48x24x24 flow question

[rigelstar]

*I posted this in DIY accidentally*

I have a 48x24x24 tank and I am starting the process of setting it up as a fish and coral tank. I'm in the nice position of having done nothing yet to the tank but have a few ideas. I've run a 55 gal no sump fish only tank with live rock but have no experience with a sump set up. I've read about and viewed many setups and here is what I would like to do:

I'm shooting for 15x turn over (~1800gph).

To achieve this my design for the tank is to have 2-2" bulkhead vertical overflows in a self built center internal overflow. The box will be ~ 9-10 inches. This will lead to the sump/refug/skimmer(aquaC EV-180). The skimmer will be in the DIY sump (40gal).

For the return pump I am looking at the Iwaki MD-100RLT driving four return lines to 4 - 1 inch bulkheads. Two on each side of the tank, one near the top and one at mid level. The skimmer would be driven by a Eheim 1262.

I will use ball valves to control flow and check valves to prevent a mess.

I would just like input from those that have experience and may see errors in my basic design before I start drilling.

[texhorns98]

I'm not exactly sure about the calculations, but I am running two 1 inch drains and only one 3/4" return. I think the idea is to have more drain than you really need. I THINK each 2 inch drain will handle just about 1200-1400 gph. Just make sure youre return pump is less than that and I think you're OK. Are you sure you want that much flow through your sump though? I'd shoot for around 5 times your DT volume through your sump and make up the rest through a closed loop or with powerheads.

[rigelstar]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14403095#post14403095 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by texhorns98
I'm not exactly sure about the calculations, but I am running two 1 inch drains and only one 3/4" return. I think the idea is to have more drain than you really need. I THINK each 2 inch drain will handle just about 1200-1400 gph. Just make sure youre return pump is less than that and I think you're OK. Are you sure you want that much flow through your sump though? I'd shoot for around 5 times your DT volume through your sump and make up the rest through a closed loop or with powerheads.

Thanks for the reply -

I guess that is where I was confused. I was going to cut the flow from the 2 - 2" overflows which in theory would be about 2400GPH to about 1800 GPH with ball valves. I see where a closed loop would be a much better solution. So two - 1" overflow drains cut back to ~ 600-800GPH leading to the sump and return slightly less than 600-800GPH back to the tank in 2-1" return bulkheads? Than add a closed loop pump to cycle ~ 1200GPH through 2 of the 1" bulkheads?. This would give roughly 1800GPH flow while my sump flow would be around 600-800GPH. Would the Eheim 1262 skimmer pump work for the 600-800GPH return from the sump? I would use possibly a Iwaki MD-70RLT Pump for the closed loop to cycle the 1200GPH. Is this a more stable set-up?

[rigelstar]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14403311#post14403311 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rigelstar
Thanks for the reply -

I guess that is where I was confused. I was going to cut the flow from the 2 - 2" overflows which in theory would be about 2400GPH to about 1800 GPH with ball valves. I see where a closed loop would be a much better solution. So two - 1" overflow drains cut back to ~ 600-800GPH leading to the sump and return slightly less than 600-800GPH back to the tank in 2-1" return bulkheads? Than add a closed loop pump to cycle ~ 1200GPH through 2 of the 1" bulkheads?. This would give roughly 1800GPH flow while my sump flow would be around 600-800GPH. Would the Eheim 1262 skimmer pump work for the 600-800GPH return from the sump? I would use possibly a Iwaki MD-70RLT Pump for the closed loop to cycle the 1200GPH. Is this a more stable set-up?

I should say 1 - 2" overflow and 2 - 1" overflow in the above design. The 2" bulkhead would be used in the closed loop system to deliver ~1200GPH of flow. While the 2 - 1" overflows would drain to the sump/reg/skimmer at ~ 600-900GPH and returned to the tank at slightly less than. This would give the ~ 1800GPH or 15x turnover in the DT.

Does this seem reasonable?