Return plumbing on Rubbermaid tub ??
 

Wondering how/where I should place the returns in a 150g rubbermaid frag tank. The frag racks will be about 10 inches from the bottom.

There will be 2 at roughly 1200 gph.

Should they be opposite ends with circular flow?

On one side blowing towards the other side (I will have 1-2 powerheads at around 1500gph)?

Both on the same long side facing towards the opposite side (like a regular tank)?

I will have mixed corals. Mainly LPS and softies though.

IMO your powerheads are your flow and the pump intakes are irrelevant (for flow). I'd put them where you can best maintain them!

You're not putting the drains at the bottom of your sump are you? I know with drilled overflows these days the odds of a an overflow of your tank are low but I wouldn't take the chance. I have a 150g rubbermaid tub as my sump too, but I have 3 drains that lead to my pump that are only a few inches below the water line. So if something should happen and my tank drain backs up I'm only pumping 30g of water to my upstairs floor, not 150g. :)

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v9...t=IMG_4951.jpg

I have one large, I believe 2 inch drain towards the top of the rubbermaid. The sump is actually a 45g storage tank that will only be filled roughly half way. The only risk I run is the drain getting clogged and the sump having no water to pump back in.

I just double checked the return pumps and they're rated at 1500 gph. I feel that those will provide sufficient flow to be noticeable.

Here's a brilliant way of plumbing an external return pump without drilling a Rubbermaid. Or without drilling any sump.

http://youtu.be/65yVr7DiDls

Interesting video. Unfortunately the Rubbermaid is already drilled with a drain. It's simply a ~2" hole on the back with a PVC pipe directed down. I'm more concerned about where I should place the return heads within the main frag tank.

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So the return heads are just for circulation in the Rubbermaid?

I have a 150g rubbermaid stock like this one:
http://www.abend.com/pics/Agrimaster300.jpg

I'm using this as a frag tank. I have a separate tank for use as a sump. I'm wondering where I should direct the water flow/where the return pipes should be located INSIDE of the 150g frag tank for water circulation.

Bump

Anyone? I need help.

Can you post a diagram? I'm still lost.

Ahhh...I got it now...I thought your 150g tub was both the sump AND frag tank...because that's what mine is. :) Sorry.

Anyway...random flow is the way to go. I'd probably put them side by side near the middle and blow them across the short length so they hit the wall. That would give you high flow in the middle, and low flow on the end for corals that need it (like recently mounted shrooms and such).

I'd still look at powerheads too though...high velocity pumps are expensive to run and the discharges are hard to relocated if you need too. Magnet mounted pumps like the koralias work great through the rubbermaid tubs...low voltage, high flow, easy to move...IMO better than a high flow sump.