Plumbing Help/suggestions

[RBU1]

I could use some opinions please. I will be setting up a 300 gallon aquarium in the next couple months. The tank has 2 - 1.5" drain lines. I am having a sump built that is 54x22x20 roughly 100 gallons. I purchased a sequence dart pump (3600gph) and an OceansMotions 8 way (old style). The tank has 9 holes drill in the top that I am going to run the plumbing from the OceansMotions back to the tank thru those holes. My question is will that pump suck the sump dry because the tank can not drain fast enough to keep up? The pump has a 2" inlet and 1.5" outlet should I use 2 bulkheads in the sump to feed the pump? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. BILL

 

[steve the plumb]

I have the same type of set up but if you want to do a cl system then then you are fine.I wouldn't do it otherwise unless your drain and return lines for the 8 way are high enough.If the power goes off all the water will return to the sump.With a cl system everything will be sealed.Did you drill the tank yet?I did mine like this but you won't have much room underneath your stand

 

[steve the plumb]

I have 2x 1.5 drains and a dart pump for my return plus a dart pump on my cl system.The dart can handle the bulkheads(drains) but if you are feeding from the overflow you will get bubbles plus make sure you have an auto top off pump because if your water level goes to low you may burn your pump.I have more pics of how I did my cl

 

[steve the plumb]

 

[steve the plumb]

 

[steve the plumb]

I reduced the intake to a 1 1/2" bulkhead.The reason for this is the dart has a 2" intake but a 2" bulkhead requires a 3" hole.I didn't want to make such a big hole in my tank so I went with an 1 1/2" bulkhead.It works fine here are some pics of the plumbing before water and rock was added.Its all 1" pipe

 

[steve the plumb]

 

[steve the plumb]

this is the 8 way with union ball valves is pretty big

 

[steve the plumb]

 

[steve the plumb]

I hope this gives you an idea I think by what you said your tank is drilled already or you want to drill it in the manor that you said.I wasn't 100% sure.Here is a pic with rocks

 

[RBU1]

Thanks for the response. The tank was purchased used. It has 9 holes across the top of the tank. It also has 2 drain holes with overflows. My plan was to come out of the sump via bulkhead to the dart. Have the 8 way on top of that with the return lines going to each of the 9 holes in the top. What was the reason you do not like this idea?

 

[steve the plumb]

I have a dart as a return pump so it can handle the flow.I will tell you that 1 dart alone will not be enough flow for a tank of this size.My tank is 96x30x24 and the flow is ok with 2 darts one for the 8 way and one for the cl.I like your idea.I am thinking you are drilling the sump for the dart correct like this

 

[steve the plumb]

I wasn't sure of how you wanted to run the dart.I do see from my tank that one dart pump isn't enough flow for a tank of this size.I have 2 and the flow is ok but not crazy.What size are your return lines going to be?

 

[RBU1]

Yes like you have the picture drill the sump with a bulkhead to the pump. So what will happen if I lose power? Will I overflow my sump? So you think the 3600gph thru the 8 way is not enough flow?

 

[steve the plumb]

I drilled my tank from the bottom to try and hide the outputs.I also have my fittings aimed upwards as to try and keep detritus flowing upwards towards the overflow and into my sump.The way you want to do it how will you keep a good flow at the bottom of the tank.Will you use sand?I can tell you 100% that one dart isn't enough flow.I don't know if you want to keep sps even with soft corals you will probably have spots with very low flow.I see it in my tank when I shut my return line off and its just the cl system working.Having more flow makes a big difference. I may add a vortech pump later

 

[steve the plumb]

when you lose power the water level in the tank will drop to the level of those 8 holes so all that water (up to that level) will come back to your sump.If you look at my return lines(2 x 3/4") they are about 1" below the water line.When my return pump is shut off the water rises about 1 1/2" to 2" below the top off my 125 gal sump so you will have to play around with the water level in your sump so as to adjust the level for this type of situation(power failure) once you have done that you know that you are safe in case the power goes off.I would also use an ato unit I have the tunze but there are less expensive units out there.If you but a controller some already have that in the unit or you can buy a sensor and use the controller to top off the tank

 

[RBU1]

I thought that I might have a problem with the overflows not being able to keep up with the dart. if the pump sucks more water than the overflow can drain I will dry up my sump. I was also concerned about when I lose power. Will I need to keep one of my return lines near the surface to break the siphon so the sump does not overflow and the tank drain out?

I am going to use the carib sea Seaflor substrate. I will also stagger my return lines to get flow as much all over as I can.

I also ordered 2 of those ocenasmotions revolutions. I can put them on 2 of the return lines to alternate the flow a little.

 

[RBU1]

That is what I have to be careful of. The holes are drilled in the top not the back. I will have to make sure I keep one of the 8 return lines near the water line so the siphon breaks stopping the flow of water to the sump.

 

[steve the plumb]

No 2 x1 1/2" overflows can handle the dart without a problem.I would fill the tank and the sump then shut the power off.This will show you what level to keep your sump at.Then set your ato unit at this level.Maybe even a little lower just to be on the safe side.Will you be dosing kalk for top off water or will you use a calcium reactor?

 

[steve the plumb]

here is a link to all my pictures so I don't waste your thread space with my pics http://s194.photobucket.com/albums/z47/stevetheplumb/