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Recently set up a new 100gal tank. 60x18x24. It is a drilled tank with a sump below. Sump is very large with approx 4 gallons of bio balls. When I got ready to turn it on the first time it turns out the large pump (1500gph) was toast and wouldn't start up. I had a much smaller pump that I use for a small tank (approx 400gph) that I hooked up just to check and make sure all plumbing was working properly with no leaks. On my trip to the LFS the dealer suggested that since I had an ok flow through the sump I didn't need to purchase a larger pump. She suggested I buy a circulation pump to place in the tank for water movement. Her theory was as long as water was flowing through the sump it was working ok. With the addition of the circulation pump for water movement I would have enough flow for the tank. Parts of this theory sounds pretty good, but it was something I have never heard before. If water is flowing over the bio balls, does it really matter at how much speed or volume the flow is as long as there is constant movement? Also don't really understand what you gain by the circulation pump in the tank other than movement of water in the dead spaces of the tank.
Any thoughts on this would be appreciated, thanks.
Any thoughts on this would be appreciated, thanks.