I leave the size of the returns as (2) 3/4" and the drains as total (4) 1" ((2) 1" drain per overflow)? and if I'm using 2 pumps and I wanted a 5x gph would (2) 1.5k gph pump do the job?

 

[puffers4puffers]

so should I leave the size of the returns as (2) 3/4" and the drains as total (4) 1" ((2) 1" drain per overflow)? and if I'm using 2 pumps and I wanted a 5x gph would (2) 1.5k gph pump do the job?

3/4“ returns are good
but change 1” drains to 1.5”
1500gph per pump is good

 

[Backfromthedead]

so should I leave the size of the returns as (2) 3/4" and the drains as total (4) 1" ((2) 1" drain per overflow)? and if I'm using 2 pumps and I wanted a 5x gph would (2) 1.5k gph pump do the job?

I would go with bigger everything. 3/4" plumbing has no place on a 500g tank. Definitely want 1.5" or even 2" drains. A pump rated for 1500gph at 0' head won't push anything close to that at 5-6' head height. I think even 2 of them would produce at best a very lethargic current in a tank that size, nothing close to the 2500-3000gph, 5x turnover youre describing, but it still may be enough for the purposes of your tank.

 

[puffers4puffers]

I would go with bigger everything. 3/4" plumbing has no place on a 500g tank. Definitely want 1.5" or even 2" drains. A pump rated for 1500gph at 0' head won't push anything close to that at 5-6' head height. I think even 2 of them would produce at best a very lethargic current in a tank that size, nothing close to the 2500-3000gph, 5x turnover youre describing, but it still may be enough for the purposes of your tank.

I won’t disagree on any of any of the above

I run a single red dragon pump at 60 watts and an mp40 on my 84”-42”-30”h
There are 4: 1.5” drains and 2: 3/4” returns
Large mbu pufferfish
4 panda uaru
5 geo winemiller
5” giraffe cat
15-20 Congo tetras