16" cube ideas

[Fish]

No problem. The pvc on the back of my tank is my return outlets. I split my 1" sump return into two 3/4" outlets and my 3/4" closed loop into two 3/4" outlets. I know that it does look like a lot of pipes and I am considering reducing the closed loop to two 1/2" retuns and painting the plumbing black. The reason that I split my returns is because 800gallons per hour is a lot of flow in a 23gallon tank and I didn't want my livestock to get blown around like inside a washing machine. By splitting returns I am able to have 100% of the flow with only half of the velocity. There is less water coming out of each 3/4" exit than you would get out of a little maxijet nozle - the result is a really gentle water movement despite having tons of turnover.

Each pump will tell you what gph it is rated for. You can get an idea of losses
using this calculator:
http://www.reefcentral.com/calc/hlc2.php

- Chad

[Murminator]

Was that just a regular 20g and you knocked the plastic trim off then notched it for and overflow? If so will that not cause stress on the silicone in the corners to rip apart? and split the tank open? or is the trim decorative? Just curious I think it a great alternative to drilling which I'm not to crazt about.

[Fish]

From what I learned the trim adds very little structural support. I should also
add that I have since replaced that tank with another that has thicker glass. I have a two year old that likes to hit things with whatever heavy object he can find. Under normal use I wouldn;t worry about cracking or splitting; however, there was a slight bowing.

- Chad

[Beermaster]

ok now what kind of pump should i be looking at?

one of my suppliers carrys little giant pump, and being that we spend around $1m with them every year, i can get a good price on these


now basicly what i am thinking is that i wont need more then 500gph to move water from the sump to the tank

but could be wront there, would it be better to go 750gph or even 1000gph?


Mark