Filling tank quesiton? Wet/dry

[lilcheen]

I have a 180 gallon tank.
have about 100 gallons of water ready to be put in and 150 lbs of sand rinsed and ready to be put in.
I know im going to add sand, and then that water.
Question is, do i put water into the wet/dry up to the line, or do i just fill and fill till it hits the over flows.
Also, i have 2 surge 6000's. for return. is that enough?
Also, will the lengths fo the pipes for return and over flow matter signifigantly?
Tank is predrilled with built in overflows. (drilled in bottom of tank. thanks.

 

[lilcheen]

anyone?

 

[beaslbob]

I would just fill the tank with something like a plate to spread out the water. Fill it up to any overflow and then let things settle out. After a day or two top off the system slowly and test along the way to make sure your pumps wet/dry, sumps, refugs and whatever are working correctly.
that's a lotta water so you time and good luck.
Let us know how it worked

 

[lilcheen]

well, it took a long time for someone to reply so i went ahead and made all the water and its all in the tank with the sand( very little cloudiness ) right up to the wet dry. Now i down know if i should fill the sump to the line and then continue to add watter with the pumps on,
or just fill the tank till enough water overflows the overflow and fills the sump to the line. I think the 2nd makes sense, but just want to make sure.
Also, where does a ball/check valve go. I dont have one, but im planning to get one. a few inches is a lot of water in my 180. I dont want ANY floods.

 

[michaeltx]

you dont want to fill the sump completely. the best thing to do is shut down all the pumps. let the water settle in the sump so that you know how full it is when everything is shutoff. add water there should be a line on it unless its a homemade one.
basically when your pumps go off you dont want so much water in the tank and sump that it will overflow the tank and sump.
Mike