Sump Overflow

[barramundi]

Hi all. I am looking at building a tank that will be 3000mmx500mmx500mm. I will have an overflow sumop for the primary filtration. I have attached a diagram of the idea I have, I'm getting the tank custom made so they can make it to order. Anyway, I intend to have 3 holes in the bottom of the overflow area which will be 40mm each. Does anyone know the return flow I'm going to need to match output from the tank to input from the pump in the sump? The diagram will spell it out clearer than I am being here... sorry. Any advice or tips would be great!

[chc]

Just a few quick tips:

- No need to "match" the flow of the pump and the overflow. Just make sure the overflow can move more water than can the pump. There will only be as much water draining as is being pumped back into the tank (a.k.a. "static head").

- It is always better to oversize the drains in case you change your intentions in the future. Also, larger drains are unlikely to clog. I would suggest using 1.5" drains as they are easy to fit for flexible (spa) tubing.

- I don't see the benefit to the design you're showing. It would be easier, cheaper, and more effective simply to use a rectangular tank with a "standard" overflow box. It is important to have the plumbing easily accessed from below the tank, and your design would complicate that. Also, it unnecessarily weakens the structure. Am I not seeing the design correctly?

- Your tank will be very long, so I suggest more than one overflow. Perhaps two would be better.

HTH!

[barramundi]

Originally posted by chc
Just a few quick tips:

- I don't see the benefit to the design you're showing. It would be easier, cheaper, and more effective simply to use a rectangular tank with a "standard" overflow box. It is important to have the plumbing easily accessed from below the tank, and your design would complicate that. Also, it unnecessarily weakens the structure. Am I not seeing the design correctly?

HTH!

Thanks for the tips chc, especially about the pump & drains! I'm not sure what you mean by this one though. The reason I was hanging the overflow box outside the tank was to allow access to the pipe work?:confused: The design would mean the pipe are hanging from the base of the overflow where I can get to them without having to enter the tank at all.
I also wanted to avoid drilling the base if I could, so thought if I modify the back corner so that the water flowed into a seperate chamber then from the chamber to the sump but without having a hole in the base. Plus I wanted to have a couple of drainage holes out of the overflow chamber in case one got blocked but figured that would weaken the tank base too much having them close together?
The reason too for the angled corner was, because the tanks so long I am going to have powerheads to create a circular current, (like we did in the swimming pool as kids) to stir stuff up & the drain grabs it as it goes past. That was the theory. I could have a sump drain at each end I guess.
Am i on track chc or am I making it entirely too complicated???:uh:

[barramundi]

Hey chc,

I was thinking about what you were saying about weakening the tank & about the length of the tank & needing sumps at both ends, & you're right. I figure I'll drill a large (50mm??) hole in each back corner & put a glass box around it to create a standard overflow box arrangement that'll then drain down into the sump. I had wanted to avoid drilling the shelf & glass but the more I thought about what you said the more I had to admit you were right. :oops:

Just wanted to say thanks for tips mate!:ok:

[chc]

No worries mate!

(How's my accent?)

BTW, you could still use just one sump if you wanted. Just pipe both drains into it.

Good luck!

[barramundi]

Originally posted by chc
No worries mate!

(How's my accent?)

BTW, you could still use just one sump if you wanted. Just pipe both drains into it.

Good luck!

Mate, coulda sworn you were Steve Irwin there for a second! True blue ocker lingo you were spouting there!:D

Thanks again for the advice!

[chc]

O.K...... I have no idea what you said in that second sentence!

[nicksta]

its translates to...

that was genuine australian coloquialism you used.

lol

[barramundi]

Thanks nicksta!

Struth these yanks have a bit a trouble when I wrap my laughin gear round the true blue lingo, by jingo by crikey!:D But I blame chc, he started it!:nyah: j/j

Hey nicksta, I just noticed you're a fellow sandgroper!!! G'day!

[chc]

Again...... no clue what was just said.

[barramundi]

:rofl:

Just stirring chc. Basically the translation is that you being an American can have trouble understanding me when I use colloquial Australian slang.:)

Tell the truth, we don't use a lot of the words I just said in modern speak. Steve Irwin "reinvented" it a lot to target the US media market.

[chc]

Steve is a weird guy, but ya' gotta' love him!

[nicksta]

g'day, im true blue barra! so where in perth u from?

[barramundi]

Originally posted by nicksta
g'day, im true blue barra! so where in perth u from?

Merriwa. Yourself?

[barramundi]

Originally posted by chc
Steve is a weird guy, but ya' gotta' love him!

That's true! I respect the guy a lot actually, I mean he's a bit of a dag, but he's fair dinkum, put's his money where his mouth is. I mentioned here b4 he puts all his profits back into the wildlife reserve/zoo he runs in the eastern states. A good bloke that one!

[nicksta]

wembley downs im from, right near scarborough beach.
where is merriwa? south of the river?

[barramundi]

Far north of the river actually. Up past Joondalup & Mindarie.