Sumps with powerheads?

[justintrask]

I've never set up a sump before. I'm setting up a 40B in my basement to try my hand at breeding Roseline Sharks, and have a ton of powerheads and an old wet/dry that my dad made years ago lying around. Not sure on the gph or models on the powerheads, just want to know if my idea will work.

Here is what my thinking is:

Output of tank: The tank is not drilled or anything. No overflows, nothing. I have a powerhead that will sit on the bottom of the tank with the input pointing to the left, and the output towards the top of the tank. There is flexible tubing attached to the output of the powerhead, and it will go roughly 4 feet down the back of the tank to a spraybar that is in the sump.

Filtration in the sump: Level One will be filter floss, Level Two will be scrubbies, Level Three will house two heaters. Water will then overflow into the return chamber.

Return from sump: Same idea as the output, but there will be a powerhead sitting in the return section of the sump, and flexible tubing attached to the output of that powerhead pushing water roughly 4 feet straight up to a spraybar attached to the tank.


Will this set up work? Should the powerheads be the same make/model so they are the same gph? Or should one be stronger than the other?


I have never done a sump or wet/dry or anything, so any comments are welcome.

 

[jmart.cooper]

You always want an overflow. having two pumps will only lead to disaster. PVC overflows aren't hard to build and it will prevent you from coming home to an empty tank. My only other concern would be that the powerheads couldnt pump that high.

 

[justintrask]

is there a way to do an overflow without spending lots of money and/or drilling the tank? I was only thinking doing this to save the money on a canister filter. if it's too much money or work, i might just drop the idea. but thanks for the input!