DIY overflow

[Steven Garland]

So I have a Aquamaxx 9g tank,which I made it into an AIO but the back chamber is painfully small in order to maximize most of the tank.

I have been fumbling the idea of sumling the tank lately. My question is,would ½" work or do I NEED to do ¾" ? I see that ½" can handle 200gph gravity fed and personally I am fine with that. Its just gonna be a simple sump,and I already have TONS of ½" fittings,pipe,unions,double union ball valves and double union check valves.

So that being said can I make ½" work instead of ¾" ?

 

[MoshJosh]

I would probably go bigger. I was nervous using a single 1" bulk head for my 275GPH pump (ended up going with 2 1" bulkheads). How big of a pump were you going to use?

 

[Steven Garland]

I would probably go bigger. I was nervous using a single 1" bulk head for my 275GPH pump (ended up going with 2 1" bulkheads). How big of a pump were you going to use?

Realistcally just big enough to get flow back into the display as I have an mp10 for flow. I mean on the drain side I can use ¾" since.all I will need is a couple 45's and some pipe,maybe a ball valve and usr ½" on the return with a check valve,ball valve. If I can get the same flow into the tank as leaving say roughly 200-250gph I would be fine. So a SUPER strong pump isn't needed I guess. Not really looking yo use the return as a source of useable flow,ya know ?

Overflow will be made of pvc,tank is filled with coral and crap. So pvc it is,and the ones are the market aren't justifiable when I can make my own for super cheap with some fittings. Planning on something like this:

 

[Graemesreef]

So I have a Aquamaxx 9g tank,which I made it into an AIO but the back chamber is painfully small in order to maximize most of the tank.

I have been fumbling the idea of sumling the tank lately. My question is,would ½" work or do I NEED to do ¾" ? I see that ½" can handle 200gph gravity fed and personally I am fine with that. Its just gonna be a simple sump,and I already have TONS of ½" fittings,pipe,unions,double union ball valves and double union check valves.

So that being said can I make ½" work instead of ¾"

I would suggest 3/4 down and 1/2 up with a small controlled pump.