Sump and Overflow for my 500 gallon acrylic tank

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
D

djaalix

Plecostomus
MFK Member
May 25, 2011
1,198
19
53
Mahopac Falls, NY
hey guys, just got a new tank, somewhere in the neighborhood of 450-500 gallons 10x2.5x2.5 acrylic tank and i wanted to set up an overflow sump system and was looking for some advice from those of you with more experience than I

Firstly the tank has 3 overflow boxes from top to bottom with a 2 inch hole at the bottom of each overflow box drilled through the tank. I have a 40 gallon overflow box composed of 3 compartments with a connection on the top of each compartment where each drain from the tank can be connected. There is no hole in the sump box on the side to attach a pump, which i will most likely need to do.

My questions are many, and i apologize for that, i just want to hear everyones ideas
-how large of a pump should i go with to get maximum gph without overpowering the 40 gallon sump... i assume there is a point where if the pump is too strong the tank wont be able to drain quickly enough to fill the sump, and i dont want to overfill the tank to the point if i lose power the sump overflows
- there is no hole for the return line drilled in the tank for the water coming from the pump, so should i drill one at the bottom of the overflow next to the drain, then run it up the inside of the overflow box?
-should the pump be a high pressure pump? the pump will be almost at floor level and the tank + stand is almost 70 inches tall
-what kind of piping and what size should i use for the drains and the return line?

i know its a lot and i appreciate any information and or ideas as i am relatively new to this hobby, although i do have a 220 gallon that uses a sump overflow system that i'm using as a model, i just want the 500 gallon to be the most effective and efficient, and would rather overkill than being under filtered, and since the fish going in love and need very strong current a very powerful pump is nothing to fear, in fact its what i want so the tank turns over more times per hour. Thanks all and sorry for my long windedness! :D
 
a 40g sump is too small for a 500g...
 
i figured a 40 gallon would be too small, but i'm unsure as to what size i should be looking for. I've been looking at the reeflo tigershark hi pressure pump, which is rated at about 4400 gallons per hour, which i like cause on paper it would cycle my tank about 9 times per hour. So what size box should i be looking at? probably upwards of 100-150 gallon? would like a very basic box with a bio ball filled compartment for each drain, so 3, with a drawer for each to hold some filter wool.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using MonsterAquariaNetwork App
 
if im picturing this right... all 3 drains should run into 1 large line that runs to the sump. filter sock then bio balls suspended in air. then into the submerged. id have my mech filter first removing large debris, then getting finer and finer removing the smallest of debris. then id have my scrubbies, then matrix then my return pump. id shoot for no less than 125 gallons thats just me. depending on the size sump you end up using then you can choose a return pump. id go for AT LEAST 5 times per hour so thats 2500gph+ size of sump. go big! you can always turn down but you can never turn up. im not a sump pro so listen to more than me.

oh yeah, that 40 gallon has about the space id use just for matrix...
 
One thing I was told when setting up my tank with overflows was to run 2 pumps. When and if one fails you always have another running. Why not run 3 pumps? One for each overflow. You could get a better turnover rate.
 
yes all three compartments would trickle down and empty into the bottom basin which feeds the pump... the way i'm picturing it is just like my 220, just grander and because i know more i would correct some of the mistakes, but the system works great on the 220 so i dont want to change much, just basically get a more powerful pump since there isnt much of a price difference from a 1200gph pump, which is on my 220 and the reeflo i'm looking at.... might save me a water circulator since my fish need lots of current. My plan is to fill the overflow boxes with bioballs and have filter wool on the top to catch large debris, then into the drain and at the top of the sump have a micron filter pad, then before hitting the bioballs have a chem pure bag, then bioballs, then trickles to the bottom where it collects and is pumped back into the tank.... nothing else really since this is a freshwater set up, and like i said this is the system on my 220 and it works great
... what do you guys think of this? possible problems? and would a 125 gallon sump be enough for a 4400 gph pump?
Sent from my DROID RAZR using MonsterAquariaNetwork App
 
Your overflow drains are going to determine the maximum size pump you can use. It sounds like you have 1.5" drains, which would get you around ~1,300GPH from each (3,900GPH total). If you want more flow, you could drill larger holes to accomodate 2" Bulkheads/drains which can handle about 2,400GPH each (7,200GPH total).

Here's a handy calculator to determine drain sized required for desired flow:http://reefcentral.com/index.php/drainoverflow-size-calc

There is no reason to run a High Pressure Reeflo Tigershark pump; that thing draws 1,000W so if you pay the national average of $0.11/Kwhr, it's going to cost you $80 per month. (Where I live that pump would cost me $240 per month!). Unless you are pumping water a long distance vertically (like from your basement up to the first of second floor of your house) or running an enourmous sand filter, there is no need for a high pressure pump.

If you are set on using an external pump, I would go with a Reeflo Super Dart Gold. Those draw around 170 Watts and will cost you only $13 per month (assuming you pay the national avg). If you want more flow, you could run two of them- redundancy is good and I found the Hammerhead Gold to be pretty loud, so I would go with two Darts versus jumping up to a larger model.

If you are ok with getting a submersible (you obviously won't have to drill your sump if you go this route), you can go with the Laguna Max Flo 4200 (I'm running this pump and I am very happy with it- it's quiet, and efficient- around 160 watts). Again, you can run two of these if you want more flow.

In regards to sump size, I would recommend a minimum of 100G. Bigger is always better...it never hurts to have more water volume. You will be fine running 4,400GPH through it, but like I mentioned, it doesn't sound like your current drain size can handle 4,400GPH.

In regards to drilling the display tank for returns, just keep in mind you want them to be at the water's surface so that your tank doesn't completely drain in the event of a back-siphon (when your pumps are off).

Options for your returns:

1. Run them up through your overflow towers (as you mentioned). But be careful not to drill the holes too close to the existing hole if you go this route...make sure you leave enough room to accomodate both bulkheads. It might be too to tight a squeeze to do this, so this may not be your best option.
2. Run the return(s) up the back of the tank and either drill return holes near the top of the back panel, or have your returns come in from the actual top panel of the aquarium.

I think you are asking for trouble with that stock, but I hope it works out for you. Good Luck.
 
yeah, i was thinking i probably will have to run the return line(s) either outside the tank or up the side of the overflow because the overflow boxes themselves are a little narrow, and your absolutely right that i have to factor in the bulkhead is larger than the hole, plus if the holes are too close i could crack the tank tightening the bulk heads... thank you so much for the advice, i was reading your post the other day about your sump, and found it very helpful and neat as well... very impressive! in fact i probably didnt need to post, could have found all my info in there, but there were a few specifics i wanted to be sure about, so i thank you for helping so much.... and what do you mean i could run into problems with my stock? lol!!!! the fact that they may fight? or that i'll be buying a 1000 gallon tank in a few years? hahaha, most of them have been together for over a year, and doing well, all i can do is keep my fingers crossed and hope that when i get this tank running and divide my fish up between the two tanks fighting doesnt begin. Thanks again!!

Sent from my DROID RAZR using MonsterAquariaNetwork App
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom