I have ?'s about a sump build

[Tim gixxerman]

I am building my wife a 40b and it is going to have a center overflow with returns (two) in the corners. Now my question is, I want to have the input in the center of the sump (30 gallon 36" tank) to one side will be the skimmer and reactors. the other side will be fuge with chato and rubble rock. Can i put a return pump on both ends to go back up to the display tank?

The overflow box is 700 gallon per hour. can i run 2 350 GPH return pumps on each end separate loops i guess. and if i can should i use 1/2", 3/4", or 1" pipe?

 

[coolfish5]

I have seen sump setups with 2 return pumps, the problem with the one I saw was drainback when power was out was more because of the 2 return lines so thats something to keep in mind, make sure you have the returns near the surface and/or have siphon break holes to limit drainback when the return pump isn't running.

You could also have one larger return and T the line to feed the fuge, allowing it to flow back to the other section. I have the return in the middle, and the drain flowing into the side section where the skimmer is, then the fuge on the opposite side fed with a small powerhead.

 

[ade]

Are you stuck on the fuge idea, sounds like you would have about a 5 gallon fuge by te time you break up the tank with skimmer and such, not sure how benificial a 5 gallon fuge would be on the tank unless you want it just for pods and such. x2 what John said on the pumps, I would possition the return pumps after your fuge. So the drain water would go through your skimmer and then fuge back into the tank.

 

[Tim gixxerman]

I have decided not to do this! It just seems like a pain in the butt! I'm going to still have two returns they will just be T'ed off from one return pump so it will be l inlet l fuge l skimmer l return pump l