Hey KY_AquaFramer, You sure can...Badflash was talking about the ones he is using, read...'Badfashes Grrenhouse Build'...page 4 or 5
On pump sizes....3 things your looking for...Head, volume and the wattage.
You may already know this stuff...'just incase you don't'..
head-the height you'll be asking the pump to 'lift' the water
The higher the head(lift) the less flow
volume -(of fish tank) I've been told to move the water in/out the tank 1 to 2 times an hour. (Lots of variables on the amount)
Wattage- you 'may' pay more for a quality pump, up front. But you'll save alot of elect.
Example...If your tank is a 1000 gals and you have 5 feet of head....
you'll look at a 'performance cuve' chart for a pump. It'll show the differant flow rates per foot of head. Look to see how much it can pump at 5 feet, if it's at least a 1000 gals ,that pump may be one you want.
If your adding oxygen by using a venturi, air stones/air pump, spray bar(s), falling water, baki towers, ect. This would effect your decission some too, you may be able to use the lower end of the 'flow amount'
fyi: I have a 'file' some where, that shows a test, of differant ways to add oxygen....the venturi's added the most, using the least electric to do so. http://web.archive.org/web/200508280627 ... aerate.htm
Hope this helps...
"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same." - President Ronald Reagan
Flood and drain systems can get my on low flow pumps. My 80 watt intex pump is putting out 10 GPM for a 600 gallon pool. That is 1 GPM per barral with a cycle time of 20 minutes. So far so good.
A regular pool pump is big enough for about a 20,000 gallon system.