circulation problem - please help

[fmelindy]

I'm about to setup a new 125 gallon aquarium. It has two overflow boxes predrilled and two drilled bulkheads. Below you'll see a diagram of the flow layout.
Basically it's a little busy but what it is trying to show is that there is a main system pump that takes its water supply from one of the overflows and splits the water return between the two bulkeads. Then the other overflow supplies the 30 gallon fuge and sump underneath with a split outflow and pumps in the sump and fuge return the water to the tank by the returns built into the overflow chambers.
Will this work? My one question is, what size pumps do I need for the fuge and sump? I mean, if I but underpowered pumps, will they overflow due to being "oversupplied" by the overflow in the display tank?
Otherwise, does anyone have any additional suggestions? I'm aiming for a total water turnover of between 12 and 15 times per hour.

 

[fmelindy]

The purpose of the sump is to hold Calcium reactor, skimmer, denitrator and ozone reactor. Oh, and heaters too. Is a 30 gallon big enough for all that?

 

[squidd]

Is a 30 gallon big enough for all that?
That's going to depend on the "size" of the equipment and if it sits in or hangs on the sump...flow wise they are all relatively low flow devices
Looks like your trying to run three pumps...one a psudo closed loop and two returns...that part is fine..
How much flow will the other overflow supply to the sump/fuge...??
Suggest staying with the "split drain" to sump and fuge, but then have the fuge gavity drain into sump as well ...then run one return pump from sump...
.

 

[fmelindy]

Originally Posted by Squidd
That's going to depend on the "size" of the equipment and if it sits in or hangs on the sump...flow wise they are all relatively low flow devices
Yes, I was planning n having them all sit in the sump. Would you say the skimmer is a "low flow device" ? It's going to have a 900gph pump - it's a kent Nautilus ex 24".
Looks like your trying to run three pumps...one a psudo closed loop and two returns...that part is fine..
Good, that's exactly what I was trying to do...
How much flow will the other overflow supply to the sump/fuge...??
That's exactly what I was trying to figure out.... The outgoing pipe is 1 1/2" - is there any way to know in advance how much water I'm going to need to pump back as a result of overflow size?
Suggest staying with the "split drain" to sump and fuge, but then have the fuge gavity drain into sump as well ...then run one return pump from sump...
How would I "gravity drain" from the fuge to the sump? What size pump should I buy under this scenario?
.
Sorry for all the additional questions and thanks a whole lot for your help!

 

[fmelindy]

bumpity

 

[squidd]

The outgoing pipe is 1 1/2" - is there any way to know in advance how much water I'm going to need to pump back as a result of overflow size?

I bu(y) underpowered pumps, will they overflow due to being "oversupplied" by the overflow in the display tank?
An 1 1/2" overflow will "allow" up to 1300 gph through it...With no pump running water will stabilize at a predetermined level (top of overflow)...
If you add 1 gallon to tank, one gallon will drain out..and then stop...
If you add 6 gallons ...6 gallons will drain out...
If you add (pump 1200 gallons per hour) ..1200 gallons per hour will drain out..when you turn the pump off...water will stabilize at a predetermined level (top of overflow)...
What I'm saying is...an overflow will only drain the amount pumped up to the tank...not "more" than pumped up...so it can't "oversupply" the sump...
So you can get a return pump that will pump "up to" 1300 gph to main tank from sump...

 

[squidd]

How would I "gravity drain" from the fuge to the sump?
Bulkhead (hole) in side of fuge allows water to "drain" into sump...

 

[fmelindy]

Originally Posted by Squidd
An 1 1/2" overflow will "allow" up to 1300 gph through it...With no pump running water will stabilize at a predetermined level (top of overflow)...
If you add 1 gallon to tank, one gallon will drain out..and then stop...
If you add 6 gallons ...6 gallons will drain out...
If you add (pump 1200 gallons per hour) ..1200 gallons per hour will drain out..when you turn the pump off...water will stabilize at a predetermined level (top of overflow)...
What I'm saying is...an overflow will only drain the amount pumped up to the tank...not "more" than pumped up...so it can't "oversupply" the sump...
So you can get a return pump that will pump "up to" 1300 gph to main tank from sump...
There's only one hitch with that - remeber there are two overflows and one is draining into the quiet one 6000. Would that pump then "oversupply" the sump by increasing the amount of water that goes out each overflow? yOu know what I mean? Do I have to match the pump capacity of the quiet one 6000?

 

[squidd]

The other one is basicly the same..it too is pumping and returning "exactly" the same amount of water to the MT...
In this case it's "sucking" the water out rather than depending on gravity drain but it's pushing "exactly" the same amount back...
Set the C/L standpipe lower than the Sump standpipe to keep from sucking air ...in Fact mid tank ofr so would be fine...
Now it has "nothing" to do with the sump/return pump balance...

 

[fmelindy]

Great tip, Thanks!!!!