Tank plumbing help!

[Wadec]

Hello all!
I`m going to upgrade my 100 gallon to a 240. I want to put dual overflows in the corners but am unsure how big to make them, and how mant slots to cut and how wide. I have a sump now that is a 75 gallon tank. I have a amp master 3000 pump for the tank. It was to big for my 100. Also would it be good to put 1.5 drians and 1.0 returns. Should I put one on each over flow and one in the middle of the tank pointing each way.Or dual drains and returns? I guess I should say I`m building the tank myself as I did the 100 gallon. It is hard to find info on the over flows and plumbing so I thought i would ask. My tank is a in the wall one now and the new one will be as well. I want to start cutting the parts out but I have to get this plumbing decided first as I`m cutting it with a cnc router so i can have it cut the hole as well. Thanks

[Geoff]

since you are building your tank take a look at my build thread and Fly Guys build thread with the coast to coast overflows. his outside the tank overflow is a far better design then mine, but between the two designs you will get an idea on good drilling places and options when designing the tank.

i say go with 1.5" drains. i would not use the Ampmaster as a return pump. it is just not designed for head pressure. that would make a great CLS pump, that is how i have mine, but not a return. you would get far less flow than you would think. you also prolly do not want that much flow through a sump unless you have a humongous skimmer. i like to match the flow through the skimmer to the flow through the sump. it is pretty difficult to get a skimmer that can actually process more than a 1000gph. those that do are in the $500+ range easily, and that is not including the pump.

G~

[Wadec]

Thanks for the reply. what pump would you suggest I use?

[Geoff]

that question can not be answered till you decide what you want to keep in the tank.

it is also very important to decide where you are going to be putting the return pump. is it going to be just under the tank or located somwhere else. figuring out head pressure is important in getting the flow correct.

my sump is located 45' away and 10' below my tank. i am running a PCX-55. i was running a Velocity T3, but it just was not quite enough. these are very high head pressure pumps in order to keep the loss down. if you do not have such a screwed up setup than for me to suggest either of these pumps could cause all kinds of annoying plumbing frustrations.

in most cases though i feel the Velocity T3 is the perfect pump for a return on a tank with a 1.5" drain, or 2 1" drains.

G~