advice will be great

[flash.dan]

hey guys. I will be building a few new sumps etc shortly. Basically will run overflows through bulkheads to the sump at the desired water level... question is.... i was thinking of using bulkheads also as a retun ((pumped straight to open bulkheads).... i want to put these below the water line is there a issue with this? as i think i will get better circulation this way also??

obviously i will use one way valves and mesh to stop fish exploring them. does anyone see this as a problem? I just want my tanks pipe + heater less

[Agnate]

To be honest, I wouldn't. The reason being that after you've drilled the hole, you have no choice afterward. Personally, I'd return the water through flexible hosing (www.mops.ca) and then have the wide nozzle on the end. This way you can bend and adjust it to get the perfect flow, and if you change the tank layout around, you'll still be fine.

I've seen some people build custom rocks around the output of the return so that it looks like it's part of the background. You could always look into something like that with rock or wood (if it's freshwater).

[flash.dan]

think ill use some tubing as a return my idea is 2x 2" bulkheads just to tank off the overflor and a 5000lph pump returnign water from the sump pretty simple but will get a lot of turnover.

the sump connector is 22mm will normal eheim 16/22 mm hose pipe take the pressure through a spreybar if i pinch one off my wet dry?

[Agnate]

Not sure. I don't have any experience with sumps, just some info when I was reading about them. Sorries.

[flash.dan]

Not sure. I don't have any experience with sumps, just some info when I was reading about them. Sorries.

im in the same boat im just fed up of external filters...

[flash.dan]

brainwave...... basically im going to try this out on a 300 L corner tank......

the filtration system will be......

2x 1.5" bulkheads as ovverflows into a 100L sump.......
then..... http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... 0290044893


2 or three of these run off a single 4000-5000Lph pump possibly loc-lined in place.....

anyone think this will workout?

if so ill test it on the 300L and if all is well ill try it out on my 6x2

[Agnate]

Ohhhhh, those look fancy! Seems like a great combination of both of our positives about each suggested solution!

I say try them out and let us know how they go.

[Nick]

I believe that's a water return bulkhead(has the pivot for controlling return direction - I actually suspect it's the same component as used for water returns in pools), but I suppose you could use it however you wanted to. The flow rates work out for a pump of that rating, you should get a bit over 1000gph. You can easily get away with only one 1.5" overflow on a 300ltr tank though, since the pump will be feeding three 300ltr tanks.

[Agnate]

Don't we normally suggest 2 overflows, just in case one gets blocked up? That's always been my understanding...

[Nick]

Hmm, perhaps, but wouldn't splitting a single larger overflow into two separate inputs with the same overall cross sectional area accomplish the same thing, but be stronger since it would allow only a single hole in the glass? Or am I WAY too paranoid about drilling glass?