Question Plumbing my sump

[Mumferd]

Hello everyone.. I just started building a 60 gallon reef tank. I have a 20 gallon sump under my stand, my tank is drilled with a glass-hole overflow kit (700 gph). I'm having trouple plumbing to my sump and back up.. Do I use PVC pipe for my drain? Then us flexible tubing for my return? How big of a return pump should I use? Thanks

 

[Anonymous]

How big is the main tank?

 

[Mumferd]

It's a 60 gallon tank.. Cant decide on pvc or spa flex tubing. Any ideas?

 

[Anonymous]

Well, I've never seen a tank done with flex for the return from the pump, I'd imagine that's a pressure issue for one thing. With PVC you can put an inline valves which makes tuning or balancing the system easier.

 

[Anonymous]

You can use either type of tubing. I use Vinyl tubing because it is easier to work with, FWIW. For return pump, you need to consider the turn over rate and your overflow capacity. For 60 gal., most of the small- to mid-sized external pump will be good enough. I used to use, for example, Iwaski 40 series for my 60 gal for return.