Overflow/Sump Advice

[Taqpol]

As of right now (and for the next six months or so) I have a 38 gallon mixed reef with a small CPR HOB fuge that contains chaeto and a Tunze 9003 nano skimmer. I have been wanting to upgrade my tank to something much larger when I move into a more permanent apartment and with that in mind I found an AMAZING deal from a local reefer getting out with a 120 gallon tank plus giant euroreef skimmer and calcium reactor. With the new tank looming on the horizon i was hesitant to spend any more money on the old system.

Thing is, this deal came with everything the previous owner used on his tank including multiple pumps of all kinds and a few of the two bulkhead CPR overflow boxes. I've always wanted to overflow my display tank into a sump (as is I get some oil slicks on the surface even with all my powerheads aimed up), and since these were included in the deal I think i'm going to give it a try.

I have two major questions right now:

What size/design sump should I use? My two options (I have the tanks just laying around) are a 20 gallon tall or a 20 gallon long. I would have sheets of glass cut to size to use as baffles, but don't particularly know where to put them. I was thinking a small compartment for the Tunze skimmer that overflows to a medium sized fuge that goes through a bubble trap to my return section.

Second, can i use two return pumps? The CPR overflow box (which he modified by taking out the "C siphon" and replacing it with three pvc u tubes) is rated at 1200 gph through two one inch bulkheads. As far as return pumps go, I only have a Mag 5 (500gph) and an Eheim 1250 (300gph) with head height factored in together they would probably only produce 600 gph, which sounds about right to me.

Am I missing anything? All comments about my plan are welcome and appreciated!

[Playa-1]

I would hold out for a ReefReady tank. There will be other good deals.

[ludiNano]

Hey, im guessing it will come w/ a stand. And your going to have to size up the inside of it and see what size tank(s) you can keep under it.

You need to think about having room to take skimmer out, pumps. The 20 long might work best for that and give you a ...longer area to work with.

You also need to estimate how much volume will be needed in sump to handle when pumps turn off, and still have enough water to cover pumps and have a decent sump volume.

If you want to run it remote from stand will always give you more options.

[Taqpol]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14150908#post14150908 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Playa-1
I would hold out for a ReefReady tank. There will be other good deals.

The new tank is already bought. Honestly, drilling doesn't sound that bad and I want to go with a "BeanAnimal" coast to coast overflow anyways.

The question now is what to do with the HOB overflow that has fallen into my lap. I really want to set up some kind of sump for my current tank, six months is enough time.

[ludiNano]

I agree w/ RR tanks, (I) didnt want to risk useing CPR overflow. Renters Ins. 4 sure!!!! : )

[Taqpol]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14150973#post14150973 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ludiNano
Hey, im guessing it will come w/ a stand. And your going to have to size up the inside of it and see what size tank(s) you can keep under it.

You need to think about having room to take skimmer out, pumps. The 20 long might work best for that and give you a ...longer area to work with.

You also need to estimate how much volume will be needed in sump to handle when pumps turn off, and still have enough water to cover pumps and have a decent sump volume.

If you want to run it remote from stand will always give you more options.

The current sump/overflow I'm discussing will be for the 38 gallon I already have set up. After the transition is made I hope to use the current 38 gallon DT as a sump for the 120.

The 120 deal did come with a stand, but I am hoping that my new landlord will let me put a hole in the wall big enough to pass four pipes through into a large closet behind the fish tank so I can have a fish room of sorts. Otherwise that skimmer is HUGE and theres no way it would fit under the stand (literally over three feet tall and eight inches in diameter, no way it would fit under the stand).

[ludiNano]

check out www.austinoceans.com , they do custom overflows/ coast to coast. I had a small one made and it was cheap, not sure on bigger ones.


Lucky.

[Taqpol]

Bump for the morning crowd. I am still curious as to what you guys think about my plans for adding a temporary overflow that I already have to my current 38 gallon tank.

[ludiNano]

Go for it adding more volume is alway a good thing.

[Taqpol]

What about using the two return pumps? Or do people think ~300 gph through the sump would be good enough?

I have also heard talk about matching your sump flow through to your skimmers rating. Any body know what this would be for a Tunze 9002?

[shleprock30]

If you want to add a Overflow to the 38 that would be a good thing, but I would skip out on the modified CPR overflow and buy one that is designed for a U-tube. I have run U-tubes for years and never once had a problem because they are a chambered design, not just 2 boxes with a u tube which is what the modified CPR design sounds like.

Make your return to fast and you are sure to have a micro bubble issue. I think 300 gph through the sump is fine.

Rick

[Taqpol]

What about my sump design and the question about a 20 long or tall? Does anyone remember how tall a 20 long is? I ask because both my titanium heaters and my tunze skimmer are fairly tall and have to be operated in the tank. I want to make sure they get placed at the correct operating level while maintaining extra room in the sump for when the return pump is shut off (I'm leaning towards the 20 tall for this reason).

[ludiNano]

A 20L is 30'' , same as 29g. The 20L will give you more room length wise to fit baffles, return area, posible refugium. But there are tons of sump designs in RC photo gallery.

[Taqpol]

Does anyone out there have a CPR overflow?

If so, how do you quiet it down?

I have a an overflow test set up right now: A ten gallon on the table draining through the double 1" bulkhead CPR overflow directly into a 5 gallon bucket (The tubes coming out of the overflow go about 1/2" underneath the water in the bucket). Flow is pumped back up to the ten gallon by a Mag 5 (~400gph).

My problem is that when the water goes into the bucket it is bubbling and gurgling. Is this because the bulkheads just go straight through the bottom of the overflow box without some kind of durso on top? How can i stop the air from getting sucked into the outgoing pipes?

[Jason_320gallon]

check out youtube.com ive found a interesting video there. search CPR OVERFLOW, prolly tell ya to raise your drain on the overflow unit, preforate it and bam.

[Taqpol]

I looked at youtube and only found the video released by the manufacturer, and it says nothing about raising the drain. As I thought, they did say you were supposed to have a piece of rigid airline tubing to stick through the bulkhead and "tune" the air flow going in. Unfortunately, i don't have any of that....

Any thing else I should try?

[Taqpol]

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[Taqpol]

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