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New to sumps, Some simple questions!


Simulated Fish

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Simulated Fish

Hey guys I am going to start prepping for a larger tank that I will be setting up over the next few months. I want to get a 75 to 120 gallon tank and I know I want to do a sump. As much as I LOVE my AIO tank I can't justify dropping 2, 3, 4 grand on a larger AIO tank. Plus why miss out on all the DYI fun!

 

SO I know I want to run a sump but in all my googling glory there is a big question I can't find an answer to - how big do I need the return turnover to be & how much water is the siphon going to pull? So if the siphon is only pulling 150gph can I use a pump rated at 150gph or can I go bigger?

 

Please excuse my ignorance but this an area of reefing I know little to nothing about!

 

Thanks in advance!

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Just make sure your pump doesn't push more than what your siphon can pull. I'm sure you've accounted for headloss too. You can always add a valve at the pump output to reduce its output. Folks incorrectly think doing that is bad for the pump, but it's not. . .actually it reduces the work the pump has to do.

 

150 gph seems to be on the low side for a tank that big, tho. Is your siphon rated for a tank that big?

Also, you if you're planning the tank out now, i'd go with a drilled tank and overflow vs siphon method.

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righttirefire

So in my research you want a sump to turn 7-10 times volume, I assume display, for filtration. A pump will "lose" flow to head height and fittings restrictions. So I say research!

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Simulated Fish

Just make sure your pump doesn't push more than what your siphon can pull.

150 gph seems to be on the low side for a tank that big, tho. Is your siphon rated for a tank that big?Also, you if you're planning the tank out now, i'd go with a drilled tank and overflow vs siphon method.

I was just throw in a number out there, I do plan on drilling, is a over flow not the same as a siphone :s

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http://glass-holes.com/1500-In-aNd-Out-Complete-System-1500inandout.htm

 

I would look at the overflow kit. I have the nano and love it.

 

http://synergyreef.com/product/16-synergy-reef-overflow/

 

Here's another a lot of people like

 

http://reefsavvy.com/the-reef-savvy-difference/

 

And probably the best of the best

 

 

Reef Savvy ghost = Synergy Reef ghost

 

It was done with a joint partnership between the two companies.

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I was just throw in a number out there, I do plan on drilling, is a over flow not the same as a siphone :s

Well, some overflows use a full siphon, but when I hear siphon, my first thought is a hang on back with a syphon that goes over the top of the aquarium top.

 

The glass-holes box you linked, for example, can suck upto 1500 gph. As long as you pick a pump that is less than that, you'll be OK. The more gph the pump pushes, the higher up the grates the water level will be. That is how the overflow box will self-regulate the drain gph to match that of the pump automatically. For example, if your pump pushes (including head loss) 500 gph, then the display tank water level will rise up appx 1/3 the height of the overflow box grates. A pump that pushes 750 gph will result in the water level being appx 1/2 way up the water grates, etc. 1200 gph, the water will rise appx 4/5 up the grates.

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Simulated Fish

Well, some overflows use a full siphon, but when I hear siphon, my first thought is a hang on back with a syphon that goes over the top of the aquarium top.

 

The glass-holes box you linked, for example, can suck upto 1500 gph. As long as you pick a pump that is less than that, you'll be OK. The more gph the pump pushes, the higher up the grates the water level will be. That is how the overflow box will self-regulate the drain gph to match that of the pump automatically. For example, if your pump pushes (including head loss) 500 gph, then the display tank water level will rise up appx 1/3 the height of the overflow box grates. A pump that pushes 750 gph will result in the water level being appx 1/2 way up the water grates, etc. 1200 gph, the water will rise appx 4/5 up the grates.

Thank you, I now under stand flow vs return rate!

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