GPH sump?

A New Guy · 11/18/2012, 05:09 PM

Ok, if you have been reading my posts you know that I have a 90 gal tank with a 29gal sump which I'm sure will only hold about 10 - 15 gal.

I will have a sparsly populated tank, as it is my first try.

I have a 3/4" fitting glued into my bulkheads so I am stuck with 3/5" PVC. I been reading that I may only get about 300 - 350 GPH from my gravity drain. My question is, if everything in the sump, the LR and skimmer is matching that flow, would it be ok for that size tank? Lets just say 200GPH worst case, the skimmer does 350GPH the retutn pump does around 600GPH, which I will control with a return valve.

Does my tank really need to be turned over 48 times a day?

And at higher flows like a full 600GPH is it even doing as good catching a little water going through the sump as a slower GPH catching twice as much more?

I guess what I am asking, What are the pros and cons of a very high flow sump to a lower flow sump?

I will rely mostly on wave makers for water flow inside the tank.

Edit: If a high flow is highly advised, has anyone ran a pump to pull from the tank matching the one retutning? like two 600GPH pumps, one pulling and the other pushing?

cloak · 11/18/2012, 05:44 PM

It doesn't really matter IMO. It's all one body of water. Some of it's up top, some of it's down below.

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2003/4/beginner

cloak · 11/18/2012, 05:46 PM

Woops...

A New Guy · 11/18/2012, 06:07 PM

Great article, I will problably have to read that a time or two to gather all the info. But I think that answers some questions about how much water needs to flow through the sump. I will most likely run a Berlin style, just housing my heaters and skimmer, of course still built to upgrade is wanting or needing LR or sand bed.

Thanks Cloak for that link.

cloak · 11/18/2012, 06:15 PM

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...through+a+sump

Breadman03 · 11/18/2012, 07:06 PM

I wouldn't worry about having high flow through the sump, but the tank should have good flow to keep detritus suspended in order to allow the detritus to reach the skimmer.

A New Guy · 11/18/2012, 07:22 PM

So I'll still need a 600GPH pump to flow about 300GPH since it has to travel upwards about 4' from the sump to the top of the tank through 3/4" PVC.

11/18/2012, 05:09 PM	#1
A New Guy Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Posts: 39	GPH sump? Ok, if you have been reading my posts you know that I have a 90 gal tank with a 29gal sump which I'm sure will only hold about 10 - 15 gal. I will have a sparsly populated tank, as it is my first try. I have a 3/4" fitting glued into my bulkheads so I am stuck with 3/5" PVC. I been reading that I may only get about 300 - 350 GPH from my gravity drain. My question is, if everything in the sump, the LR and skimmer is matching that flow, would it be ok for that size tank? Lets just say 200GPH worst case, the skimmer does 350GPH the retutn pump does around 600GPH, which I will control with a return valve. Does my tank really need to be turned over 48 times a day? And at higher flows like a full 600GPH is it even doing as good catching a little water going through the sump as a slower GPH catching twice as much more? I guess what I am asking, What are the pros and cons of a very high flow sump to a lower flow sump? I will rely mostly on wave makers for water flow inside the tank. Edit: If a high flow is highly advised, has anyone ran a pump to pull from the tank matching the one retutning? like two 600GPH pumps, one pulling and the other pushing?

11/18/2012, 05:44 PM	#2
cloak Moved On Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Stockton, CA Posts: 14,854	It doesn't really matter IMO. It's all one body of water. Some of it's up top, some of it's down below. http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2003/4/beginner

11/18/2012, 05:46 PM	#3
cloak Moved On Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Stockton, CA Posts: 14,854	Woops...

11/18/2012, 06:07 PM	#4
A New Guy Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Posts: 39	Great article, I will problably have to read that a time or two to gather all the info. But I think that answers some questions about how much water needs to flow through the sump. I will most likely run a Berlin style, just housing my heaters and skimmer, of course still built to upgrade is wanting or needing LR or sand bed. Thanks Cloak for that link.

11/18/2012, 06:15 PM	#5
cloak Moved On Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Stockton, CA Posts: 14,854	http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...through+a+sump

11/18/2012, 07:06 PM	#6
Breadman03 New Old School Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Luzerne County, PA Posts: 3,293	I wouldn't worry about having high flow through the sump, but the tank should have good flow to keep detritus suspended in order to allow the detritus to reach the skimmer.

11/18/2012, 07:22 PM	#7
A New Guy Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Posts: 39	So I'll still need a 600GPH pump to flow about 300GPH since it has to travel upwards about 4' from the sump to the top of the tank through 3/4" PVC.