I Need Help With Designing My Sump/refug.!!!

shyshko08

shyshko08

Member
Also I'm still confused on what gph overflow box I should get and the gph for the return. Can anyone help me out?
 
xcali1985

xcali1985

Active Member
I still think your skimmer water level is too high. You only need to go about 1/2 up the skimmer infusion chamber. Putting the water level by the nexk of the skimmer will decrease microbubbles and in effect decrease skimmer peformance.
 
florida joe

florida joe

Well-Known Member
Originally Posted by Shyshko08
http:///forum/post/3172435
Thanks for the video! Take a look at the revised plan, tell me what you think.
move the divider with the eggcrate as far to the right as you can giving you more area for live sand and and algae growth
 
shyshko08

shyshko08

Member
I'm really confused on what kind of rated overflow box I should get along with the return pump? How do I figure this out? I really could use the help. Thank you
 
florida joe

florida joe

Well-Known Member
This is my own personal preference . I like to pass the volume of water in my DT through my sump 6X an hour. In your case it would be 270 GPH that I would be working with. I personally do not like to have one tank utilized as a sump and refuge. I utilize a deep sand bed and caurelpa my refuge and I like to slow the rate of flow through it giving the caurelpa extra time to assimilate any nitrates available.
check out Eshopps overflow box PF-300. then look for a return pump compatible with that turn over rate. you want your return pump to be rated less then your overflow box
 
shyshko08

shyshko08

Member
Originally Posted by florida joe
http:///forum/post/3173012
This is my own personal preference . I like to pass the volume of water in my DT through my sump 6X an hour. In your case it would be 270 GPH that I would be working with. I personally do not like to have one tank utilized as a sump and refuge. I utilize a deep sand bed and caurelpa my refuge and I like to slow the rate of flow through it giving the caurelpa extra time to assimilate any nitrates available.
check out Eshopps overflow box PF-300. then look for a return pump compatible with that turn over rate. you want your return pump to be rated less then your overflow box

I'm stuck on one thing, why should the return be less than the overflow? Shouldn't it be more since its working against gravity? I thought if the return pump is less than the overflow box, it will cause the sump to overflow because the return pump cant keep up????
 
florida joe

florida joe

Well-Known Member
excellent question
let me explain

Lets assume your overflow box is rated at 500 gph and your pump is rated at 250 gph it might seem like you will have a water buildup in your sump because the pump can not keep up with the overflow. BUT the pump does not have to keep up. No matter what your overflow is rated at as long as its greater then your pump the water introduced into your sump will only be the amount that rises over your overflow box. And that is predicated on your return pump. You can never get more water into your sump then is raised over your overflow.
The only real problem with flow rates would be if the pump moves water faster than it can flow thru the overflow. Then the water level in the main tank would rise until it overflowed the tank, and on your floor it goes. This is why you should NEVER restrict the flow of the overflow box or get a pump rated greater then your overflow
Can you visualize this ?
 
shyshko08

shyshko08

Member
Originally Posted by florida joe
http:///forum/post/3173449
excellent question
let me explain

Lets assume your overflow box is rated at 500 gph and your pump is rated at 250 gph it might seem like you will have a water buildup in your sump because the pump can not keep up with the overflow. BUT the pump does not have to keep up. No matter what your overflow is rated at as long as its greater then your pump the water introduced into your sump will only be the amount that rises over your overflow box. And that is predicated on your return pump. You can never get more water into your sump then is raised over your overflow.
The only real problem with flow rates would be if the pump moves water faster than it can flow thru the overflow. Then the water level in the main tank would rise until it overflowed the tank, and on your floor it goes. This is why you should NEVER restrict the flow of the overflow box or get a pump rated greater then your overflow
Can you visualize this ?

Excellent explanation, thank you very much, I understand now. As far as the revised design, would you recommend any changes?
 
florida joe

florida joe

Well-Known Member
There are a few things you should consider. Are you going to have room for your skimmer pump in the compartment you have for it. You will also have to position it high enough so your return water lines will clear the top of your sump/refuge. also can you post a pic of your plumbing to and from the sump/refuge
 
shyshko08

shyshko08

Member
Originally Posted by florida joe
http:///forum/post/3176104
How is your sump/refuge coming along ?
Havnt gotten a chance to work on it any further, I'm having finals right now, And I plan to have it all finished after that. Thanks for checking back!
 
xcali1985

xcali1985

Active Member
Originally Posted by Shyshko08
http:///forum/post/3180805
Sorry, the Overflow is rated 300gph, and the eheim pump is rated at 265 gph
Will probably need a bigger pump, you need to calculate for head loss (height and elbows etc.) Id say you will lose around 30-40% just on height alone guessing around 3-4 feet to pump back into tank.
 
shyshko08

shyshko08

Member
Originally Posted by Xcali1985
http:///forum/post/3181014
Will probably need a bigger pump, you need to calculate for head loss (height and elbows etc.) Id say you will lose around 30-40% just on height alone guessing around 3-4 feet to pump back into tank.
well thats not good....so what pump would you recommend?
 
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