SUMP

[reefer]

SO I WAS THINKING OF RAISING MY TURNOVER RATE IN MY TANK AND WANTED TO KNOW THE BEST WAY TO MATCH SYSTEMS. I HAVE A CHEAP OVERFLOW BOX GOING RIGHT NOW WITH ONLY 500 RETURN. ABOUT 6' OF HEADLOSS TO ACTUALLY ONLY GIVE ME AROUND 250? THIS IS FOR MY 150G FLOWER SO I DONT NEED A LOT BUT WOULD LIKE TO GET MORE THAN A MEASLY 2-3 HUNDRED!! IF I AM CORRECT, IT SEEMS AS IF I NEED TO GET A BOX AND MATCH THE PUMP TO IT INCLUDING HEAD LOSS. MY SYSTEM DOES NOT HAVE A BALL VALVE TO RESTRICT IF THE PUMP IS NOT RIGHT. SO IF A MODEL 15 PUMP PUMPS 1500GPH AND SAY 1100GPH AT 6', WOULD I NEED A BOX WITH AN 1100GPH RATE?

[darrellw]

Yes, your overflow need to be rated at least as high as your return. If it is undersized, then the return will overwhelm it, and it could flood your display (ask me how I know, one of my snails decided to de-rate my overflow this week!).

 

There isn't any problem in having your overflow over-sized, it will only flow what your return supplies.

 

-Darrell

[undrtkr_00]

If you are using a hang-on overflow box, then the diameter of the u-tube and drain line matter more than the size of the box. I think a 3/4" inside diameter hose will naturally drain something like 300GPH, and it goes up from there. 1100 gallons seems like it might be a lot. Depending on what you are trying to accomplish, you may be better off just adding powerheads inside your tank and not bumping your return pump up.

[reefer]

i have a couple p-heads in now and wanted to maybe eliminate them. and if the box is rated higher it wont be able to flood the sump? i guess after u mess with water levels it shouldnt.

[undrtkr_00]

If you set it up right, it should only drain so much out of the main tank before it stops pulling water out. So, no, it should not flood your sump unless you have a very unusual setup.

[Barelycuda]

Having too large of an overflow will not flood your sump. The amount of water flowing down to the sump is dependant on the return pump. You could have a 1000gph overflow with only a 200gph return pump and only 200gph is going to flow thru the sump. You do however have to watch the levels of water in the sump if you were to lose power so that you don't flood but I would assume that you already have that under control since you have the sump set up already. If you are considering removing your powerheads you may want ot think about returning the water thru a couple of sea swirls or something like that to keep the water moving.

 

Dave