300 Gallon Setup overflow question(s)

[ChrisStarkey]

I am planning a 300 gallon Tank. it will be 8 feet long 2 feet high and 2.5 feet wide. I would like the overflows to be at the long end of the tank on one side. This way 3 sides can be viewed.

My Question is: with the additions of 3-4 powerheads, will this provide enough water movement to keep the tank/water clean?

Attached is a sketch of what I want. ANY advice is welcome. Thanks

 

[nmotz]

I'm not quite sure what you mean about the powerheads keeping the water "clean" but 3-4 powerheads can provide plenty of water movement as long as they are rated high enough. In a 300 gallon tank, you'll need them to push some serious water, especially if you would like to keep coral. I would definitely take some time to review the specs on several different powerheads. If it were me I'd probably be wanting to get 2-3 Ecotech mp60s or their equivalent.

 

[mcgyvr]

In general you want the following flows in a tank..
Flow through sump = 3-5x display volume
Total flow in tank = 30-100x display volume depending on inhabitants.. Some with SPS tanks run 100x display volume as they like high flow to keep them clean/free of debris settling..

 

[ChrisStarkey]

Keeping clean by moving the Detritus off the sand bed and into the water column. I guess i should have referred to it as water movement. Thank you both for your replies.

Does the Diagram attached look good? Is this setup going to be effective with GOOD powerheads??

 

[mcgyvr]

Number of powerheads and location at this point is really useless.. The goal is to ensure no areas of little flow/stagnant.. So that will be effected by rock placement (aquascape),etc...

Now you have numbers for suggested flow rates..

And how do you plan do do the actual overflow/drain system.. Hopefully not just a bulkhead.. I'd highly suggest a bean animal drain system and an overflow box the length of that small wall..
Also the problem with overflows on the short end of a long tank is surface skimming..
You may end up with a nice "oil slick" all over the top of the water (depending on flow,etc..)

Here is some info on the bean drain system.. This also shows a coast-coast overflow box to aid in surface skimming..
http://www.beananimal.com/projects/silent-and-fail-safe-aquarium-overflow-system.aspx

 

[ChrisStarkey]

mcgyvr, thanks for the advice. I looked into the bean animal drain system. Looks good and doable. Do you think that i could adjust powerbeads to create a current and waves to prevent the "oil slick" from occurring? is there a way to manually take care of the "oil slick". If i put an overflow box running the width of the tank, will that help take care of it?

I plan to have the coral and live rock in the center of the tank and not touching any glass.