GPH from sump

Gordonious · 08/03/2006, 11:01 AM

I'm going to try to set up a 40 gallon breeder connected to a 20 gallon tank which I will be using as a shared sump. How many GPH should I get from the sump to the 40g display? I could get about 450gph, but to save on noise and pipe size I think I want to go with a little less. The I could have less intrusive bulk heads and smaller pipes running from one cabinet to another.
To accomplish less gph I would of course T off the return with and using a check valve force some of it to go right back into the sump.

Gordonious · 08/03/2006, 11:07 AM

Should I go with clear or black bulk heads? I am pretty sure I am going to do clear.

mg426 · 08/03/2006, 11:10 AM

The going wisdom is to run 3 to 5 times tank volume through your sump/hr.

Travis L. Stevens · 08/03/2006, 11:14 AM

That all depends. Do you want lots of flow through your sump? What types of corals are you keeping?

Gordonious · 08/03/2006, 12:54 PM

Thats the thing, the tank is currently empty and in the future could have... well a lot of different thigns in it. As far as the type I don't think that will matter dramaticly as for flow rate my powerheads will come into play.

With 5 times the tank volume I can get away with using 250-300 gph. In which case the 3/4" bulk head would be fine. I'm starting to think if a single 3'4" bulk head would be ok, then two should be ok on noise. So I think I am going to actually buy 1" bulk heads and just run an adapter to 3/4" pipe which if needed could be upgraded in the future easier then the bulk heads.

Gordonious · 08/03/2006, 01:09 PM

Oh and I am not worried about mega flow through the sump as my bio load should be low for a long time, due to my time and wallet size. The sump is also going to be shared with 3 other 20 gallon displays, so the water volume should also help a little with water quality and chemical stability.

08/03/2006, 11:01 AM	#1
Gordonious Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Newark DE Posts: 3,393	GPH from sump I'm going to try to set up a 40 gallon breeder connected to a 20 gallon tank which I will be using as a shared sump. How many GPH should I get from the sump to the 40g display? I could get about 450gph, but to save on noise and pipe size I think I want to go with a little less. The I could have less intrusive bulk heads and smaller pipes running from one cabinet to another. To accomplish less gph I would of course T off the return with and using a check valve force some of it to go right back into the sump.

08/03/2006, 11:10 AM	#3
mg426 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: maryland Posts: 6,923	The going wisdom is to run 3 to 5 times tank volume through your sump/hr. __________________ I found a way to make a small fortune running a reef tank. Start with a large fortune. Unofficial President of the SEACLONE haters club Current Tank Info: 125 mixed reef 110 lbs LR, 1x250watt XM 20K MH 2x175watt XM 20K MH on Magetics 2X96 watt actinic PC, 220 watt VHO actinic, 30 gallon refugium, closed loop system powered by Sequence Dart MSX 200 skimmer 38 gallon sump, Oceansmotions squirt

08/03/2006, 11:14 AM	#4
Travis L. Stevens Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Perry, OK Posts: 13,946	That all depends. Do you want lots of flow through your sump? What types of corals are you keeping? __________________ Travis Stevens Current Tank Info: Restarting 28g Bowfront

08/03/2006, 11:07 AM	#2
Gordonious Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Newark DE Posts: 3,393	Should I go with clear or black bulk heads? I am pretty sure I am going to do clear.

08/03/2006, 12:54 PM	#5
Gordonious Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Newark DE Posts: 3,393	Thats the thing, the tank is currently empty and in the future could have... well a lot of different thigns in it. As far as the type I don't think that will matter dramaticly as for flow rate my powerheads will come into play. With 5 times the tank volume I can get away with using 250-300 gph. In which case the 3/4" bulk head would be fine. I'm starting to think if a single 3'4" bulk head would be ok, then two should be ok on noise. So I think I am going to actually buy 1" bulk heads and just run an adapter to 3/4" pipe which if needed could be upgraded in the future easier then the bulk heads.

08/03/2006, 01:09 PM	#6
Gordonious Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Newark DE Posts: 3,393	Oh and I am not worried about mega flow through the sump as my bio load should be low for a long time, due to my time and wallet size. The sump is also going to be shared with 3 other 20 gallon displays, so the water volume should also help a little with water quality and chemical stability.