Help Me Start My Sump!?!

[ikon]

Right now i have two 55gal tanks setup. These are my first saltwater tanks and i have very basic knowelege about sumps and specific requirements. I want to tie both tanks into one sump and could use some direction.

When i built the stand for these two tanks i never thought id use it for a saltwater setup with a sump so the best i could fit in the stand would be a 29high, which would be shared by both 55g tanks. Taking this into consideration, what would i need for the following:

**Overflow boxes - how many gph per box?

**Water pumps - how many gph per pump? could i run flexible clear rubber hosing from the sump pump to the tank instead of pvc? what diameter would these lines have to be?

I also plan to sit my two corlalife super skimmers inside the sump...What else should i put in there? thanks

 

[SkiFletch]

If you use two gravity drains and two submersible pumps you should be just fine. You're gonna want somehting on the range of an eheim 1250 or danner mag 7 for a 55g tank. 3/4" piping should be used as well. How are you gonna do your overflows? Boxes? Drilling? Dursos?

 

[ikon]

Boxes for overflows. Thanks for you help. Maybe you could go a little further for me here as i am having a hard time picturing how it will have to work in my head.

Fill in the blanks?

Each overflow box must be rated ___ gph
The drain pipes for these overflow boxes must be ___ diameter

Each water pump must be rated ___ gph
The return pipes for these pumps must be ___ diameter

*These need to be for two 55 gallon tanks on one sump.

 

[SkiFletch]

Box rated 600-1000gph
Drains 3/4"
Pump GPH rating means nothing, you want to focus with a head pressure rating of 8-10 feet.
Return pipe 3/4" diameter (you may need fittings to bump it up)

 

[ikon]

thank you..and what should the head pressure gph be @ 8-10 feet

also..
can i use flexible rubber hose in place of pvc?

and do you reccommend any brands as far as overflow boxes/pumps at decent price?

 

[andywg]

I would prefer one larger rated pump split with a T and valves rather than two return pumps. That way it will free up more room in the sump. This is what I have done on my FW rack system.

For a racked system I would definitely advocate drilling over overflow boxes, it is so much easier and safer.

 

[ikon]

are there any overflow boxes known for their siphon reliability?

 

[andywg]

Most Overflow boxes will be fine for 99, even 99.99% of the time, but with the costs and times associated with an aquarium, I prefer the extra security of drilled tanks. That way I never have to worry about a loss of syphon.

 

[ikon]

what about a custom overflow box like this:

The overflow box would sit inside the tank, with a hold drilled in the bottom of the box connected to a tube that would exit the tank to the sump, starting inside the tank at the box. Would this create a continuous siphon? would it be practical?

 

[andywg]

That would almost certainly lose syphon the first time that power is cut to the return pump and would not regain it leading to a flooded display tank and an empty sump.

 

[SkiFletch]

That would almost certainly lose syphon the first time that power is cut to the return pump and would not regain it leading to a flooded display tank and an empty sump.

100% agree, cant do an overflow that way