150 DD Flow

[JMN68]

I am looking at a 150 DD but I am hesitant about pulling the trigger on this tank. One of my main concern is the amount of flow due to the preset holes for drain and return. I just need some feedback from those who are running the DD tanks, has that been an issue and how they resolved it.

 

[CaptKent]

I use a single Eheim 1262 and have more than enough flow through the sump. I use 2 Tunze powerheads for in tank circulation. It is pretty easy to get more than enough flow. The trick is modifying the stock durso drain to handle the higher flow. Have you considered how you are going to illuminate the tank?

Good luck!

 

[Poppy828]

I had (just tore it down last week) a 150DD. I had no issues with flow. I had (2) 1.5" drains and a 3/4" return with an ATB Flowstar rated at 1500gpm. I also ran (2) Vortech MP40's on it and the tank had more than enough flow with that setup.

 

[JMN68]

According to Mariland their drain line will move up to 700 gallon per hour. I want to push it to 1000 gallon per hour or more. How would you go about in modifying the drain if you can't open it to 1-1/2?

 

[bmullikin1]

you can cut every other tooth in the overflow, then use gutter guard , if you have any smaller fish, set the tank up w the herbie overflow, one main siphon drain w one emergency overflow in each side.

 

[sneeyatch]

Yeah, I had a Mag12 as my return and I had to throttle it way back so the overflow could handle it. I had 4 nanostreams in the display though that made plenty of movement.

 

[JMN68]

I know it will be a hit or miss with the flow on the Herbie method but do you think the flow rate will be around 1200 gph?

you can cut every other tooth in the overflow, then use gutter guard , if you have any smaller fish, set the tank up w the herbie overflow, one main siphon drain w one emergency overflow in each side.

 

[pkirby]

Why would you want 1200 gph through your sump? 5x turnover through the sump is more than you need and that's only 750 gph... Personally I would shoot for around 400-500gph with my display circulation depending on powerheads, not the returns.

 

[JMN68]

Right now I have 2 11/2 drain running on my 125. The fishes and corrals are very happy. My returns are creating the flow in my tank. If I scale back then I am guessing that I will have to find another way to create flow...Ecotech? Looking at the return line, it is only 1". According to Mariland, 700 gph max flow for the drain.

Is there a calculation for max flow with different pipe size for a tuned in Herbie method?

 

[jdarr]

For what it's worth, I had the 250 DD, and used the herbie method. In mine, there were 4 holes (2 holes per overflow x 2). I had 1 inch bulkheads that drained straight into the sump below (each overflow box had a 1 inch drain and a 1 inch emergency overflow). I had a dart ran wide open for return pump, and the 2 herbie lines handled the flow no problem... in fact, my gate valves were dialed back by at least 40% The dart was directly under the tank and plumbed over the back with a syphon break just below the water surface... Lots of flow, silent performance, and when I did have a clog (it does happen ;-)) the emergency drains handled it beautifully. I also supplemented a lot of flow with 4 tunze 6105's, so my tank had a ton of flow both in the tank and through the sump. Not sure if the flow through the sump was necessary, but my water parameters were solid and my sps flourished. it certainly didnt seem to hurt ;-)

 

[JMN68]

For what it's worth, I had the 250 DD, and used the herbie method. In mine, there were 4 holes (2 holes per overflow x 2). I had 1 inch bulkheads that drained straight into the sump below (each overflow box had a 1 inch drain and a 1 inch emergency overflow). I had a dart ran wide open for return pump, and the 2 herbie lines handled the flow no problem... in fact, my gate valves were dialed back by at least 40% The dart was directly under the tank and plumbed over the back with a syphon break just below the water surface... Lots of flow, silent performance, and when I did have a clog (it does happen ;-)) the emergency drains handled it beautifully. I also supplemented a lot of flow with 4 tunze 6105's, so my tank had a ton of flow both in the tank and through the sump. Not sure if the flow through the sump was necessary, but my water parameters were solid and my sps flourished. it certainly didnt seem to hurt ;-)

That is good to know even with a single 1 in. drain should be good. I will be plumbing the tank this weekend and then go from there.