newbe looking for comments on my sump design

[ryan scott]

Hi I have had a fresh water tank for some years but have always dreamed of setting up a saltwater reef tank, but at the time was moving house to much now I am in the one place for some time and is time to set up my tank.

I have a nice cabnet been made as we speak that will be a great part of my display and am purchasing a 6 foot X 2 X2 foot main display tank. I have room for a 4 foot sump tank under neath and also allowing for storage space. Also i am going to place the tank in between two rooms and am thinking of having my drains and returns on the side, however I have been wondering if you can have your drains and returns coming up from the botton of the tank then build my live rock around it can is this recomended? this would allow no messy pipes and great visuals from all sides.

I have done considerable reseach but know that i have a lot to learn still, from my researh i have designed the attached sump. I would like comments on this to improve it or maybe i just have the whole thing wrong, any other information or comments would be great. I am in no hurry to add either fish or coral but want to make sure that I have it all right.

Thanks

 

[bertoni]

[welcome]

That looks reasonable to me, although I'd skip the bioballs.

A central overflow is a fine idea, and the returns can be done the same way, although this only applies to acrylic tanks. Glass tanks can be drilled only if they're not tempered glass, and I would guess the bottom plate of a tank that size will be tempered.

 

[ryan scott]

thanks
Do you not recomend bio balls? and for my info how come?

 

[kau_cinta_ku]

bio balls are good in a FO tank but in a reef tank bioballs become nitrate factories and high levels of nitrates will harm corals

 

[bertoni]

Yes, exactly. Sorry, I should have explained.