coast to coast overflow ?'s

[eric b 125]

i want to put a coast to coast overflow in my 125. i'm having trouble figuring out the plumbing and where to drill the holes for the returns. i dont want the returns too low in the tank incase of power failure. i also want to add a CL to my tank, but with the overflow alone, thats 3 pvc pipes, plus 2 returns, so i'll have very little room to work with for a CL. any help with this is appreciated

 

[posiden]

You can just go over the top and use the CL for all the circulation in the tank.
You could drill the front of the OF and put in a bulkhead.
You could T the return and plumb it around the top and fire the return towards the back from the front.

 

[eric b 125]

these are all good ideas. since my tank doesnt have a canopy i dont really want the plumbing to run on top of the tank or over the back of it for that matter. maybe i'll cut the overflow down a foot on each side and put the returns on each side of the overflow.
posiden: you have a coast to coast on one of your tanks, eh? or am i mistaking you for someone else?

 

[posiden]

Well, kinda. I believe you have the right guy as I remember a discussion we had some time back. I posted some pics of my 20L. On that tank it doesn't go all the way. It stops about 2 1/2" from the ends cause I cut the back glass and made an external OF.
Now, the 75 I am building will go coast to coast internal.

 

[eric b 125]

yeah. i spent my summer windsurfing, but now that the season for watersports in pgh is winding down, i really want to get this tank taken care of. i'm either going to do a coast to coast- because of the fail-safe and supposedly near-silent operation or two corner overflows w/ center return for simple plumbing. i have some time to think it over: i still havent gotten any of the equipment i need to re-start this project, but i would like to have a game plan. i think if i just plan on using flex pvc for my CLS it will make my life easier.

 

[eric b 125]

its been a long time since i've thought about this, but how much flow do i want going through the sump? i'm just trying to figure out the return and CLS pumps.

 

[posiden]

5-10 times the water volume of the system.

 

[eric b 125]

cool. and the CLS turnover should be another 10X, yeah? i want to go reef, so a total of 20X should be good, eh? whatever i dont get through the sump and CLS i can always supplement with powerheads.

 

[posiden]

Sound alright. I would get as much out of the CL as I could personally. I hate the sight of any equipment in my tank. I think total should be about 35-40 times turn over.

 

[eric b 125]

roger that. i dont really like the look of equipment in the tank either. so rather than one line to the CLS pump and two returns, maybe i ought to plan on a larger pump and 4 returns? with that said- do i use the same diameter plumbing on both sides of the pump, or go a little smaller on the returns? would it be smart for me to drill the return holes so they are a mirror image of the other side? i would like to have the return plumbing the same size as all the other plumbing in the tank (ordering drill bit from glass-holes). do most pumps for CLS pull or push water? i would imagine its push and the resulting vaccuum sucks the water into the drain... thanks posiden, really appreciate your help and direction

 

[posiden]

Originally Posted by Eric B 125
http:///forum/post/3136617
roger that. i dont really like the look of equipment in the tank either. so rather than one line to the CLS pump and two returns, maybe i ought to plan on a larger pump and 4 returns? with that said- do i use the same diameter plumbing on both sides of the pump, or go a little smaller on the returns? would it be smart for me to drill the return holes so they are a mirror image of the other side? i would like to have the return plumbing the same size as all the other plumbing in the tank (ordering drill bit from glass-holes). do most pumps for CLS pull or push water? i would imagine its push and the resulting vaccuum sucks the water into the drain... thanks posiden, really appreciate your help and direction

Bigger diameter plumbing will get you more flow on either side of a pump. Now there is a point at which too large a pipe is used for no good reason. Ie...cost, space, versis what you will gain from it. I would plumb it all the same size for simplicity. That is if you are willing to spend a touch extra and plan ahead so space it utilized efficently. Doing 4 returns on the CL would be nice as you could couple it with a 4 way to alterniate flow.
You are on the right path by thinking about it. Just keep thinking and looking at pumps, maybe a oceans motion or sea squirt for the CL. Mixing and matching parts to find a balance and a bottom line $$$ that works.