Overflow styles

[Robert Fling]

I'm looking into setting up my first "large tank" its going to be a 225 gallon (72"x36"x20") and I have no idea what kind of overflow I should have and what kind of flow rates I need in order to run it. The stock is going to be a pair of hystrix stingrays and maybe a group of geophagus. I'm going to make a sump out of an old 55 gallon I have. I've seen tanks with just bulk heads high up on the back wall with a strainer attachment and I like the way that looks but I also would like it to be quiet, the tank will be in my living room. What should I do?

 

[BIG-G]

You can have the look you want.
If I were in you position I would have an over flow box on the outside of the tank and plumb the box with a herbie or bean animal style overflow.

There are a tonne of videos on YouTube. I would start there and make a list of the pros and cons of each for your given situation.

 

[Robert Fling]

An overflow box like this?

 

[Grinch]

I think you'll want a bigger sump than a 55g given the tank size and desired fish. 75 or 90g would work better than a 55g... 125g would be better still.

 

[BIG-G]

The box can be installed inside or out. Here are some examples the top photo is inside the bottom out. But this is just an example. Don't commit to one till you do a lot of research. There's literally dozens of ways to do this.
I like the idea of the box on the outside.

 

[BIG-G]

Yeah 55 may not give the flow your looking for. By the time you get the turn over rate to suit your display tank it may be to much for the 55 to handle.

 

[Robert Fling]

I also like the idea of it being on the outside, I'll look into both of those. Are there any other types of overflows?

 

[Robert Fling]

A friend has the same exact tank and his tank is filtered by a 40 gallon sump and it works great

 

[Black Manta]

I agree your 55 gal sump should be cool as long as you account for your flow rate and pump head pressure. Also, check out the DIY sump threads YouTube will be your best friend!!! I also looked at systems that had redundancies to catch if the seal of the water breaks. You might check out the engineering of Cpr hob boxes and sump systems.
Good Luck!!!

 

[BIG-G]

The size of your sump will depend on how much space you need for your different chambers, mechanical,biological,and chemical if you wish to include it. But you will also need a chamber for equipment unless you want leave the heater in the tank.
Then there's the return pump.will it be inside the sump or an external pump?
You will need to decide how much turn over you plan to have and size the pump by that. So that will effect the sump as well . If your different chambers are not properly sized they may not be able to keep up with the flow you have chose.

I would recommend that you start with the pump and flow rates and size everything from that.