sump suggestions.

[th3champish3r3]

I wanna start by saying sorry but I am setting up a freshwater tank and asking for advice...I know this is a saltwate forum. I am stuck between a 15 gallon or 30 gallon sump for my 180 gallon freshwater aquarium. I am going to be holding large cichlids with a big bio load. Would the 30 gallon wet dry be much more beneficial and is an 800 gph return pump sufficient?

 

[fishman1069]

The bigger the better. Your gonna want alot of bacteria to handle all that poop! lol But really go with something a little bigger. I would setup a 55 gal under that 180 and section it off and load it with bio-balls and have a big ass sock where the water drains into the sump.

 

[th3champish3r3]

would a mag 18 be too big? Someone was telling me i shouldnt go much over 900 gph because it wouldnt allow for the water to contact with the bio balls as much as I need?

 

[fishman1069]

Whats your overflow rated at? or how big are the bulkheads?

 

[th3champish3r3]

If I go more powerful than an 800 gph pump I will haveto get a new overflow. I believe the bulkheads are inch and a half. If it helps at all the wet dry is an amiracle with 2 hoses that go into the drip plate. Can I ever get a pump that is too powerful? Or is the more the better?

 

[fishman1069]

How many overflows do you have? 1 1/2" bulkheads will drain at a rate of about 900 gph if run straight down. If you have two of them than I would go with something like a mag 12 for a retuen pump. Thats just my opinion. Im sure other people would have different veiws.

 

[th3champish3r3]

It is a dual overflow. I believe the wet dry is rated for 800 gph. Would a mag 12 be safe to use with that overflow? Also can I use pumps from lowes? I went to look at them yesterday and they were made by tetra.

 

[fishman1069]

I wouldnt use the tetra pumps. I would look for like a mag 9.5 or quietone 4000. They are much better quality with alot less noise. You can uaually find used pumps in the marketplace or on ebay. If you go with a mag 12, you would want to use a ball valve in-line so you can choke back the pump.

 

[th3champish3r3]

ok thanks. Would there be much of a difference with a 15 gallon wet dry vs a 30 gallon? And Would a mag 12 be ok with that overflow?

 

[Turbovr3six]

Your return pump is creating "turnover" through the sump. You need to determine how big and how many drains you will have. If the drain pipes are going to have ANY bends in them, they will flow less. Also I would stay away from Mag pumps since they're power hogs. The return pump will be running 24/7 and if you can say Watts on a pump I highly reccommend it. Also Watts=Heat when submersed.

 

[th3champish3r3]

I have 2 drains through the overflow. Would a 1200 gph pump be suitable? What is a good submersible pump to go with? Thanks turbo and fishman

 

[Turbovr3six]

The bigger the better. Your gonna want alot of bacteria to handle all that poop! lol But really go with something a little bigger. I would setup a 55 gal under that 180

Agree that bigger=better, but I would use a 75G since it is wider than a 55.

If I go more powerful than an 800 gph pump I will haveto get a new overflow. I believe the bulkheads are inch and a half. If it helps at all the wet dry is an amiracle with 2 hoses that go into the drip plate. Can I ever get a pump that is too powerful? Or is the more the better?

Yes the pump can be too powerful. If your drains can drain quick enough, it will flood your display tank. You will need to throttle down the return pump or divert it back into the sump.

 

[th3champish3r3]

Can anyone recomend a 1200 gph pump for me? Or does anyone have one for sale? I am also looking for a uv sterelizer for the tank. Thanks turbo and fishman. Would I get a better filter going with a 30 gallon sump instead of 15?

 

[th3champish3r3]

is there such thing as an adjustable pump?

 

[Turbovr3six]

I would recommend a Water Blaster 3000. JMO of course.

 

[fishman1069]

I use mag pumps and have no problem with them. I would go bigger than the 30 wet dry, like I said earlier. If you use the 30 gal your gonna have little room for bio, and your gonna have problems with that much water coming from yuor dt into that little sump. Plus if you ever have a poer faliure its gonna overflow that sump by several gallons. You have to remember that if all the power goes out, your dt is gonna continue to drain thru the overflows and your return. Yopu have to have enough room in a sump to compensate for that.

 

[Turbovr3six]

I use mag pumps and have no problem with them. I would go bigger than the 30 wet dry, like I said earlier. If you use the 30 gal your gonna have little room for bio, and your gonna have problems with that much water coming from yuor dt into that little sump. Plus if you ever have a poer faliure its gonna overflow that sump by several gallons. You have to remember that if all the power goes out, your dt is gonna continue to drain thru the overflows and your return. Yopu have to have enough room in a sump to compensate for that.

Dont get me wrong, Mag pumps are built like tanks. But they draw alot of power. I agree that a 30 will be way to small for this project and like stated above, if your pump goes off(for whatever reason), you sump will need to have the extra room to compensate for the drain back down into it. Also I wouldnt rely on a check valve, because CHECK VALVES ALWAYS FAIL. Make your siphon break high enough to not flood your floor.

 

[th3champish3r3]

I was told the overflow box can be adjusted so that it only sits 2 inches under the surface of the water in the display tank and that will prevent overflowing if the power goes out. Is this wrong?

 

[Turbovr3six]

I was told the overflow box can be adjusted so that it only sits 2 inches under the surface of the water in the display tank and that will prevent overflowing if the power goes out. Is this wrong?

Its all in the math. I assume the 180 is just the standard size, and if thats the case then 2" of water drained is 15G. I would get a 75G and baffle it out and use that. Again, JMO

 

[fishman1069]

A 75 would be best but I think you could get away with a 55. Either way you need something better than the 30. If I can make one more suggestion, ditch the overflow boxes and drill the tank! OV boxes are a PITA and require alot more attention tna bulkheads with a street elbow and strainer. You can find tons of videos on youtube about drillin a tank and you can get everything from http://glass-holes.com/ I would drill 2 2 3/8 holes to accomodate 1 1/2" bulkheads. Put the 2 holes on each side of the tank 4" from the top and 4" from the corner. It should look like this when its all done