Overflow question

Annedee · 08/10/2016, 12:25 AM

Hey guys! Thanks for the wealth of knowledge that has gotten me this far! First post on here, but I've been creeping for months!

So... I have a 20g glass Dt, w a 22g(max) acrylic sump. I have drilled the glass for a bean animal overflow. I have an open back acrylic overflow box with 1" teeth that sit 1/16th from top and are 1" tall. Total internal box height is 3.25, and 7.5w. I have 1/2" plumping ready to install.

My question is, how do I know how much overflow I'm getting? My return pump is a Hydor Seltz L30, rated at 320gph. I'll have 2' vertical height, 2 90* fittings w 12" flex tubing that may equal 45*.

I'm planning on softies and maybe a few LPS, w Hydor Koralias 425 and 240. Therefore I don't need my sump to turn more than my Reef Octopus bh-50 can handle. But I don't know how to hone the return pump in, or if it's even enough.

I know my skimmer likes on paper 7", but I'm planning 13" of water w a stand or the hang-on feature to maximize sump volume. That leaves 2" extra in the overflow chamber. Is that a salt creep nightmare?

Thanks for reading... Any experienced help is much appreciated. I fully understand the dynamics, but I'm not "wet" yet and know theory is not practice!!

mcgyvr · 08/10/2016, 05:18 AM

Typically a pumps datasheet shows approximate flow rates at "X" amount of head (vertical pumping height)...
Assume you are just slightly under that and thats good enough..
You won't know exactly unless you time the system filling up a known container or add a flowmeter which can be expensive..

08/10/2016, 12:25 AM	#1
Annedee Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2016 Posts: 5	Overflow question Hey guys! Thanks for the wealth of knowledge that has gotten me this far! First post on here, but I've been creeping for months! So... I have a 20g glass Dt, w a 22g(max) acrylic sump. I have drilled the glass for a bean animal overflow. I have an open back acrylic overflow box with 1" teeth that sit 1/16th from top and are 1" tall. Total internal box height is 3.25, and 7.5w. I have 1/2" plumping ready to install. My question is, how do I know how much overflow I'm getting? My return pump is a Hydor Seltz L30, rated at 320gph. I'll have 2' vertical height, 2 90* fittings w 12" flex tubing that may equal 45*. I'm planning on softies and maybe a few LPS, w Hydor Koralias 425 and 240. Therefore I don't need my sump to turn more than my Reef Octopus bh-50 can handle. But I don't know how to hone the return pump in, or if it's even enough. I know my skimmer likes on paper 7", but I'm planning 13" of water w a stand or the hang-on feature to maximize sump volume. That leaves 2" extra in the overflow chamber. Is that a salt creep nightmare? Thanks for reading... Any experienced help is much appreciated. I fully understand the dynamics, but I'm not "wet" yet and know theory is not practice!!

08/10/2016, 05:18 AM	#2
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	Typically a pumps datasheet shows approximate flow rates at "X" amount of head (vertical pumping height)... Assume you are just slightly under that and thats good enough.. You won't know exactly unless you time the system filling up a known container or add a flowmeter which can be expensive.. __________________ Who me?