Got my 320 gallon today, powerhead/sump Qs

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easydoesit

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Mar 30, 2008
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New England
I got my 320 today, here's the link to my thread on AC about it with pics:
http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=155890

It has corner overflows on the 2 back corners with some drilled returns(i assume) on the back of the tank.
It came with a custom sump, but I think it was supposed to come with 2, 1 for each corner. I will be using my 20tall as the other sump for the other corner I think. I might actually just use the 55 for the other sump.. I really don't know yet. Should I combine the overflows and just use the 55 for the sump? Or do you think the custom sump that came with the tank will be enough? It looks to hold about 40 gallons, maybe 35.

So.. what powerheads do you guys use? Gallonage ratings? I have never seen a powerful enough powerhead at a LFS for this project.
 
Need to be a member to view pics. Mind uploading them?
 
yeah its a 320. without the hood its 32" tall, 8' long, 24" wide.
maybe its the angle or something i took the pics with? idk, i took it with a camera phone. i guess ill get pics with someone sitting in front of it or something later. my brother isnt home w/ his phone n i cant send pics on my phone bc i got a shiesty plan.
im surprised theres this many views n no1 trying to help out or answer a question. i thought MFK would be the place to ask about stuff like this
 
come on man, at least give us a day! LOL..


I can't really see the corner overflows, but I assume they have 2 holes in the bottom of each. Is that the case?

On my 300 I have 2 1.5" overflows and 2 1" returns and it's plenty of flow. However, mine doesn't have corner overflows. With that sump I would tie both overflows together (with a duroso standpipe behind the overflow box) and run 1 return split into all of the flexible ones on the back of the tank. Those are awesome.
When hooking that all up be sure to have a siphon break near the top of the tank, or use a check valve in the return line.

Edit: On the sump the hole that's in the side (top hole) is a safey to keep it from overflowing. Either it was too small for the tank or someone just wanted the added peace of mind. That needs to go to drain. The bottom hole is for the pump.
 
lol!.. you guys know you can help me. im so confuddled by this, it's intimidating.. ive never had to set up a sump before.

at the bottom of the 2 corner overflows are a 2"-2.5" hole drilled. i have the PVC parts that connect in there.
on the back of the tank, not connected to the sump are 6 1" holes drilled. i have the PVC parts in there, but i need to get more piping and pieces.
how/where would i hook up the siphon breaks? are the siphon breaks sold at a home depot store near the PVC pipes?

okay.. so get the 2 corner overflows piped to run into the sump together. then, have 1 main return line with a powerhead/pump that will split into the 6 return holes in the back. that sounds right to me.
what are those things in the pic sticking in the tank through the return holes? they look like vacuum cleaner extensions or something. do you know what theyre for? do i just aim them in whatever direction i want the water to flow back into the tank? kind of like UGJets, only not ungerground?

should i ditch that sump? it looks bigger than it really is in the pic in front of the tank bc it was closer to me. i dont think it's an adequate size.. i think maybe there was supposed to be one for each corner overflow. i could stuff a lot of matrix into it though to hold a decent bacteria colony, and theres room for a good amount of mech.
maybe i should modify the sump to somehow add my 20 gallon to it too?

thanks for the reply btw
 
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