wet/dry plumbing questions... i'm lost!!!

[jsodwi]

What size is the tank? Esopps makes a real good hob I also have the CPR ones but they are a little expensive. Watch out for the cheap ones on ebay they are not rated for what they say. Usually the HOB have a 1" bulkhead on them. What I have done is get 1" pvc and just put like 6" pieces on the bulkheads. Then go down the home depot isle that has sump pumps and get a roll of The corrigated black tubing. This will fit over your pvc with a little bit of effort. Its like $8 for 25 feet. Most pumps will tell you what size pipe to run Its probably 3/4" or 1"

 

[traumajeff]

What size is the tank?

it's a 225g with a 55g sump

 

[Bassinkorea]

it's a 225g with a 55g sump

I have a slightly bigger tank (284gal) than yours with a 55gal sump. I have two x 1" overfows with 1" flexible clear rubber hoses running to the sump and a 1500gph return pump returning the water through a 3/4" flexible hose (the same type as the overflows). I'm guessing my system is running at 1200gph after some head loss, so I am getting about 4.2 turn overs per hour.

A single 1" overflow flows around 600gph.

 

[gangster]

bump....i just picked up a FREE 180g w/ a single overflow....do i put a bulkhead in the hole @ the bottom of the overflow? then what do i want an elbow before it goes into the sump?

What determines how much water goes over into the overflow box? is that the pump? sorry but im new to sumps.

 

[Crispy]

bump....i just picked up a FREE 180g w/ a single overflow....do i put a bulkhead in the hole @ the bottom of the overflow? then what do i want an elbow before it goes into the sump?

What determines how much water goes over into the overflow box? is that the pump? sorry but im new to sumps.

Nice score on that tank!

The water level determines how much water gets drained by your overflow. As your return pump raises the water level, the overflow keeps it level by draining it back into your sump. Your return pump should not be rated too strong for your overflow or your sump will run dry. If your pump is rated less, then it's okay because the overflow will stop draining until the pump brings the water level up to your overflow. Hope this helps.. best way to understand one is to set one up.

More easy-to-follow info on this exact subject here...
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=282373

 

[gangster]

thanks crispy....i think im beggining to understand. now how do i determine the size pump? i have a single overflow...im not sure if im gonna use a 55 or a 29g sump....prob. 29 cause thats whats sittn around....if my landloard gives me the go-ahead im taking my 120 out and replacing it w/ the 180....if not it will be @ my brothers house.

 

[oblrman]

thanks crispy....i think im beggining to understand. now how do i determine the size pump? i have a single overflow...im not sure if im gonna use a 55 or a 29g sump....prob. 29 cause thats whats sittn around....if my landloard gives me the go-ahead im taking my 120 out and replacing it w/ the 180....if not it will be @ my brothers house.

Since I'm lurking on this thread I'd love to know what make and model of pump Crispy recommends. Thanks!

 

[jcardona1]

i see you picked up the tank i was going to make a sump with!!! lol

id recommend a quiet one 6000, it flows 1506gph and is super energy effecient. that will give you about 8x turnover. and i would go with at least a 55g sump. that way you have enough room to catch the water that would drain down when the pump is shut off. a 29g for a 180g is a little small.

 

[gangster]

thanks jose...any reccomendations where to pick up that pump online?

 

[Griller]

I have a tank of nearly identical size you yours - 220gal with 65gal sump.

I work on turning my tank water over 5 times per hour and I have a heavily overstocked tank. The nitrate cycle works fine at this rate as long as you have enough volume of filter media. My ammonia levels are always 0ppm. If your flow rate through the filter media is too fast then a lot of your nitrifying bacteria will be washed off and the sump filter will become inefficient. I suspect that the flow rate on my current tank is too fast. I recommened you work on between 2 - 5 times your tank volume per hour.

FYI - I use a 4000l/h (about 850 gal/hour) return pump with flexable pvc pipe. My actual turnover is much less than 850gal/hour because the pump must push the water 4' strait up to reach the tank. I'm estimating that I get about 600gal/hour, roughly 3x tank volume. I also have a second 4000l/h (850 gal/hour) recirculation pump inside the tank to keep the water moving. Some of that water is sprayed across the surface to improve oxygen exchange (needed due to overstocking) and the rest is used to push debris into the overflow. I have a homemade top/bottom draw on my overflow so debris is collected from the bottom as well.
No disrespect to jcardona1 but my opinion is that an 8x turnover is wasting power (I'm NOT saying that 8x will not work). The great advantage of the sump is you can have a huge volume of media instead of a high flow rate.

Hope this helps.