hey broomer5

[pat]

hey whats up, man, i got a question. will an overflow with (2) one inch drains be able to keep up with (2) 3/4 inch returns that will each flow at 900 gph at 2 feet of head for a total of 1800 gph, head pressure has already been accounted for using the sheet that came with the pump. will the drains be able to keep up, or will i just need to make another one inch drain?

 

[broomer5]

Hey Pat !
You ask wassup ? - well I just got back from Home Depot about 30 minutes ago - got me a bucket full of pvc fittings, ball valves and some pipe. Gunna be doing a little general housekeeping project under the tank if ya know what I mean. Just ordered me a new dual overflow last night .. so this is sort of weird for you to be asking this now.
Anyways - my swag is NO
IMO - An oveflow with (2) 1" drains will most likely NOT keep up with 1800 GPH. Most of the overflows I looked at with dual 1" were rated at 1400 GPH. You would want to go with a higher rated overflow/drains if running at 1800 GPH.
CPR makes a single 1-1/2" only rated at 1600.
I went with the Lifereef Double-prefilter box thats rated for flows of 1400+ gph, and it too has (2) 1" drains.
I would love to have a variable speed pump and flowmeter to actually measure these ratings that pump and overflow manufacturers report on their products. I'm sure they test them, not doubting that at all, but I would just like to see how they perform as you begin increasing the flow to the maximum specified flow ratings. Just curious.
Maybe some folks here that run "BIG" tanks can add their thoughts here as well.
Later Pat - I'll post some pics of my new sump and refugium someday - whenever I get a roundtoit. Good luck my friend !!!
See ya

 

[pat]

umm, not an overflow to buy, but it is already built into the tank, it is a 200 with an overflow one one side, and then right after the overflow it goes through wet/dry media and then to holes drilled in the bottom, plus i got it for free!!!! from a grocery store, high end one, with valet parking (i love L.A. hehe) but it is really not a prob, ill just drill another hole. think i should drill 2, just to be on the safe side?

 

[broomer5]

Sounds like you picked up a nice 200 gallon lobster tank freebie ???
Sorry I was confused - happens quite often <img src="graemlins//urrr.gif" border="0" alt="[urrr]" />
Yeah drill another hole and have fun with that freebie tank - gotta love that !!!!
Later

 

[pat]

nope, not lobster, i told you man that grocery store was classy, my pops works for it, you know beverly hills, everything was over the top, it was a custom in the wall. the fish store that installed it wanted it back, i got it (suckers) if i got anymore questions, i wont hesitate to ask, by the way, how hard is it to drill plexiglass?

 

[broomer5]

never drilled plexi - never drilled any tank for that matter.
Geez - lobster pretty classy eat'n back here in Ohio LOL
So what did this high dollar store use the tank for - fresh fish ??
Well La-De-Daa ! We don't have them there upscale grocery stores in my parts - frozen Mrs. Pauls about the best I can do ... unless you want some Ohio River Sewer Bass on sale at Krogers sometimes LOL - but's that another story.
Have fun with that big ole 200 gallon box of saltwater !!!
Really sounds like you got quite a nice deal - FREE !!!