48x20x15 sump tank / help needed

[Binare]

Thats a ton of flow for a small sump. Your skimmer definately wont process anywhere near that and your refugium will be more like a typhoon. I know people like to size return pumps to display tanks for some odd reason but it really does make more sense to size em to your sump and let the power heads in the display do what they are designed for. I always pick my skimmer, decide if im running reactors or not then worry about the return pump. Start with sizing the first chamber with your skimmer. Then find a return pump that will be close to what it processes. Account for your return chamber size based on the pump and if your running an ato then make the rest your refugium. Thats how I do it.

[corrosionjerry]

Originally Posted by Binare

Thats a ton of flow for a small sump. Your skimmer definately wont process anywhere near that and your refugium will be more like a typhoon. I know people like to size return pumps to display tanks for some odd reason but it really does make more sense to size em to your sump and let the power heads in the display do what they are designed for. I always pick my skimmer, decide if im running reactors or not then worry about the return pump. Start with sizing the first chamber with your skimmer. Then find a return pump that will be close to what it processes. Account for your return chamber size based on the pump and if your running an ato then make the rest your refugium. Thats how I do it.

Ok.. I think I see what you meen... so If I use a return pump half of what I intended / lets say something like four or five hundred per hour or what ever the rating of the skimmer is in the inflow part of the sump things will be less turbulant in the Refugium etc. and rely on the Power heads for flow in the tank... is that correct?

[monocus]

check out melv's reef on building a sump