Pump/Overflow Question

[Fishnet]

Hello all,
Iam in the process of upgrading flow rate in my 54g corner. Currently I have a Sen700 running internally full throtle ( approx 4' vertical+1 90degree bend ). The overflow that I have came as a reef ready kit. I think it has a 1" hole where I installed a durso standpipe. The return is a 3/4". I have the following questions:

1. Inorder to get more flow rate thru the overflow, can I use the 3/4" (currently being used as the return) as a second durso? I can then plump the return externally? Are there issues with two dursos in the same overflow?

2. With both a 1" and 3/4" durso, what will be the flow rate that my overflow will be able to handle? What size pump should use?

3. If i choose to use a Iwaki pump, do I have to get a pressure rated pump if the it is just used to return water to the tank, i.e no beckett injector/flow restriction device? Keeping this in mind can i buy a RLXT instead of the RLT?

Thank you in advance 8)

 

[rabagley]

Without being able to contribute a lot to your other questions, the 1" overflow should be able to reliably handle 600gph while a 3/4" overflow should be able to reliably handle 300gph.

If the goal is just to add more circulation, have you thought about adding a closed loop to the tank instead of increasing the flow through the sump? Flow through the sump is more wasteful of energy and tends to add more heat to the water than low pressure pumps (powerheads and closed loops). Also, by having more nozzles in the water, you have more flexibility in directing flow in your tank. Finally, you may find that the overflow box cannot handle the increased flow rate without becoming extremely noisy or pushing the water level dangerously high.

Regards,
Ross

 

[Fishnet]

Anyone else? Does a closed-loop require drilling the tank? I don't want to take it apart. Are there other ways to get a closed loop system without drilling? How reliable are they? I would really like to go the modified overflow route. That way I can have a return manifold and skip the entire closed loop design option. Any suggestions?

Thank You

 

[rabagley]

Take a look at the end of this thread:

http://reefs.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=49508

There's a no-drill closed loop design discussed (with photos) which was proposed to handle exactly the same issues you're concerned with.

Regards,
Ross