New 150 Gallon w/Overflow

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PeacockBassMan

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Aug 1, 2009
138
0
0
NW Indiana
Hi everyone, I have a few questions regarding a tank I just bought. Initially I thought I knew more than I really did about overflows and sump systems. Ive never had one on a freshwater tank before and have no idea where to begin. I bought a tank that had holes predrilled (Got it for a GREAT price) and overflows installed. The tank was originally a reef setup. I dont know the first thing about overflows and refugium sump systems. Ive always just had a really good canister filter. HELP!

My questions are this: I dont even know the basis for the setup of such systems, and the added cost involved; Can someone give me an idea of how much money Im about to spend?

Secondly, I dont even know how to set this up, and google is only out to sell me stuff. I know once I got it set up I would full understand, but the learning curve seems pretty sharp for me. Its like jumping from addition and subtraction to calculus. Could someone give me the skinny or a good link that would explain to me?

Lastly, is there an alternative that would allow me to use my entire tank and not just keep my water level below the overflows?

Thanks in advance. I really am stuck on this.
 
ok let me get this staright,you have a sump, a over flow box, & 2 pumps??
other than this all you need is plastic tubbing. gravity will take care of the rest.
as far as the over flows, i dont know how far they go down into the tank, it shouldnt be to much. plus if you fill your tank all the way up the sump acts like a reservoir, if the power turns off the water runs down into the sump reservoir if you have this filled all the way up then your in for a wet suprise (i learned that the hard way) were the return pump is, it should be in the last chamber on the sump, thats the level of water you want to keep consistent. keep the level about have way to the top, this is a good marker. trust me PBM you do not want to fill that up all the way. when you do fill the water up to the over flow box, you will notice the box filling up with water quickly, don be allarmed it will be sucked down into the sump, you will here a loud slurping noise and the water will fill the sump very quickly. like i said before watch that 3rd reservoir, if it starts to get close to the top get a cup quickly, do not put the water bacjk in the tank that will do nothing. completly dispose the water. when you bought the tank was it new, did it come with instucions?
 
Thank you for your responses. I bought the tank and equipment secondhand and did not come with instructions. The man I recieved the tank from was not very helpful, and didnt know much about them either as this was his son's tank.

How would I go about using my canister filter with the overflows because I have an FX5 that would just go to waste?
 
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