300 Gallon Setup overflow question(s)

ChrisStarkey · 08/22/2016, 11:36 AM

I am planning a 300 gallon Tank. it will be 8 feet long 2 feet high and 2.5 feet wide. I would like the overflows to be at the long end of the tank on one side. This way 3 sides can be viewed.

My Question is: with the additions of 3-4 powerheads, will this provide enough water movement to keep the tank/water clean?

Attached is a sketch of what I want. ANY advice is welcome. Thanks

nmotz · 08/22/2016, 12:02 PM

I'm not quite sure what you mean about the powerheads keeping the water "clean" but 3-4 powerheads can provide plenty of water movement as long as they are rated high enough. In a 300 gallon tank, you'll need them to push some serious water, especially if you would like to keep coral. I would definitely take some time to review the specs on several different powerheads. If it were me I'd probably be wanting to get 2-3 Ecotech mp60s or their equivalent.

mcgyvr · 08/22/2016, 12:09 PM

In general you want the following flows in a tank..
Flow through sump = 3-5x display volume
Total flow in tank = 30-100x display volume depending on inhabitants.. Some with SPS tanks run 100x display volume as they like high flow to keep them clean/free of debris settling..

ChrisStarkey · 08/22/2016, 12:47 PM

Keeping clean by moving the Detritus off the sand bed and into the water column. I guess i should have referred to it as water movement. Thank you both for your replies.

Does the Diagram attached look good? Is this setup going to be effective with GOOD powerheads??

mcgyvr · 08/22/2016, 02:34 PM

Number of powerheads and location at this point is really useless.. The goal is to ensure no areas of little flow/stagnant.. So that will be effected by rock placement (aquascape),etc...

Now you have numbers for suggested flow rates..

And how do you plan do do the actual overflow/drain system.. Hopefully not just a bulkhead.. I'd highly suggest a bean animal drain system and an overflow box the length of that small wall..
Also the problem with overflows on the short end of a long tank is surface skimming..
You may end up with a nice "oil slick" all over the top of the water (depending on flow,etc..)

Here is some info on the bean drain system.. This also shows a coast-coast overflow box to aid in surface skimming..
http://www.beananimal.com/projects/s...ow-system.aspx

ChrisStarkey · 08/22/2016, 07:51 PM

mcgyvr, thanks for the advice. I looked into the bean animal drain system. Looks good and doable. Do you think that i could adjust powerbeads to create a current and waves to prevent the "oil slick" from occurring? is there a way to manually take care of the "oil slick". If i put an overflow box running the width of the tank, will that help take care of it?

I plan to have the coral and live rock in the center of the tank and not touching any glass.

08/22/2016, 12:02 PM	#2
nmotz Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: FL, USA Posts: 1,433	I'm not quite sure what you mean about the powerheads keeping the water "clean" but 3-4 powerheads can provide plenty of water movement as long as they are rated high enough. In a 300 gallon tank, you'll need them to push some serious water, especially if you would like to keep coral. I would definitely take some time to review the specs on several different powerheads. If it were me I'd probably be wanting to get 2-3 Ecotech mp60s or their equivalent. __________________ Mantis shrimp are the best! Current Tank Info: 20L Peacock mantis shrimp tank

08/22/2016, 12:09 PM	#3
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	In general you want the following flows in a tank.. Flow through sump = 3-5x display volume Total flow in tank = 30-100x display volume depending on inhabitants.. Some with SPS tanks run 100x display volume as they like high flow to keep them clean/free of debris settling.. __________________ Who me?

08/22/2016, 02:34 PM	#5
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	Number of powerheads and location at this point is really useless.. The goal is to ensure no areas of little flow/stagnant.. So that will be effected by rock placement (aquascape),etc... Now you have numbers for suggested flow rates.. And how do you plan do do the actual overflow/drain system.. Hopefully not just a bulkhead.. I'd highly suggest a bean animal drain system and an overflow box the length of that small wall.. Also the problem with overflows on the short end of a long tank is surface skimming.. You may end up with a nice "oil slick" all over the top of the water (depending on flow,etc..) Here is some info on the bean drain system.. This also shows a coast-coast overflow box to aid in surface skimming.. http://www.beananimal.com/projects/s...ow-system.aspx __________________ Who me?

08/22/2016, 12:47 PM	#4
ChrisStarkey Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: Mansfield, OH Posts: 3	Keeping clean by moving the Detritus off the sand bed and into the water column. I guess i should have referred to it as water movement. Thank you both for your replies. Does the Diagram attached look good? Is this setup going to be effective with GOOD powerheads??

08/22/2016, 07:51 PM	#6
ChrisStarkey Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: Mansfield, OH Posts: 3	mcgyvr, thanks for the advice. I looked into the bean animal drain system. Looks good and doable. Do you think that i could adjust powerbeads to create a current and waves to prevent the "oil slick" from occurring? is there a way to manually take care of the "oil slick". If i put an overflow box running the width of the tank, will that help take care of it? I plan to have the coral and live rock in the center of the tank and not touching any glass.