What size pump?

[VickyH]

I have just set up my 6ft x 2ft x 2ft tank with 4ft x 20" sump, it came with an oceanrunner or6500 pump but it seems a bit too powerful! It just blows all the sand away in a big patch on the bottom of tank, I tried putting a rock there but now I've got bare patches either side of that. Is this the right size pump or could I use a slightly smaller one? What flow rate do I need for a tank and sump this size?
Also is there any safety feature I can add to stop tank overflowing if something gets in pipe that goes to sump or should i just put some sort of mesh around it?

[Nolapete]

You could make a pvc spray bar to distribute the flow.

You could put an elbow on the output to direct it across the tank.

You could put a T in the return and send it to two locations in the tank.

There are sump water level kill switches that will shut off the pump if the water level in the sump gets too low.

[Star_Rider]

that's a pretty good sized pump rated at 1700 gph..but it's on a 180 G tank.

how is it plumbed in??

I am runnin 1250 gph on q 75 and 1500 gph on a 110 with no issues.

how are the nozzles directed?

[VickyH]

I have attached a couple of pics to explain, there is an orange 'tap' plumbed in that adjusts the flow from the pump. There is a straight pipe up into tank and then elbows to get round glass shelf that goes round inside of tank and points water straight down into tank. Had thought of spray bar but not sure how to attach it to the back of the tank, next option was to try and turn last elbow so water comes out at an angle.
Would you say the pump is too big? Are these water kill switches available in UK?
Would you suggest putting some kind of mesh around pipe that goes down into sump as if something restricts it the tank water level rises?

[Nolapete]

Does the 90 on the return come off or is it glued in place? I'll tell you how to make a spray bar once you answer that question.

[UCF-Planted]

If you took off the last elbow (or added another elbow) in that configuration and added a peice of PVC with holes in it you would have a spray bar that would spread out all that water pressure. I think your best bet on preventing an overflow of the tank from restriction in the drain pipe is to put some kind of low restriction mesh (gutter mesh maybe?) around the top of the pipe to prevent blockage. Is the drain pipe open on the top or setup like a durso standpipe?

[VickyH]

It is a very tight fit but it should come off as it is not glued. Would I need the same size pipe as the rest of it? How would I fix it in place? I had a spray bar on my last tropical tank so know how it works.

[Star_Rider]

you could take the last 90 off and replace it with a y coupler ..there are other fittins you can use too.
you can also use a reducer to restrict some of the flow..
I'll take a better look at it. that looks to be 1 1/4 or 1 1/2 pipe from the pump..

most of the time you see a 1'' fitting and the pipe that fit that is 3/4"
since it is pvc you have a lot of options.

[UCF-Planted]

I would stick with the same size pipe. For my sump return spray bar I created a hanger that is 3 elbows and an end-cap that goes on the end of the drilled pipe and hangs on the back of the tank.

The following basic drawings (not to scale) will hopefully give you the idea of what I'm saying if it doesn't make sense. I can snap photos tonight if you'd like.

Side:
|_______

Top:
|
|_______

End:
__
| |

[VickyH]

Can't really hang anything on the back of the tank because there is a wooden surround that sits on top and has a shelf at the back.
Pipe is 1 1/2" made by Spears and has been a pig to get hold of in UK, british 1 1/2" pipe is smaller!!?
I will try turning the last elbow or see if I can come up with another way of supporting a spray bar. Thank you!

[Star_Rider]

if you look closely at the fitting where it comes from the pump you'll see it was 1" and they used a reverse reducer to turn it into a 1 1/2"
you can keep the pipe going into the tank and use a reducer in essence it will restrict flow cutting down on the return.. also you can use same size splitter (Y pipe) in essence it will send fixed flow out 2 different outlets and should reduce the flow out.

you could leave the 1 1/2" 90 and place a fitting on it to divert the flow out too. using the 90 will keep the water flow below surface..

you have a bunch of options
1 think about pvc is you are only limited by how creative you can be.

[VickyH]

I like the idea of usin a T or Y piece to send output out in 2 different places, it's just hard to get pieces to fit what I have already. I'll have to take another trip to the fish shop!