Need help with tank plumbing (first time)

[baker_jeff]

I was just going to have the 20 gallon plain and open to use as a refugian/frag tank. I've never played with a sump system before, I'm not sure what is necessary and what is not...

[Nevin]

Your maxijet will push about 50GPH, turning over the water in your sump 2.5 times per hour, which is not much. 1/2" PVC can easily handle that much flow. You will need to add additional flow in both your display and sump (if used as a frag tank). It would probably be more efficient to use a bigger return pump (300GPH+) to contribute to your flow rather than extra powerheads which will generate a lot of heat.

Regards,
Nevin

[baker_jeff]

Originally Posted by Nevin

Your maxijet will push about 50GPH, turning over the water in your sump 2.5 times per hour, which is not much. 1/2" PVC can easily handle that much flow. You will need to add additional flow in both your display and sump (if used as a frag tank). It would probably be more efficient to use a bigger return pump (300GPH+) to contribute to your flow rather than extra powerheads which will generate a lot of heat.

Regards,
Nevin

Noted.

There won't be any frags or life in the sump for a long while, so I will just stick with this setup for the time being if you say it is good. I have an extra powerhead for the display tank.

Originally Posted by baker_jeff

Noted.

There won't be any frags or life in the sump for a long while, so I will just stick with this setup for the time being if you say it is good. I have an extra powerhead for the display tank.

I am not expert in this neither, infact, I was done my first ever one (170+40sump) all DIY learned from those helpful people in those boards. Something I I point out from my design:
- I dont like the "hard pipes (those hard PVC) 'cause the bends, corners will reduce the flow rate
- With strong enough return pumps, you can slit the outputs and eliminate the powerheads in display tank, which make it look much nicer and more rooms.
-The displace tank I desgned myself that the drain lines are also the mech. filters them selves with easy access for changing the media.
...
Offcause, everyone has a dif. thinking. I might get some where not right... who know.
...
Welcome to the "newbiie club with me... heheh..

[albert_dao]

Propellar style powerheads will add a lot less heat to a tank than a large return pump. That said, you still might want to consider something beefier as a return pump. Maxijets SUCK with headpressure.

Also, if you use a larger diameter pipe, there will be less friction as the water travels the length of the pipe. This translates into increased flow rates and less wear on the pump.