50 gallon Acrilic, 20 gallon glass sump

[jtmaclain]

I just got a 50 gallon seaclear acrilic tank, I currently have a 20 gallon glass tank. I want to make the 20 a sump/refugium for the fifty. Niether of the tanks are drilled. I want to drill them, I have a rotozip. The only thing that I have no idea how to do is figure out what size pump I should get, how many and what size overflows and returns to have. I am also building my own stand so I can have however many pipes are necessary. Would three returns be overkill on a 36"x15"x20" tank. I was thinking 1 on each side and one split in the middle. I tried to attach a picture of what I was thinking, I dont know if it worked though.

 

[dogstar]

A 1 inch size ID drain pipe can handle around 600 gph draining back to the sump. For a pump thats what you want also, maybe something around 600 gph rated because of head loss and that pump would only need one 3/4 pipe. You could drill and build 2- 1 inch drains so if you ever get a larger sump in the future but still just use a smaller pump for now for the 20 g.
Too much flow thru a sump can give you bubble problems in the main tank depending on if theres baffles in the sump and if they work good.... If you want more flow in the main tank then drill for a closed loop also.
Get your bulkheads first so you know what size hole to drill.
Acrylic drills easy with a typical holesaw bit. Just drill slow and cool the bit and acrylic by spraying water as you drill.
IMO, no need to drill the sump if you use a submersible pump.

 

[laddy]

Originally Posted by Dogstar
A 1 inch size ID drain pipe can handle around 600 gph draining back to the sump. For a pump thats what you want also, maybe something around 600 gph rated because of head loss and that pump would only need one 3/4 pipe. You could drill and build 2- 1 inch drains so if you ever get a larger sump in the future but still just use a smaller pump for now for the 20 g.
Too much flow thru a sump can give you bubble problems in the main tank depending on if theres baffles in the sump and if they work good.... If you want more flow in the main tank then drill for a closed loop also.
Get your bulkheads first so you know what size hole to drill.
Acrylic drills easy with a typical holesaw bit. Just drill slow and cool the bit and acrylic by spraying water as you drill.
IMO, no need to drill the sump if you use a submersible pump.
I couldn't agree more. The only think I can add, considering I drilled my first acrylic tank last month, JTMaclain, is to get the bulkheads first, measure for the outside dimensions, tape off with some duct tape, and drill a pilot hole (i guess depending on what you are drilling with)........slow and steady, and you should be fine.