Sump setup question please

[BeneatheSea]

Hi all,
I have a 90 g. display that has two overflow 1" pipes going into a 30 g. sump. One is directed to the skimmer area and the other to the return which houses heaters,a couple of reactors and two 750 gph return pumps. Do you feel that both overflows should be going to the skimmer area or is there enough circulation in the system that it wouldn't matter. The two returns going to the skimmer I think would way overflow the baffle on the other hand is the skimmer not getting as much "dirty" water as it should? (it is just a coralife 120 by the way) Thank you for your consideration!

 

[mcgyvr]

drains don't belong in the "return pump" section of a sump..

 

[BeneatheSea]

Thank you "mcgyvr" I will have to research a better sump design!

 

[billdogg]

drains don't belong in the "return pump" section of a sump..

^^^What he said^^^

Run both drains to the skimmer section. One run will be a bit longer than the other but it will get there anyway. Avoid 90's like the plague.

If it "overfills" that's just fine. What are you using for a return pump?

 

[BeneatheSea]

Thanks for the reply "billdogg". I appreciate it. Doing a water change now so I will be able to make the adjustments. I am running two aqueon 750 gph. (advertised rating but probably no where near)

 

[billdogg]

You will save money and reduce the complexity of your plumbing if you use 1 return pump instead of two.

I assume with the two drains they are Durso style, so really the max you can put through them is about 700gph total. A more realistic volume through a 1" Durso is in the 250gph range, so 500 total. If you are running both as full siphons, you will eventually have a flood. If so, correct it before you do.

 

[BeneatheSea]

Thanks "billdogg"
when I set this tank up about four years ago....lacking experience and proper research, all I was told was flow, flow, flow.Two outlets....two pumps, I figured. I live in the Northeast and go through multiple lengthy power outages a year. Which is a reason I have had many troubles in this hobby. (and lack of a lot of knowledge) I reason the only way I can flood if if my overflows get clogged. If my two one inch pipes can only handle 500 gph, should I lose one of my pumps? But a question I have is, if only 500 gph goes through my pipes....where is the other 1000 gph my pumps are rated for going? Anyway I routed the other drain to the skimmer area, just had to adjust it to the new level, no probs. I feel better now that it's all going to the right place. Thanks Alot!

 

[JUNBUG361]

Having 2 return pumps, 1 for daily use & other for emergency

 

[thegrun]

Usually the main full siphon drain line is run into the skimmer section, the second emergency drain line when properly adjusted only has a trickle of water running down it so it doesn't really matter much where it terminates. You could argue that ideally the emergency drain should not have any elbows in it, so if it is located directly above the return section that is where it should be run to. In a perfect world I would run it into the skimmer section, but I don't see where it would be worth the trouble to re-pipe it assuming it only has a trickle of water flow.

 

[BeneatheSea]

Perfect Junbug and Grun,........ I love the idea of redundancy! Grun....the re channeling was no prob. My setup is more flexible than hard. Not as pretty but does the same thing. Thank you so much...I only have about 2053 more questions to ask.....but man this is FUN!

 

[mcgyvr]

Do you have additional powerheads in the tank?

The common recommendation is roughly 3-10x display tank volume for flowrate through a sump.. THEN 30x display size or more for "total flow" in the system..

So with a 90G tank you want a flowrate of 270-900GPH after head loss for your return pumps..
Then add on another ~2000 GPH via powerheads.... you want about 2700GPH minimum total flow..

and some with high flow corals can run 75-100x

 

[BeneatheSea]

Yes...... I do. thank you for coming back in. Flow flow flow...is what I always read. I have three turbo type powerheads aiming opposed rated at 1200 gph. Kind of turbulent...I balance them to brisk the bottom and ripple the surface....so I have water moving. But perhaps my flow through the sump is inadequate? From the above replies it seems only 500 gph. Let's see... I figure 80 gallons total water. (have lot's of rock and equipment) 6x 80 = 480. 10 x80 is 800...do I need to increase my plumbing size? or is 6 times good enough. as for tank flow I think my suction cup turbo things fit the bill. Thank you all.. I want this right this time! Tank is really looking great but I really know how that can turn FAST! I appreciate this discussion and hope to continue it. I will post pics.....it tells a thousand words!