Overflow GPH?

iamjero · 09/26/2006, 10:04 AM

I am doing some research on building my own hang-on-the-tank overflow.

What size does it need to be? What about flow rates.. are they decided by the size of the pump I use.. should the opening for water to leave the overflow be a certain size or does that depend on the diameter of tube I use to get water from the overflow to the sump?

Anyone know of any good links to find info?

jake levi · 09/26/2006, 10:16 AM

You can buy one for ~ $38, the materials would cost you close to that.

Your flow rate on the commercial models is adequate for most all pumps used, dont worry about huge turnover rates, if you turn over 2-3 times the tank hourly thats a lot and easy enough to get in your pump. Much faster and the the denitrifaction bacteria are just hanging on, until they cant, you are putting a current through a bio mass to break down the raw urea and nitrites, too fast a turnover and its like the Colorado River coming out of Boulder Dam, lot of turnover but no denitrafication happening.

Is it going to be just filter media in the sump or macroalgae? Myself I'd go with the macroalgae.

The pump is going to be your controller of flow rate, the size of the output dia is what you want the rest of the piping to be at a minimum. If, you have a tank of 55 gals then a pump with a flow rate of 165 gals/hour at the head its working at will do a good job, unless you are into whitewater rafting. Its not the flow rate, its the contact of the water and its nitrites with the denitrifiers that is the important factor.

silverwolf72 · 09/26/2006, 10:22 AM

http://www.reefs.org/diy/diy14.html
See if this is any help

09/26/2006, 10:04 AM	#1
iamjero Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Denver Posts: 96	Overflow GPH? I am doing some research on building my own hang-on-the-tank overflow. What size does it need to be? What about flow rates.. are they decided by the size of the pump I use.. should the opening for water to leave the overflow be a certain size or does that depend on the diameter of tube I use to get water from the overflow to the sump? Anyone know of any good links to find info?

09/26/2006, 10:16 AM	#2
jake levi Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: North Central Michigan Posts: 543	You can buy one for ~ $38, the materials would cost you close to that. Your flow rate on the commercial models is adequate for most all pumps used, dont worry about huge turnover rates, if you turn over 2-3 times the tank hourly thats a lot and easy enough to get in your pump. Much faster and the the denitrifaction bacteria are just hanging on, until they cant, you are putting a current through a bio mass to break down the raw urea and nitrites, too fast a turnover and its like the Colorado River coming out of Boulder Dam, lot of turnover but no denitrafication happening. Is it going to be just filter media in the sump or macroalgae? Myself I'd go with the macroalgae. The pump is going to be your controller of flow rate, the size of the output dia is what you want the rest of the piping to be at a minimum. If, you have a tank of 55 gals then a pump with a flow rate of 165 gals/hour at the head its working at will do a good job, unless you are into whitewater rafting. Its not the flow rate, its the contact of the water and its nitrites with the denitrifiers that is the important factor. __________________ Jake We are all in this together Current Tank Info: reef tanks oriented towards pairs of reef fish

09/26/2006, 10:22 AM	#3
silverwolf72 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Lake Forrest CA Posts: 1,732	http://www.reefs.org/diy/diy14.html See if this is any help