Sump size for 75 gal

[Jeather]

No to tell you the truth I haven't thought about water above the intake. How far off the bottom is the intake normally? Where would I look to find that out?

 

[johnmaloney]

up to your preference really - if you want it to be able to run longer if you let it go low, then you will want it low as possible. what kind of pump are you using again? Most pumps don't have these kinds of issues as most sump pumps take from the bottom anyway.

 

[tylert]

It says he has a mag 7

 

[johnmaloney]

at least someone here can read. Still working on that. sorry pay no attention to what I was talking about. put that on the base and it will be fine.

 

[burning2nd]

oh man im confused now. we talking about the hight of the return section in the sump or the water level in the overflow?

 

[tylert]

We're talking about the return section. I'm not an expert by any means so if anyone disagrees speak up. I would use the mag7 as an external pump rather than in the sump because it leaves more room to mess with in the sump and it doesn't raise the water temp as much as if it was in the water. We are saying have the plumbing from the sump to the pump be drilled as low as possible in the sump, that way you will be able to let the water level drop as much as possible before you HAVE to top off with more and you will be able to leave for longer periods of time knowing you can allow for more evaporation. Though if you made an auto top off you wouldn't even have to deal with it.

 

[johnmaloney]

nevermind anything i said

 

[burning2nd]

ya but no..

the mag 7 doesnt make that much temp... i run one in my sump.

and as for "more" refering to the return section level

you want it the other way around... little as possible... the more fresh water you have to add at one time.. the larger the salt level swing will be...

so what you want is the least amount of water being added at one time.. (this can me adding .5ml every 5min)

And Auto top off from your RODI setup will help you stabilize your salinity

IM not sure your supost to run the mags externaly.... might wanna check that first..

they might overheat.

 

[tylert]

I have a mag 18 on my 90gal and runing it outside the sump makes about a .5 to .8 degree difference versus inside, thats quite a bit for 120 total gallons. I know may people that run mags externaly with no problems and it says on the box that it's internal or external.

 

[tylert]

SO THERE!! ...lol

 

[MrSculpin]

return ideas

this is where i wounder... Im gonna use 1/4 loc line 4 ends with jet ends so i can come over the top of the black cut out overflow part, and go back down about 10" deep pointing behind my rock wall blowing all detritus outta the rocks up front..

jets faceing down in to the overflow section....

me too.. I have seen one line out, some split and even one system where they came up with the return, plumbed pcv around the upper rim of the tank with outlets every so often to have good flow. Not sure how that would work unless you had a big return pump.

Too even with the return do you need power heads in the tank too??

 

[tylert]

Is it ok if I have my return section covered by the refugium? What are some problems, if any, that you could possibly see coming up with this configuration? I am trying to figure out a way to give me the most volume in my refugium in the sump.

 

[MrSculpin]

flow / return

I think my thread has gotten a bit derailed!! :lol:

For the return / flow... what is considered normal for a 75 gal.

Meaning if I use a 20 gallon tank for the sump for example and a return pump of 500 to 600 gph is that enough flow to keep the tank going well?

Or do I also need to add in the tank powerheads? If so how many?

Part of the appeal of the sump is getting some of the equip out of the display.

Also has anyone done their tank so that the return coming in, is plumbed into pvc pipe around the upper rim of the tank with outlets every so often? I saw it (dont have the link, not on my main PC today) I think over at the wetweb site under sump info..

 

[tylert]

Sorry for the thread hijack.
In your sump you want to have the turnover of your whole system (sump & display & refugium, ect.) to be 3 to 5x an hour. Most people do more because they want more flow in the tank, personally I have my sump at 800gph and my total volume is 120-125. For in your tank it depends what you want to keep and what they're requirements are. For fish only I've heard 3x-5x and i've heard 8x-10x, for soft coral around 20x, LPS 30x, and for SPS I've heard people say up to +50x.
For all this flow you're going to need more then just your return pump. If you don't want powerheads, you can use a closed loop system. Most people like this better, the only draw back is you need to drill a bunch of holes in your tank. Hope this helps

 

[MrSculpin]

Sorry for the thread hijack

Thats okay.. no worries.. just jumping back in to ask more questions!

I had planned to use a mag pump I have, its 500gph I think.. might be bigger, for the return to start with.
So that sounds like it would work.

Im not oposed to powerheads in the tank really, just seeing what is needed or just a matter of preference.

 

[tylert]

Yea but you got to keep in mind that it's not how much the pump is rated for but, after all the plumbing pressure, how much it's actually pumping. My mag 18 which is rated at 1800gph is only doing about 700-900gph once it reaches the tank.

 

[MrSculpin]

Yea but you got to keep in mind that it's not how much the pump is rated for but, after all the plumbing pressure, how much it's actually pumping. My mag 18 which is rated at 1800gph is only doing about 700-900gph once it reaches the tank.

That was the next thing I was wondering. How to tell how much its really pumping once it gets up to the tank.

Its either the 5 or the 7
Pondmaster Pond-Mag 5 Pump, 500 gph
Head Height (in feet) Gallons per Hour
0' 570
1' 480
3' 425
5' 325
7' 205
10.5' shutoff

Its listed as those numbers... with my tank being 75 gals
I wonder if it would be large enough.

 

[tylert]

http://www.reefcentral.com/calc/hlc.php

 

[tylert]

here's another one. this one's more what you're looking for.
http://www.reefcentral.com/calc/hlc2.php

 

[MrSculpin]

here's another one. this one's more what you're looking for.
http://www.reefcentral.com/calc/hlc2.php

Ah great, I can figure it out now, Thanks!

I had to guess since I dont have it plumbed or a sump yet... but it says this...
Total losses are 3.53 feet of head pressure, or 1.53 PSI. with a flow rate of 336 GPH