need suggestions for a sump please

jjjoey

jjjoey

Active Member
I have a 55 gallon
Filtration
intake refugium (with Chaeto)
Emperor Biowheel
Fluval 404
UV sterilizer
RO.DI unit
1000 multi turboflotor Protein Skimmer
Lighting
48" Extreme Orbit 2x130watt SunPaq with Lunar Lights & Fan
48" Jebo 4x 65 watt PC lights
Fish
x2 percula clownfish
Coral
Daisy Coral
Kenya Tree
i want to get rid of my fluval and emperor filter and turn the bottom of my tank into a sump.
i already have a 10 gallon tank ready for it.
im not sure what all i will need and how im going to get the water from my tank into the sump then back into my tank
suggestions?
 
keebler

keebler

Member
Get (or make) an hob overflow and a pump. make sure the pump's gph rating is less than the overflows.
 
fishfreak1242

fishfreak1242

Active Member
Yes you can buy overflow boxes online and pumps. But your pump's GPH rating must be HIGHER than the overflow box because the pump has to push upwards and gravity is pulling down on it, so naturally it would not push as fast as it says.
 
keebler

keebler

Member
The overflow's GPH must be higher because it adjusts itself to the pump's gph. The pump's gph isn't adjustable. Need third party set this straight.
 
wattsupdoc

wattsupdoc

Active Member
OK, the PUMP should have a higher flow than the OVERFLOW. You adjust the flow going to the tank with a ball valve. Also, there will be substantial head loss involved as posted prior. You could probably run the mag 7 wide open and just meet the 600 gph rating of the overflow. But a ball valve dials it in real nice.
Straight? I guess I don't understand the OP question? But for instance here's what I would do. Get yourself a 600 gph "U" tube box and like a mag 7 return pump. I like the mag drives myself but anything 700 gph or so will do. Now, also when thinking about you sump/fuge whatever it's going to be, think about other equipment you might have. i strongly suggest that you think this through now. You can then order a return pump that will handle all you equipment and plumb off the same return line to feed them. It will be much cleaner and energy efficient.
 
jjjoey

jjjoey

Active Member
i want to have my huge protein skimmer in my sump along with my intank refugium.
so i should get Danner Mag-Drive Supreme 7 700 GPH Water Pump
so now i need a overflow?
 
wattsupdoc

wattsupdoc

Active Member
Wait, wait wait wait. Does the skimmer need a feed pump? What about the refugium? what kind of in tank refugium are you talking about? what about any phosban reactors? Have you designed this sump yet? There's much more to it then just getting a tank and pumping water back and forth.
 
jjjoey

jjjoey

Active Member
well im going to plan it out
i probably wont get all the equip until dec
here is a pic of my tank
u can see my intake refugium and my protein skimmer
the skimmer does need a feed pump i think
 
wattsupdoc

wattsupdoc

Active Member
OK, I cant make out the in tank fuge, but IMO, ditch that and do a fuge/sump combo. You'll be much happier as the larger fuge will be more productive for you. A 29 gallon would be a perfect candidate for a sump/fuge for your 55. If it will fit under your stand. Or if we can MAKE it fit
. The turboflotor doesn't need a feed pump, but I would suggest looking into 2 phosban reactors. They are cheap and IMO the only way to go to run chemical filtration media. But they will only need about 40-50 gph for each of them. You can use a mag 7 and probably be fine, or get a mag 9 and divert some of the flow back through the fuge compartment. Which is what I would do if it were me.
 
jjjoey

jjjoey

Active Member
i was wondering if maybe since every1 says i should get rid of my fluval i could turn it in to something with bioballs?
the fluval cost 220 and i wont really have much money for a sump until christmas
 
ca161406

ca161406

Member
i made a 45gal sump and it cost me maybe $70 total so a 29gal should be cheep.
as for flow and ball valves it may be a good idea, but i just have mine running with straight tubes. at first when the pumps turned on the water drops a lil low in the sump but the pressure in the overflows catches up before it gets too bad. and ive tested it like 50 times to make sure it works properly and have had no problems. it balances out quite well
 
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