Jester_42
02/06/2008, 05:33 PM
I'm making the slow transistion from a 55g FOWLR to reef keeping. I am currently working out the details of a sump I will be adding to the system in the near future.
I've got a schematic drawn out and am pretty satisfied with the design, the only thing I'm hung up now is the plumbing.
The overflow box will have a 1" drain on it. From what I understand this translates to 300gph draining out of the display tank. The return pump will be about 4' beneath the display tank. I'm looking into using a Danner Mag-Drive 5, rated for 500gph, as the return pump. My question here is whether there are other variables I have to take into account that will ultimately detract from the ability to match the 300gph input from the display tank? Do the pipes and joints used also count in determining the size of the return pump's output? I've seen designs where a ball-valve is used to redirect outflow from the return pump back to the refugium if flow is too high, does anyone have any experience with this?
One of the primary appeals of the sump, to me at least, is to unclutter my display tank. I originally had planned on plumbing some PVC type jets on the return line in place of power heads to provide water movement. I realize now that there probably isn't going to be enough pressure in the line to do so. So I'm looking at alternatives. I've seen some people mention "closed loops systems used with wavemakers" I'm not quite sure what is meant by this, or how it fits into the display/sump/refugium system. Can anyone shed light on this?
Finally, if anyone has suggestions for inconspicuous powerheads, or even better, what kind of flow I should be trying to achieve (i.e. where do you aim them?) I'd appreciate it.
Thanks all :)
I've got a schematic drawn out and am pretty satisfied with the design, the only thing I'm hung up now is the plumbing.
The overflow box will have a 1" drain on it. From what I understand this translates to 300gph draining out of the display tank. The return pump will be about 4' beneath the display tank. I'm looking into using a Danner Mag-Drive 5, rated for 500gph, as the return pump. My question here is whether there are other variables I have to take into account that will ultimately detract from the ability to match the 300gph input from the display tank? Do the pipes and joints used also count in determining the size of the return pump's output? I've seen designs where a ball-valve is used to redirect outflow from the return pump back to the refugium if flow is too high, does anyone have any experience with this?
One of the primary appeals of the sump, to me at least, is to unclutter my display tank. I originally had planned on plumbing some PVC type jets on the return line in place of power heads to provide water movement. I realize now that there probably isn't going to be enough pressure in the line to do so. So I'm looking at alternatives. I've seen some people mention "closed loops systems used with wavemakers" I'm not quite sure what is meant by this, or how it fits into the display/sump/refugium system. Can anyone shed light on this?
Finally, if anyone has suggestions for inconspicuous powerheads, or even better, what kind of flow I should be trying to achieve (i.e. where do you aim them?) I'd appreciate it.
Thanks all :)