Canister filtering a sump
- Thread starter Bassinkorea
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I don't understand why 1" wouldn't be enough for his size of tank. How big is your return pump Bass?
tthanatoss;3390640; said:
I don't have one yet, that will be one my next questions
I'm still only planning the sump design right now.I will need to calculate what size pump I will need to return through my 1" return bulkhead. Any ideas anyone??
My tank is around 280gal (not sure exactly) and I have 2 x 1" bulkheads in the back, and the sump will be 140gal.
Well from the little I know about pumps anything that has a 1" line is going to be a pretty big pump. Most of what I've looked at here can push out 1000g plus an hour through a garden hose. But I'm curious to see where your thread is going because I'm coming up on the same decisions with my own build and I have about as much experience with this as you do.
dident realise you had 2 already.
but i have 3 as my sump return and they just keep up nice with a 3000 lph pump.
i ran 2 and it was a real pain because they did not keep up untill they started a syphon then they drained the sump quickly, then stopped. then the sump filled again till the syphon started then it drained again. a real pain when its sat in the livingroom next to you.
your overflow pipes need to keep up without becoming a syhon, or it will fill up then drain, fill up then drain and so on.
by syhon i mean when the pressure is enough to clear all the air from the pipe and drain. untill all the air clears from the pipe no over flow will flow at the rate you can FORCE water threw it with a pump.
but i have 3 as my sump return and they just keep up nice with a 3000 lph pump.
i ran 2 and it was a real pain because they did not keep up untill they started a syphon then they drained the sump quickly, then stopped. then the sump filled again till the syphon started then it drained again. a real pain when its sat in the livingroom next to you.
your overflow pipes need to keep up without becoming a syhon, or it will fill up then drain, fill up then drain and so on.
by syhon i mean when the pressure is enough to clear all the air from the pipe and drain. untill all the air clears from the pipe no over flow will flow at the rate you can FORCE water threw it with a pump.
sharp tooth;3390664; said:
Yes, I have 2. One is the outlet to the filter and the other is the return with a spray bar fitted. I was hoping to be able to use these 2 bulkhead for my sump without the need for an overflow. I don't really want a PVC overflow in my tank, but that would be an option.
As I will only have one fish living in this tank, I may just go back to my original plan of using a single canister filter and doing extra water changes.
Man this filter stuff is confusing
why carnt you add an extra overflow or drill for a bigger one? we have larger overflows in the uk, why carnt you use one of those instead of the 1"? just drill the hole bigger. its a plywood tank yer, carnt think of anything easyer to drill.
at the very least you could use both 1" bulkheads as overflows and have the return pipe coming over the back edge of the tank.
having a small ish pump as a return will be alot better then one canister filter.
at the very least you could use both 1" bulkheads as overflows and have the return pipe coming over the back edge of the tank.
having a small ish pump as a return will be alot better then one canister filter.
Good questions and info sharp tooth.
Out of my tank build, the filtering system is my weak point and I obviously didn't plan correctly for it. I could add an overflow, but I just didn't want to have PVC pipes visible inside the tank.
Out of my tank build, the filtering system is my weak point and I obviously didn't plan correctly for it. I could add an overflow, but I just didn't want to have PVC pipes visible inside the tank.
I've been trying to do some research on flow rates vs pipe size and the math is beyond me but from what I've learned so far I think the guys are right and you are going to need a bigger overflow or a second one. Your tank is 280g, right? and the turnover should be a least 3 times per hour, more is better. That's alot of water. I think you should be looking a drilling another hole and adding a third bulkhead.
Thanks for the info tthanatoss 
Luckily when I ordered my plumbing stuff from the States I ordered a spare 1" bulkhead, so guess I could drill another hole, seal the hole and fit a second outlet bulkhead.
Would you think a single 1" return bulkhead be big enough??
Luckily when I ordered my plumbing stuff from the States I ordered a spare 1" bulkhead, so guess I could drill another hole, seal the hole and fit a second outlet bulkhead.
Would you think a single 1" return bulkhead be big enough??
