New sump water return question.

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N

Norwood

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jan 17, 2012
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Louisiana
So we have a 120 gallon tank. We are about to build a 40 gallon sump out of a 40 breeder. We have a overflow box for it and have a question. Soon, if the over flow box takes water off of the top and the water return pumps water onto the top of the tank, does the bottom of the tank stay dirty or what? Is there a way to make the return pump the water down into the tank towards the bottom effectively to create better circulation?
 
you can add power heads to your tank to mix the water up. or you can point your return straight down in the the tank.

but i should note that even tho water is returning to the top of your tank it's not necessarily the same water going into your overflow. long as you have good turn over pretty much all the water will eventually move into the overflow
 
Another question, do you know what size return pump we would need for a 40 gallon sump? Canwe just get like a bilge pump from lowes?
 
i dont think bilge pumps were made to constantly run like aquarium pumps, someone correct me if im wrong. also i imagine it would be quite loud? you should size your pump for the whole gallonage of your system (TANK+SUMP) some say a 7x or 10x turn over rate so 1700 gph pump max?
 
So I would probably have to look at pet stores for the pump? And ok. That sounds good. This is our first time messing with sumps. Haha. But I've been researching a lot and the size of the pump needed is my last question. :p
 
you can try places that work with ponds too? pet stores might be over priced, if anything, online would be your best bet.
 
I thought I read something about the return pump GPH needing to match the overflow ? How does that work ?
 
Ohhh yeah, so lowes and such might have the pumps too as they have stuff for little ponds. I'm going to buy the 40 gallon breeder today here in a min actually, then to go buy some acrylic and such. I'll look there and if nothing, online I will go. Pet stores are ALWAYS over priced. Hah.
 
actually your overflow needs to out-flow your pump, you dont want a pump that will be faster than your overflow or your tank will flood.
 
Ah, that's true too. In my research today I saw that someone put a valve on the tube from the return. So that you can adjust how fast the water is returning. I think I may dothat too, just in case the pump I get has a little too much power.
 
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