the sump.
the size of the hole needed to be drilled through the base will depend on how many litres per hour (LPH) you want to put through it. For an 85 gallon tank, I'd recamend pleanty of flow going through the sump so maybe 6500- 7000LPH. you could use a couple of eheim 1262's or ocean runners OR3500's or one ocean runner OR6500. although I'd go for the two smallert pumps if possable as you always have a back up and the flow is distributed better in the tank. Now, for that flow rate, I'd go for 2 x 1.5" holes or if you use metric pipe (which IMO is better) then 2 x 40mm drains. you will need a weir round them which is sealed, i.e. the tank can be filled and the weir can remain dry. as the tank fills up to the correct level, the water should just flow over the weir. you can then have a stand pipe behind the weir to give you a water level in the weir the same as in the tank so you don't get a water fall effect. if the power goes, then the water will only drop to the top of the weir/stand pipe, and you should allow for the extra capacity in the sump to catch the lost water. It is also important to place the returns just below the surface so that the water won't back syphon down these. if you want them lower down, drill a small3/4mm hole in the return pipe just below the surface of the water in the tank so that as soon as the water level drops, air will rush in through these and break the syphon.
Its hard to explain how to get it silent so I'll draw some rough diagrams.
Method 1:
use a durso stand pipe. the stand pipe is elbowed down back into the weir and a small hole drilled in the top to allow air down. see pic here.
Method 2:
cut slits in the stand pipe and fill the weir with sponge this way the water will trickle through the sponge into the pipe. the sponge will also act as a bio-filter and prefilter. if the sponge blocks, then the water can just flow down, into the top of the pipe which is left open. see diagram below. (sorry for the crap diagram)
ok, won't let me upload a diagram but if you look here at the bottom left pic, you can sort of see how it works with the sponges in the weir. (you don't need the plastic grill on top)
Method 3
have 4 holes, pu valves on two and have 2 open, close the valves so that it will just about let the water being pumped in down the drain but not let any air down. this is very quiet but getting ever more complicated. this is the method I'm using on my new reef. very quiet.
hard to explain really. PM me if you have any specific questions etc.
ste
the size of the hole needed to be drilled through the base will depend on how many litres per hour (LPH) you want to put through it. For an 85 gallon tank, I'd recamend pleanty of flow going through the sump so maybe 6500- 7000LPH. you could use a couple of eheim 1262's or ocean runners OR3500's or one ocean runner OR6500. although I'd go for the two smallert pumps if possable as you always have a back up and the flow is distributed better in the tank. Now, for that flow rate, I'd go for 2 x 1.5" holes or if you use metric pipe (which IMO is better) then 2 x 40mm drains. you will need a weir round them which is sealed, i.e. the tank can be filled and the weir can remain dry. as the tank fills up to the correct level, the water should just flow over the weir. you can then have a stand pipe behind the weir to give you a water level in the weir the same as in the tank so you don't get a water fall effect. if the power goes, then the water will only drop to the top of the weir/stand pipe, and you should allow for the extra capacity in the sump to catch the lost water. It is also important to place the returns just below the surface so that the water won't back syphon down these. if you want them lower down, drill a small3/4mm hole in the return pipe just below the surface of the water in the tank so that as soon as the water level drops, air will rush in through these and break the syphon.
Its hard to explain how to get it silent so I'll draw some rough diagrams.
Method 1:
use a durso stand pipe. the stand pipe is elbowed down back into the weir and a small hole drilled in the top to allow air down. see pic here.
Method 2:
cut slits in the stand pipe and fill the weir with sponge this way the water will trickle through the sponge into the pipe. the sponge will also act as a bio-filter and prefilter. if the sponge blocks, then the water can just flow down, into the top of the pipe which is left open. see diagram below. (sorry for the crap diagram)
ok, won't let me upload a diagram but if you look here at the bottom left pic, you can sort of see how it works with the sponges in the weir. (you don't need the plastic grill on top)
Method 3
have 4 holes, pu valves on two and have 2 open, close the valves so that it will just about let the water being pumped in down the drain but not let any air down. this is very quiet but getting ever more complicated. this is the method I'm using on my new reef. very quiet.
hard to explain really. PM me if you have any specific questions etc.
ste
