Filtration/Sump Design Question for 180-220G

[kevin007]

Would a single 55G sump be enough for a 220G (72x24x30)?

What if i want to add a fx5 too? Is that overkill?

I also have a left over 2217....again, overkill?

I want the sump to be mainly used for Bio filtration and the FX5 to be used for Mechanical. Any problems with this idea?

Also, i've been looking at the sump designs, some of them have been proven to work and I've taken notes. What if I want to add a refuge? Like saltwater tanks, except its for a African Cichlid tank.

I want to keep some hardy plants there to help with the nitrates as well as raising some fry. Any pictures out there? Does anyone have a sump similar to this?

How will the water circulation be? How many GPH should the pump be for the sump?

In addition, I plan to run about 4 Koralias/powerheads int he rockwork so all debris will be blown to the front

The tank will be heavily overstocked with mbunas, juvies to adults.

 

[BadOleRoss]

Here is a picture of a sump I had on a 220G SW tank that had a refugium in it. If memory serves, the sump was about 48" long, 16" wide and 16" deep.

 

[BadOleRoss]

The water entered on the left, over-flowed into the refugium, passed through a chamber that contained 3/300W heater, then onto a protein skimmer, through another chamber that elimitated bubbles and then to the return pump.