First time DIY... Help!!

[LisaD]

K guys… so, new build with a DIY project which I have never done before so I’m gonna have some pretty dumb questions.

This will be my seahorse tank (will be moving them from my 75g which will become my reef tank, making my 55g a FOWLR) I know…fruitbasket turnover!!!

46g bowfront
36†4bulb T5 lighting 2 –daylight/2 actinic with led and cooling fans

Here’s the DIY… I am going to make a 10g sump for the stand.
The part that I need help with is flow. Seahorses = low flow but I want the increased gallonage and better filtration that a sump provides.

I understand that a regular overflow/J tube moves @ 500gph? Right? That’s too much… so what diameter should I shoot for to get seahorse low flow?
AND what size return pump should I use for a 4 ft rise to the tank?

Plan on using carbon/live rock/live sand and macroalgae as filtration… plus a skimmer (may have to be HOB because of room issues under the stand but that’s ok with a prefilter for it to reduce bubbles, thinking about a bakpak2)

Thoughts? Advice? I’m pretty confident about the sump build…just need help with the plumbing… this is my first DIY project LOL . Be kind!!!


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[redfishbluefish]

I'd be looking at a MAG 5. The rough calculation is about 275 gph at a 4 foot rise and a couple elbows and unions......with 3/4 pipe. The overflow doesn't determine your flow rate, the return pump does that. If you feel this is too much flow, a MAG 3 produces 240 gph with the same parameters.

 

[zemuss]

However, if the overflow is rated at 500 GPH then you want a return pump less than the overflow rate. I would say in the 2250 to 400 range and anything above that is too much flow for the Overflow to handle.

 

[LisaD]

Ok so regular overflow and j tube with a mag 3 should suffice then. They are used to a 75g with 2 HOB filters so I don't want to give them too harsh a flow by switching. I'm excited about a new build!!!


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[Reefing Madness]

Returns like this do'nt usually count as flow, as they are usually not pushed enough to create much movement. You can also split the return at the top and that will lessen the flow even more.

 

[LisaD]

So you don't think it would be too much for ponies?


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[Reefing Madness]

Not if you split it and just ran it across the top of the water surface, should be just fine. Won't move much water around.

 

[LisaD]

So just do a Y in the return tubing and have one on each side?


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[Reefing Madness]

Yea, but don't do it til you get to the top of the tank, that way you won't kill to much more of the head loss as it goes up. The more you split, the less flow that will be felt.

 

[LisaD]

I see... Makes sense. Got plans leaping into my head lol


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[Reefing Madness]