220 gallon tank idea

[dcathey]

I am planning a 220 gallon reef with an 80 gallon sump/fuge/frag tank. My sump would be 5 feet long and have at least 4 chambers ( protein skimmer, return, fuge, frag tank) The tank has 2 corner overflows w/ 4 2'' drains. My question is if I drain 2 drains to sump can i make another chamber or another small tank w/ baffles for other 2 drains to make a closed loop? If I am on the wrong path then someone enlighten me to how to get at least 20-25x turnover. I would like recommendations, past experiences, equipmment selection, etc. Thanks everyone.

 

[scsinet]

This won't work unfortunately.
There is no way to control how much water will flow into which overflow standpipe. Even when they are seemingly set to the same height, tiny nuances in the setup will cause one standpipe to get more water than the other, which will eventually flood either the sump or closed loop, or cause one to be shorted on water.
Closed loops need to draw from the tank itself, not from the overflow, and the tank's overflows need to all drain to the same vessel, be it a sump (that can have more than one section), etc.
In your case, the better idea would be to have a massive drain section in the sump where all overflows drain to. It can then overflow into the sump's other sections, and have a large pump pulling from it for closed loop.

 

[tboy]

hey Dcathey. I'm thinking setting up a 220g too. Could u show me more on your sump.
thank you
please keep posted.

 

[dcathey]

it is still very early in planning but lets use this thread to exchange ideas. I will make a sketch of sump plans and put it on here. What kind of lighting are you going to have for display tank?

 

[tboy]

I'm thinking of lots of tangs and little of soft coral. My tank the side is gonna be against wall and display view from both side. Both of overflow will be on the same side against the wall. I have a 175w MH fixture with dual 55w pc in my garage and a 250w MH in my 58g tank at home. Planning on buying a retrofit system with either 2 to 4 110w vho and a 400w MH on one end and my 250 on the other. The whole retrofit system will be about 4'. And my 175w fixture with (2)55w pc at the end by the wall.
Those are my plan for my lighting.
Now my next concern is if i should get one big refuguim with everything in it and both of the overflow go in it too or should i get two seperate one?
that's why i was asking you to see your plumbing plan.
by the way
what kind of protein skimmer, uv sterlizer, etc. u using for your system and what kind of system your trying to setup?