Plumbing for a 180 Gallon Tank

[Mattleary23]

I currently have a 29 gallon tank with no sump. By next year I would like to have a 180 gallon tank. It will be made by me so it will not be a reef ready tank. I was wondering what I should do for an overflow and return pump. How many GPH do they need to do for a 180 gallon tank and probably a 50 gallon sump. I am kind of on a budget so the cheaper the better. If anyone has any informative info/video I could use that would be very appreciated, because im watching all these plumbing videos and it seems like they are speaking another language. Thanks

 

[gone fishin]

Are you going to actually build the tank? If so that is quite the task, Good luck

for an overflow you may want to take a look at glass holes and see if anything works for you.

I use a external return pump. It is a Reeflo dart/snapper. I am using the snapper impeller currently.

 

[Mattleary23]

ok. how many GPH would the overflow and return pump need to do?

 

[JMorris271]

Around 3 to 5 times the tanks size. So for a 180 gal tank, you are looking at a 540 to 900 gph return rate. There is a calculator here somewhere that will tell you what size overflow you will need.

 

[mitch91175]

I currently have a 29 gallon tank with no sump. By next year I would like to have a 180 gallon tank. It will be made by me so it will not be a reef ready tank. I was wondering what I should do for an overflow and return pump. How many GPH do they need to do for a 180 gallon tank and probably a 50 gallon sump. I am kind of on a budget so the cheaper the better. If anyone has any informative info/video I could use that would be very appreciated, because im watching all these plumbing videos and it seems like they are speaking another language. Thanks

If you ask me I think you are putting too much thought in this. If you purchase a 180G that already has an overflow, just plumb it an get a pump that is rated for the amount of turnover that you want (definitely more that 3x the tank size). Don't forget that you will also have pumps circulating inside the aquarium that will also help with flow.

If you are making your own overflow, I am going to say do that only if you like doing the DIY stuff. If you do not already have the 180g and if buying used isn't against your needed, find a good used system and eliminate the hassle to doing it your self at the same time save you some $$$ on the tank.