Sump/ overflow questions

AC2020x

AC2020x

AC Members
Dec 31, 2008
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State College, PA
Hi, I want to add a sump to my 125 gallon tank and wanted to get some good information as I know very little about it and have never done it before. I was considering the CPR Bak-Pak overflow box but I really don't know what would be a good one to get. I already have a 29 gallon that i'm going to use for the sump,- (friend gave it to me) and although I know it doesn't add alot of water volume - it gives me a place for skimmer/ filter/ some extra live rock. What size pumps would be good to use for this?

Any thoughts, comments, ideas?

Thanks alot!
-AC
 
Im sorta in the same boat i just got a overflow/sump set up and wondering what size return pump i should get. LFS told me a mag 7 at 700gph is a safe bet. So thats what im probably going to get.
 
To know if the overflow can handle the output of the pump, you'll want to look at each pump's flow table / curve to see how many GPH it can pump at the height you need it to pump. Depending on how high you need to pump water from the sump to the display tank, the GPH of the pump can be drastically less than the GPH it's rated for at 0'.
 
No, not on a 125G, that is easily 4-5 feet of head pressure. Your 900GPH pump will end up being around a 700GPH pump once it reaches the tank from the gravity pushing the return water back down on the pump. You also will want to install something like a True Union valve at the output of the pump so you can adjust the flow and also be able to close the return line so you don't get a backsyphon in case you ever need to remove your pump (you will for maintenance about once a year). Just uplug the pump, turn the valve, unscrew the pump from the bottom side and take it out to clean.
 
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