Hi all, been doing alot of research on marine tank setup and have decided on a few of my features but would really appreciate some advice/input on a few others. I am setting up a 125g display tank with a 55g sump/fuge. I am drilling the tank myself and have most of the stuff together, i will be using a 26" wide internal overflow mounted slighlty offset from center of the tank due to tank brace being in the way. I will be using a bean animal system with 1.5" pipes. I would like to use two 3/4" returns, one in each corner of tank to help circulation. My main questions are with the overflow being offset to the left instead of centered and a return on either side of the tank will the right side of tank have sufficient turnover? Would it be better to put the overflow in one corner and two returns on the other? Next question is for return pump, I would like to have a pump capable of 5x turnover (625 gph) am i better off using one large pump capable of this flow and putting a t fitting to split to returns or using 2 smaller pumps and plumbing them direct? Also any suggestions on pumps would be appreciated I will have 58" of head height and 3/4" bulkhead fittings/3/4" loc line in tank. Thanks in advance
return pump/sump suggestions
- Thread starter blt4ever
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Swensos
New member
By sufficient turnover are you asking about dead spots?
The overflow system is designed to skim the gunk from the surface, so it's exact position in the tank is not crucial. The most important thing is its length. 26" is better than most of the off-the-shelf overflows.
In order to avoid dead spots and create flow, use power heads. Using your return pump to create flow in your tank is less efficient and was primarily used in the days before highly effective power heads.
I'd say your return/overflow plan will work great for moving surface water to the sump and back. Use power heads, perhaps ecotech mp40s or a maxspect gyre, for creating tank flow.
The overflow system is designed to skim the gunk from the surface, so it's exact position in the tank is not crucial. The most important thing is its length. 26" is better than most of the off-the-shelf overflows.
In order to avoid dead spots and create flow, use power heads. Using your return pump to create flow in your tank is less efficient and was primarily used in the days before highly effective power heads.
I'd say your return/overflow plan will work great for moving surface water to the sump and back. Use power heads, perhaps ecotech mp40s or a maxspect gyre, for creating tank flow.
The role of the main pump is to ensure adequate mixing of water in the display and effective surface skimming; it is not to provide in-tank flow. Turnover of 5x will more than accomplish the goals of the main pump, regardless of where you place the return (I use just a single end-mounted return on my 265).
There are a tons of good pumps on the market in your flow range (say 900 gph nominally) including externals (Iwaki, Panworld, Reeflo, Vectra) and internals (sicce, eheim, tunze). Personally I have always just use a single larger pump.
There are a tons of good pumps on the market in your flow range (say 900 gph nominally) including externals (Iwaki, Panworld, Reeflo, Vectra) and internals (sicce, eheim, tunze). Personally I have always just use a single larger pump.
Swensos
New member
Still shouldn't be a problem unless the closer return is pointed at the overflow in such a way that it somehow prevents water from the other end from entering.
I would have both returns pointed away from the overflow to avoid any problem of some surface water not ever reaching the overflow. That way gravity rather than your return moves the water over the overflow
And I second the single pump recommendation. More pumps is more money, plumbing, and work, in my opinion.
I would have both returns pointed away from the overflow to avoid any problem of some surface water not ever reaching the overflow. That way gravity rather than your return moves the water over the overflow
And I second the single pump recommendation. More pumps is more money, plumbing, and work, in my opinion.
