Aquac EV-120 / DIY Sump

[dakine]

I'm new to this so bare with me. I purchased some used items on eBay to start a sump for my reef tank. I purchased an Aquac EV-120 and a Eshopps overflow box that has dual outlets. I believe it is a 1 1/2 inch bulkhead but to be honest, I don't know for sure. I am going to home depot tomorrow to find out. Anyways, it's almost impossible to get a 20 Gallon tank where I live without paying astronomical prices for one so I have been sitting here looking at my parts trying to figure out what to do.

Here is what I am thinking.....

Have one of the outlets from the overflow going to a 10 gallon tank (which WalMart carries here for $16) where my Aquac EV-120 will be. A mag 5 will be used to pump water into the skimmer from the first 10 gallon tank. Then have the water pumped back into the main tank by an additional pump?? So I need 2 pumps for this first 10 gallon tank I think?

Then I will have another 10 gallon tank which will be the fuge. The 2nd overflow box outlet will run to this one which has the live rock, algea, sand and air trap. Then a pump in the last section going to a SCWD going back to the main tank.

Both tanks would be under my main tank.

Any thought or input will help as I am unsure if this will work properly.

Thanks guys!!

[Doug1]

It should work but you may not have a lot of room in the 10g with the skimmer and pump in place. Then you have to figure out what the flowrate of the overflow box is and get pumps that will match it.
I think I would look at something else besides the 2 10g tanks, a rubbermaid tub or something

[Fat Tony]

Oops.. meant to post on this when I finished merging the threads..Doh!!

I don't think I would trust the setup with 2 return pumps and 2 separate tanks like that. I agree with doug here and use a rubbermaid tub for the sump

[bcrum51]

it would be hard to maintain a consistent water level

[dakine]

Well I am finally starting to "get it" after I finally got to put things toghether. Currently I just used 1 tank and set it up as the sump with the protein skimmer in it. Once I finally figured out how to prime the overflow box (thank you youtube) and time when to plug the pumps in, everything ran perfect! I had a small drip coming from on of the overflow tubes so I had to break everything down to seal it. The 2nd time should be much easier. I also picked up a 20 Gallon tank today that was used and I look forward to implementing it. Thanks guys for the input and the help! I'll post some pictures soon.

[robertmathern]

correct me if I am wrong but doesnt an aquac EV-120 take a mag7 to run the skimmer if so that mag 5 is to small