Sump Confusion for 90gal

[redshad]

Howdy my name is Tyler and I've posted on here in the past asking questions here and there but, now the big day has finally come to here i can start on the saltwater aquarist expedition. Ok so I'm completely new to this thing, I've finally saved up to get my tank a 90gal. Acrylic tank For some reason though i just cant understand how this whole overflow/sump/ external pump is supposed to work. I want to have a closed loop system run in my aquarium and figure i will have a maximum of 4' head pressure. So I'm figuring i will need a pump that can handle 1800gph since I read in the 101 tips thread that optimum flow or turn over rate is around 20times per gallon. So Im guessing 27 inches of linear flow is needed for the overflow and a minimum pipe daimeter of 1.75", to give 1800gph of flow out of the tank to supply the external pump, now my confusion comes in at the sump and protein skimmer, if im flowing 1800gal into a 20tall sump tank and my pump is flowing out 1800gph creating a constant equilibrium in the sump tank, how do i not overload the protein skimmer that is only rated for 255gph flow through rate? I'm having as follows, from left to right in the sump a drain from the tank, to the sump going through filter media and a set of baffles, the protein skimmer, then a fuge with another drain from the dt to the fuge, then through a screen to the external pump back through to the dt. If any one can help explain this, that would be great. Also would the AquaPro HQI 2x150W be enough light to sustain a healthy coral and annemone community? Thanks and sorry for the lengthy post.

 

[jstdv8]

are you running the overflow directly into the skimmer?

 

[redshad]

No the overflow is draing into the sump going through filter media then overflowing into the protein skimmer chamber, then into the refuge, then through a set of baffles, into strainer, to main external pump. Am i suuposed to have two pumps and tow separate systems with seperate plumbing? One pump and plumbing for flow and pump for the protein skimmer and its own pumbing?

 

[beaslbob]

You may want to set up a test facility made up of cheapie plastic containers and a pvc overflow. And play around with it until you figure it all out. (then actually report back to us LOL)
Much better to have unexpected floods in the garage or driveway than in the livingroom.
my .02

 

[acrylic51]

Originally Posted by Redshad
http:///forum/post/3291300
Howdy my name is Tyler and I've posted on here in the past asking questions here and there but, now the big day has finally come to here i can start on the saltwater aquarist expedition. Ok so I'm completely new to this thing, I've finally saved up to get my tank a 90gal. Acrylic tank For some reason though i just cant understand how this whole overflow/sump/ external pump is supposed to work. I want to have a closed loop system run in my aquarium and figure i will have a maximum of 4' head pressure. So I'm figuring i will need a pump that can handle 1800gph since I read in the 101 tips thread that optimum flow or turn over rate is around 20times per gallon. So Im guessing 27 inches of linear flow is needed for the overflow and a minimum pipe daimeter of 1.75", to give 1800gph of flow out of the tank to supply the external pump, now my confusion comes in at the sump and protein skimmer, if im flowing 1800gal into a 20tall sump tank and my pump is flowing out 1800gph creating a constant equilibrium in the sump tank, how do i not overload the protein skimmer that is only rated for 255gph flow through rate? I'm having as follows, from left to right in the sump a drain from the tank, to the sump going through filter media and a set of baffles, the protein skimmer, then a fuge with another drain from the dt to the fuge, then through a screen to the external pump back through to the dt. If any one can help explain this, that would be great. Also would the AquaPro HQI 2x150W be enough light to sustain a healthy coral and annemone community? Thanks and sorry for the lengthy post.
Congrats on the new tank purchase!!!!! What is the size of the overflows? How many overflow? What is the hole size of the overflows.....1800gph through the sump is really alot of flow IMHO....You should be in the range of 3-5x tank volume through the sump.......A 20 gallon tank will never be able to hande IMO 1800 gph of flow through it.......
As far as the CL that is totally independent from your DT pump/sump system.....That is were you would want to make up your flow requirements; with either bulkheads and pumps, or with powerheads such as Tunze, Koralia's etc......
The skimmer again has requirements as far as what it can handle/process....What type of skimmer are you considering using? Even in the event the skimmer is plumbed/fed from the overflow, your skimmer needs would be way less. Even with the skimmer sitting in sump, the skimmer isn't/can't process all the water that passes by it.....You will just need to purchase a skimmer that is suitable to your size tank, and you should consider or take into account what your bioload might be. Meaning that if you have a tendency to stock your tank heavy, and the skimmer is border line in efficiency; you'd be better served stepping up to the next skimmer size, but that's another whole discussion in itself.
You should be able to fit something bigger than a 20 gallon tank under the 125. My theory is make your sump as large as you can fit. If you check out melevsreef.com and go through his site, you will have a whole better understanding of a sump/overflow setup and see examples of good/excellent designs that work......Marc Melev is an excellent source of info, and his site has tons of other helpful info and ideas as well.

 

[deejeff442]

my 90 reef is a simple set up.i dont run a skimmer ,just have a 30 gallon long sump tank filled with live rock rubble,heater phosphate reactor.the tank has a 1000 gph overflow to the sump.800 (i think)gph pump with one return line.in the tank are two #3 koralia pumps.thats it.it been running for 4 yrs.actually 15 yrs but with this set up.dont worry about trying to get every little gadget out there.the trick to a nice tank is patience.i have 120 lbs of lr in the dt and 40 rubble in the sump and my water is always perfect .just water change every few weeks.
i could try to get a pic if you want from top to bottom.

 

[acrylic51]

What kind of pump Deejeff442? Your overflow may handle 1000gph, but your not flowing that through the sump and back to the DT due to headloss......

 

[redshad]

Well thank you i'm super stoked about it, I've been wanting one for a long time. The sump I have not purchased yet! So i can deffinetely go up in size im just in the setup process right now. I didnt want to buy the sump and not know what i was doing with it. So in short what im getting from this is that the protein skimmer pump and plumbing is completely different from that of the main pump which is strictly used for flow purposes and is plumbed seperately from the sump. My main thing is i want to make sure i can have alot of corals, if i can get away without having to use a protein skimmer that would be great. Because I would love for my sump to be a giant fuge to grow copepods and other algae for my herbivore fish. As for the protein skimmer I was planning on getting the AquaC Ev rated for 40-120gal. I would rather not get it the idea of just haivng the live rock and reactor sounds great. It would be great if you could send pics of your setup. Also are you running two pumps or one pump, well nevermind i guess I can just see it in the pictures lol. Thanks everyone for your help, this site is awesome!!!

 

[deejeff442]

then pump in my sump is so old i cant read it anymore.even if i could its burried under all the rock in there.tuyrn over in a tank imo isnt 20x or 15x .i might have 600-700 gph going from left to right through my sump.as long as water is moving through the rubble it works .keeping flow the the bacteria.you can cound powerheads in the tank as well for turning water .
to me as long as there are no dead spots in the tank or sump you have eneough flow.like i sad i dont bother with skimmers.i am sure they help .obviously look at the junk they take out.but once the tank matures over time and with watching water parameters with water changes i have never had a tank crash.obviously i dont add 5 fish withing two weeks either.some of my lr is 20 yrs old.i will try to get a pic now.