Plumbing question

[ismvel]

I have a 220 with corner overflows and 4 drilled drains that accomodate 1" bulk heads.

Where I am planning on having it will not allow me to run PVC, or plumbing around the back. Would you run 3 as drains and 1 as a return?

Right now I have a mag 18 that I planned on using. I don't plan on having much turnover on the return from the sump / fuge. I am going to rely on powerheads and perhaps a wavebox in the future for flow in the tank.

I am trying to use what I have to perhaps get this thing set up a little earlier than I planned.

And if I ran 3 drains, would you you go up in size in the pipes as they combined into one drain, or leave it at 3 separate lines directly into the sump (did that make sense? I know what I am trying to say, just can't write it down)?

[caferacermike]

Well first I wouldn't use a Mag18 as a just a sump return. Way to much volume for a 220g. If I was going to do it on my tank, I'd shoot for 3x to no more than 5 times my total display volume through the sump per hour. Your Mag18 would rip through there. You might even get a lot of noise from the sump as water rushes and splashes through it. I'd plan on the typical 2 drains, 2 returns and a pump rated for about 900GPH as you'd more than likely see about 600GPH total in the end. If you wanted you could run each 1" line to the sump and combine them somewhere into a 1 1/2" or 2" pipe if you wanted.

I'm planning something similar for my newest tank. I'm all about Tunze in the tank and slow flow (haha, a Sequence Dart running 3,00GPH but did I mention it's a 400g tank with 100g sump?) through the sump.

[ismvel]

Well first I wouldn't use a Mag18 as a just a sump return. Way to much volume for a 220g. If I was going to do it on my tank, I'd shoot for 3x to no more than 5 times my total display volume through the sump per hour.
Well perhaps I could put this thing on a ball valve and use it for Ace's skimmer. He said I would need to get a pump that pushes 1200 gph for one of his skimmers. And find me a smaller pump for my return.

Your Mag18 would rip through there.You might even get a lot of noise from the sump as water rushes and splashes through it.
So, saying that I used this thing on my 135 and getting those results would not surprise you??? LOL:confused:

I'd plan on the typical 2 drains, 2 returns and a pump rated for about 900GPH as you'd more than likely see about 600GPH total in the end.
I am assuming this mag 18 would not be strong enough for both the skimmer pump an return because of loss of head pressure? The tank is drilled at the bottom, and everything is going to be under the tank. The stand is only 30" high, wanted it to be eye level when we are sitting down, and the tank is 30" tall....so not much travel....about 5 feet up with a couple of elbows???

If you wanted you could run each 1" line to the sump and combine them somewhere into a 1 1/2" or 2" pipe if you wanted.
Thanks...
[quote=caferacermike;581566]I'm planning something similar for my newest tank. I'm all about Tunze in the tank and slow flow (haha, a Sequence Dart running 3,00GPH but did I mention it's a 400g tank with 100g sump?) through the sump.
I was going to say...goodness, and he says my mag 18 is too much...LOL....and I was all about tunze, then I didn't buy them in time and now everything went up 12% on an already EXPENSIVE line of products. I am thinking a couple of GIGANTIC Seio 2600 to start things off...and see from there.

[caferacermike]

You might be able to do what I'm doing with my set up. I am only going to allow about 600GPH through the sump and use the rest to push my skimmer. The idea is that instead of returning the water to the tank or having the skimmer output to the sump, I am going to have the skimmer's ouptut go right back into the front of the pump. There will be a valve on the pump heading back to the tank that will limit how much water goes to the tank. By limiting the water going to the tank, that will limit the water to the sump.

Seems like a MAG18 should provide 500-600GPH through the sump and 1,000GPH to the skimmer. That's in theory as I'm not certain a MAG would be as versatile.

[ismvel]

The idea is that instead of returning the water to the tank or having the skimmer output to the sump, I am going to have the skimmer's ouptut go right back into the front of the pump.
Not quite sure I get what you mean by the output going back in front of the pump and not in the sump...what kind of pump are you using? Submersible or external?



Seems like a MAG18 should provide 500-600GPH through the sump and 1,000GPH to the skimmer. That's in theory as I'm not certain a MAG would be as versatile.
I'll have to hope someone else chimes in, and see if Ace can answer this questions as it will be his skimmer I plan having him make me....

Thanks for all the help Mike.

[caferacermike]

It's an external pump. I had an extra large pump section made for my sump. It's 3 chambers. The first is for filtration socks, the giant main compartment is actually just a fuge (my skimmer is external See my tank build thread for pics of it.), the third area holds about 15g of water. This is where the water builds up for the pump to intake it. I have an area where the skimmer's output will be piped into that chamber of the sump. Basically I'll be recirculating about 2,000GPH of water through my skimmer. That water returns to the chamber that the pump draws from. Some will be diverted back to the tank but within seconds most will be right back in that chamber.

[Bill S]

Might want to come by and look mine over, it's very similar to yours. I have the 4 holes in the bottom plumbed as 2 1200gph closed loops (it had overflows, but I wanted a see-thru tank). I have a calfo at one end, and an 1800gph pump from the sump to return over the other end. Sorry Mike... My sump/fuge (Ace built) works VERY well, and is very quiet, even with that flow thru it. That being said, I have 2 Seio 2600s that I had to add for circulation.

P.S. Phone number is 210.663.8079

[ismvel]

Sounds good Bill, thanks. I will send you a PM to see when would be a good time to swing by and check it out.

[hobogato]

im not sure i buy in to the slow flow thru the sump idea. i have heard all kinds of reccommendations on the best amount of flow thru sump ranging from 1X per hour to 10X per hour. i have my system set up at about 10X per hour. the problem there for you is that a 1" drain will be rated for 600 gph, so you will be cutting it close with three 1" drains and a mag 18 as a return if something ever clogs one of your drains (like a fish or snail)

as far as separating the flow from the mag 18 into the return and the skimmer, i dont think it is strong enough. and throttling back the mag 18 to run only the skimmer is a waste of electricity - those mag drives are far from efficient anyway.

[caferacermike]

Bill I was only referring to the splashing of the water coming from the drain. It's easy to have the drain area make a lot of noise, not necessarily as it runs through the sump. How many people have trickle filters that echo through the night? I used to on another tank.

[Bill S]

Mine have dursos with tubing to "burp" them. They are also covered with HD foam.