New tank and first sump , some questions ?

[Aqua_Bankie]

Getting a new tank in a few months, looking like a 300 gallon with a sump.
Always used canisters mainly Eheim classics but making the switch. So time to do the ground work on switching to a sump.

I will be getting the tank bottom drilled for a bean animal setup .

What size of Pipe work and bulkhead ?

The best position for the weir /overflow ? im thinking one of the corners at the back ?

Is it worth having a hole drilled in the opposite corner of the tank for a return pipe ?

My Sump is still to be finalised ,what is a good size ? , im thinking of this order mechanical / filter socks , k1, more bio , heaters , then return pump ?

Return pump output ?

 

[Backfromthedead]

I would go 1.5" on the drains.

I like the mid-center overflows vs. The corners but its really personal preference. I also prefer back panel drilled vs. Bottom. For returns, i would run them in through the top, secure the hoses with clamps and whatnot. This allows you to move them around, gives more versatility if you want to attach custom spraybars etc.

Shoot for around 10x turnover through your sump, so 3000 gph which should be accomplished with 1.5" bean animal. Youre gonna want a pump about twice that powerful at 0' head so look for one pump rated 6000-8000 gph or two pumps rated around 4000. You can get away with less but its really best to have as much pump as you can afford.

Oh and go as big as you can with the sump. If its me i would use two 75 gallon sumps just because i have several 75s laying around...

 

[Oughtsix]

Are you buying a glass aquarium or an acrylic aquarium? If you are buying an acrylic aquarium I would recommend you do not have the aquarium pre-drilled. Drilling an acrylic is very easy. By starting with an undrilled aquarium you will be able to play with the overflow and return layouts before committing to a particular arrangement by drilling the tank. If it were me I would have no concerns with drilling a glass tank for the overflow and return either.

I like the top of the tank overflows that do not go all the way to the bottom of the tank. The 180g I am building will have an overflow of this type: https://www.amazon.com/1800-PROFILE-Overflow-REMOVABLE-WEIR/dp/B076PY926Y

 

[duanes]

I never drill holes for return pipes.
But its a person choice.
I like the return pipes to be high enough above the water to create turbulence and oxygen exchange.

Depending on where the tank is located, noise may color your decision.

you can sort of see the turbulence on the upper right end of the tank.
I usually drill over flows on the opposite end from the returns, my preferred fish are riverine, that like more current than normal so I like flow moving water across the length of the tank, a personal preference, and having to do with what type species are kept.

 

[Akeno071]

Sorry to intrude, but seemed more appropriate to ask questions here then make a 2nd thread..

I'm looking to get a larger tank ( 9ft etc ) later down the road next year so I'm curious to know what size people would recommend to start using sumps at, whats the benefits of one compared to a standalone filter etc.

 

[Oughtsix]

My theory on filtration is to configure your filters so they are as easy to clean as possible so that they get cleaned often... for me that is a sump. I have a sump on a 35g and have had a sump on as small as a 20g tank. Besides it being much easier to pull the filter mat or sock filter on a sump with out having to disconnect anything I like to use a trickle configuration which does an excellent job of aerating and off gassing the water.

On smaller tanks a sump can greatly add to the amount of water in the system which usually makes the system more stable and less prone to really quick spikes in adverse conditions. A 20g tank with a 10g sump has added 50% more water to the 20g without a sump.

 

[Aqua_Bankie]

Are you buying a glass aquarium or an acrylic aquarium? If you are buying an acrylic aquarium I would recommend you do not have the aquarium pre-drilled. Drilling an acrylic is very easy. By starting with an undrilled aquarium you will be able to play with the overflow and return layouts before committing to a particular arrangement by drilling the tank. If it were me I would have no concerns with drilling a glass tank for the overflow and return either.

I like the top of the tank overflows that do not go all the way to the bottom of the tank. The 180g I am building will have an overflow of this type: https://www.amazon.com/1800-PROFILE-Overflow-REMOVABLE-WEIR/dp/B076PY926Y

Its a Glass aquarium

 

[Aqua_Bankie]

Thanks all for the replies, some food for thought, will have a think and make a decision.