using megaflow return as 2nd drain??

[Polyptician]

I need some advice please.

I will be plumbing an oceanic megaflow reef-ready tank to my basement. Using it as the company intended there would be one drain and one return. And the overflow would be rated for approx 600 gph.

I would like to get more flow down to my sump in the basement. Can I use the 3/4 inch return as a 2nd drain? Has this been done before? How many gph will this add to the overflow?

 

[Polyptician]

This is what i hope to have in basement.

 

[IPT]

don't know what the flow would be but I have heard of peple using the return for a drain like you would like to.

 

[ellisz]

I have a AGA 180 with dual megaflows. I use all 4 holes as drains. I had a Dart plumbed behind the tank and the overflows handled the pump wide open.

 

[rsw686]

Part of the problem is the slots in the overflow can only handle soo much water atleast from what I read on this site. I am setting up my tank and wanted to get around 900 GPH through the overflow but I really don't want to cut it up yet as its brand new.

http://www.dursostandpipes.com/PopularModifications/MegaFlowOverflow/tabid/82/Default.aspx

 

[ellisz]

That is what I did to my overlow teeth

 

[Polyptician]

Thanks for the link to the mod.

I want to try to avoid doing the mod if possible.

So what would one overflow (both pipes as drains) handle without the mod?

 

[Dolfan]

I have an AGA 90g and use both of the holes to my sump and use a QuietOne 4000 for return that is rated about 950gph or so. Given headloss it's probably working in the 700-750 ballpark I bet. I have valves on both drains into the sump/fuge and the fuge is only cracked to manage the flow.

 

[Polyptician]

Dolfan,

You did not do that mod to your overflow right?

 

[Dolfan]

No I haven't modified the teeth of the overflow area, this doesn't appear to be a bottleneck for me at this flow rate, maybe if I increased it it might.

Also think the bulkheads are different size as I remember 1" and 3/4" but I can't remember for sure.

 

[Polyptician]

yeah they are.

Thanks dolfan.

 

[Icefire]

1" bulkhead handle 600gph max
3/4" @ 330

mak4 with 10' head, 1" return is 838gph.

I would plumb a durso in both drain/return, than have a 1.5" drain under the tank to your sump.