I'm building my first sump, after much reading and research I have completed my design and am looking for any critiques, ideas or to find out if this will even work. Its for my new 80g tank for a green terror, and a few giant danios as dither fish. The tank I am using for the sump is 20g, the glass that I will be using is 5 mm. I will be using 1" pvc pipe for my HOB overflow with a 1000gph pump (the top of the tank will be 48" from floor) with a ball valve on the return line to adjust flow. I appreciate your feedback thank you.
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I built a 55 gal sump for my 180 gallon turtle tank last year, and I can provide some food for thought. (Without seeming authoritative as DIY forums can sometimes be!)
Anyway,
1) I believe the return section should have more than 6 inches of water. First, a 1000gph pump will barely fit underwater (assuming it is a submersible type). Second, is that due to evaporation, you will find yourself adding water to this setup nearly every-other day. My 180 gallon loses about 7-10 gallons every week and my water level in the return section fluctuates about 8 inches during that time - with the lowest at about 5-6 inches; to ensure the pump stays fully submersed. If your pump doesn't stay fully submersed, you will end up burning up your pumps.
2) If you want 1000 gph, you may want to consider upgrading your PVC pipe from 1 inch to 1.25 or 1.5. I am not sure if 1 inch PVC can handle a flow of 1000 gph. (I don't know this for sure, I just remember reading something about it).
3) Also, if you want to result in 1000 gph, you will need a more powerful pump since the flow will greatly slow due to the 48 inches of height. I am sure there is a mathematical formula out there somewhere to help calculate this, but I am unaware of where it may be.
4) Final thought, if you do end up purchasing the 1000 gph pump you currently have in mind, you can disregard the ball valve to adjust flow, because, due to the height, you will not be adjusting the flow. Also, if your pump isn't variable, your pump will always pump at 1000 gph. The ball valve restricting flow might end up adding extra stress on your pump, causing it to fail sooner rather than later. Last year, I bought the Eheim Compact+ 5000 pump. It has variable speed and it is super quiet. I have had it running continually for over a year now with zero issues. I have two return lines, both with about 4 feet of height, both powered by this single pump. It is an awesome pump.
5) Second final thought, this concerns where your return lines are in the main tank. In case you aren't already, you should consider placing them just beneath the water level. If the power goes out, your return lines will begin to work backwards and siphon water from the main tank to the sump. If your return line's opening is deep in your tank, that siphon will continue until the water level is beneath the opening and your floor may be flooded by this point.
Once again, I don't mean to sound condescending or anything; this is just all information that I found super helpful when I set out to build mine.
