DIY sump advice

[J062682l]

It's for a 55 I'm thinking one sock one over flow double return outlet

It's gonna be two. Boxes both 14w 16t 9d First box will be all fiktration. Second box is refugium and return.

 

[Reefing Madness]

Nothing wrong with that. Just make sure one is higher than the other, for gravity feed flow from one to another.

 

[J062682l]

What if I can't raise the first box?

 

[J062682l]

What if I can't raise the first box?

The skimmer is gonna be tight in not sure I can raise the first box

 

[ridgelon]

Just make sure your outlet hole from the first tank is higher than your second, also make sure the second tank can handle the overflow from your display when you turn your pump off. It will end up filling up to the level of the outlet hole of the first tank if there's enough overflow.

 

[J062682l]

Ok. Thanks guys. I'm gonna do a little more design tweaking. I'm wondering though, Will one overflow do it ? Will it fill fast enough to get good flow through the whole set up.

 

[Reefing Madness]

Yea, one 600gph overflow pipe should be fine.

 

[ridgelon]

Ok. Thanks guys. I'm gonna do a little more design tweaking. I'm wondering though, Will one overflow do it ? Will it fill fast enough to get good flow through the whole set up.

If the bulkhead on the 'exit' from your first tank is larger than the entering tube it should handle it, I go up by 1" just to be extra safe, you might be able to pull it off with 1/2" larger diameter. Larger the hole more flow can go through, all depends on your tank overflow and return pump. For me my return from overflow pipes are 1" larger than my return pump's pipe and I can run it at full blast, it chokes up on the overflow and it's size. I've had to put ball valves to slow it down so the overflow can handle the volume of water. I'd suggest a test run outside with a hose, your pump in an ice chest, sump and some thrown together pvc so you can see what the flow is like. Better to do test runs outside than build it and say "**** I should have done that instead" (personal experience speaking)

 

[J062682l]

If I DIY an overflow should I go with a 1&1/2 down to sump. And a 2in between boxes and another 1 in the return ? Would that be ok

 

[ridgelon]

Sounds about right, but I would definitely test it in the backyard first, don't want choke up on you and overflow the main display.

 

[J062682l]

Yup of course !