are built in overflows worth it?

[zennzzo]

3000 gph is plenty I would think, but maybe the 1 1/2" returns arent allowing enough pressure to flush the crap up? possibly step down the return to 3/4"? and the monster return pump is at full current? its not throttled down at all?

Yeah been there done that too...
When I said "every conceivable angle"
I should have added, and every available size,
that PVC fittings reduce down to.
At the bulkhead, and at the nozzle end...

Yup Full wide open on the Reeflo DART, Plumbed with 1.5" PVC split with a "T" and soft couplings.
It has 2 actual feet of head, and calculating friction loss on the 90's and the "T", to twice the head pressure to 4'.
That still nets 3,000 GPH and that's what is split to 1500gph, and each outlet aimed everywhere in the tank at the bottom...

The only layout I didn't try, was a single outlet reduced down, but my better judgment tells me the corners would be too far away, for acceptable current flow in the tank...
in other words, I was stumped with the stock list I have, to run a clear looking Bare Bottom tank...

I am absolutly sure I have no dead areas in the tank with this setup.
Parameters have been exactly were I figured them to be with weekly W/C's.

I am leaning toward more wood and plants, so I'll be able to utilize the Koralia PH's I have, and still have them hidden...

 

[badreverend]

It does sound like youve been pretty thorough, an off the wall thought I did have about your tank was to add 1/2" "satellite" returns- so before the 1 1/2" returns into the tank, have it T on each return and plumb those runners over to the rear corners of the tank and then straight down into those corners, your pump is strong enough to handle it, and youd be stepping it down to 1/2" for the increased pressure- if more pressure is needed at the actual exit, possibly pinch the PVC as a further restriction, so your pressure would build up even more in the corners- unless the 1 1/2" returns in the middle prevented that- in which case you step them down too- it cant lose! haha in theory anyway

 

[zennzzo]

Ahhhh yes...the old thumb on the hose theory...

Yeah I think with the footprint on the tank being 30'' x 72'', there isn't going to be a bare bottom totally clean without having water pressure off the chain...

W/C and vac the bottom...hard to beat really...

 

[badreverend]

...4 thumbs on 4 hoses