Question About Overflow

Mr. Fish · 07/06/2012, 03:24 PM

So I used the overflow and drain calculator on here and it says for a 3,000 gph pump I need a 47 inch overflow. If I was to use a smaller overflow, would it work or is the absolute minimum 47 inches?

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tkeracer619 · 07/06/2012, 03:54 PM

It would work. You just need more volume in the sump for power outages.

What are you trying to do?

Mr. Fish · 07/06/2012, 04:31 PM

I would like to do a 3000 gph pump with a 24" overflow

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tkeracer619 · 07/06/2012, 04:41 PM

What size is the tank?

Mr. Fish · 07/06/2012, 04:51 PM

48" 48" 22" 220 gallons

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tkeracer619 · 07/06/2012, 04:55 PM

Any reason behind wanting 3000gph? A 1000gph pump would work better IME.

What skimmer are you using?

What size is your sump? Micro bubbles could be a problem with that much flow without a very large sump.

Will be a sweet tank for sure!

Mr. Fish · 07/06/2012, 09:16 PM

I haven't bought the sump or skimmer yet, but I am having the tank built and the company making it needs to know what kind and how big of an overflow to install. I was thinking about getting a Bubble Magus NAC9 for the skimmer, a dart/snapper hybrid for the pump and worst case for the sump a 40gallon breeder if I'm unable to find anything bigger. I wanted to use the return for water flow too, but I don't want a massive overflow.

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reefermad619 · 07/06/2012, 09:46 PM

You'd be better off using a closed loop, or less return pump and more power heads. With more flow and less overflow, the layer of water that is skimmed is thicker, hence not skimming as well. You usually want the thinnest layer possible to really get a good skim. But if your overflow has teeth, then I wouldnt worry about pump size because teeth on an overflow will yield even worse results for skimming the top layer of water.

smaggard · 07/07/2012, 08:57 AM

I would have to agree on a smaller pump, something about a 3000 GPH pump seems like a flood waiting to happen when the overflows can't keep up. When you did the calculation what did it say for drain size for that much overturn?

07/06/2012, 03:24 PM	#1
Mr. Fish Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 828	Question About Overflow So I used the overflow and drain calculator on here and it says for a 3,000 gph pump I need a 47 inch overflow. If I was to use a smaller overflow, would it work or is the absolute minimum 47 inches? Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2

07/06/2012, 03:54 PM	#2
tkeracer619 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Westminster, CO Posts: 17,289	It would work. You just need more volume in the sump for power outages. What are you trying to do? __________________ Hobby Experience: 9200ish gallons, 26 skimmers, and a handful of Kent Scrapers. Current Tank: Vortech Powered 600G SPS Tank w/ 100gal frag tank & 100g Sump. RK2-RK10 Skimmer. ReefAngel. Radium 20k.

07/06/2012, 04:41 PM	#4
tkeracer619 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Westminster, CO Posts: 17,289	What size is the tank? __________________ Hobby Experience: 9200ish gallons, 26 skimmers, and a handful of Kent Scrapers. Current Tank: Vortech Powered 600G SPS Tank w/ 100gal frag tank & 100g Sump. RK2-RK10 Skimmer. ReefAngel. Radium 20k.

07/06/2012, 04:55 PM	#6
tkeracer619 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Westminster, CO Posts: 17,289	Any reason behind wanting 3000gph? A 1000gph pump would work better IME. What skimmer are you using? What size is your sump? Micro bubbles could be a problem with that much flow without a very large sump. Will be a sweet tank for sure! __________________ Hobby Experience: 9200ish gallons, 26 skimmers, and a handful of Kent Scrapers. Current Tank: Vortech Powered 600G SPS Tank w/ 100gal frag tank & 100g Sump. RK2-RK10 Skimmer. ReefAngel. Radium 20k.

07/06/2012, 09:46 PM	#8
reefermad619 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: The Salty D! Sandy let go of my eggo! Posts: 1,962	You'd be better off using a closed loop, or less return pump and more power heads. With more flow and less overflow, the layer of water that is skimmed is thicker, hence not skimming as well. You usually want the thinnest layer possible to really get a good skim. But if your overflow has teeth, then I wouldnt worry about pump size because teeth on an overflow will yield even worse results for skimming the top layer of water. __________________ Fish tanks and Chevys... And my cousin's Datsun too. Some call it paranoid. I call it prepared. You have more post than I do... You MUST be right then!

07/06/2012, 04:31 PM	#3
Mr. Fish Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 828	I would like to do a 3000 gph pump with a 24" overflow Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2

07/06/2012, 04:51 PM	#5
Mr. Fish Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 828	48" 48" 22" 220 gallons Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2

07/06/2012, 09:16 PM	#7
Mr. Fish Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 828	I haven't bought the sump or skimmer yet, but I am having the tank built and the company making it needs to know what kind and how big of an overflow to install. I was thinking about getting a Bubble Magus NAC9 for the skimmer, a dart/snapper hybrid for the pump and worst case for the sump a 40gallon breeder if I'm unable to find anything bigger. I wanted to use the return for water flow too, but I don't want a massive overflow. Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2

07/07/2012, 08:57 AM	#9
smaggard Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Broken Arrow, Ok Posts: 30	I would have to agree on a smaller pump, something about a 3000 GPH pump seems like a flood waiting to happen when the overflows can't keep up. When you did the calculation what did it say for drain size for that much overturn?