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How to best setup a sump for a bottom drilled acrylic freshwater tank

6K views 1 reply 2 participants last post by  Varkolak 
#1 ·
So I just got a 205-gallon acrylic bottom drilled fish tank for my freshwater fish. It has two 1.25 in holes on the bottom. I want to use an old 30 gallon as a sump but I have a few questions.

1. Will using a 30-gallon sump provide enough filtration?

2. Should I use both bottom holes as drains, then return over the top of the tank?

3. What's the easiest way to ensure than the drain and the pump work at the same rates?

4. In terms of setup, which of the pump options in this pic would work (best) to prefer a flood during a power outage?

I am not too knowledgeable about sumps in general, so feel free to suggest other things you think would be more appropriate. Thanks in advance.
 
#2 ·
Since your tank is drilled just use pvc pipe up to the water level you desire with both drilled holes and pipe it down into your 30gal sump then use a return pump with pipe/tubing that is 1/2 the size of the overflow pipes to make sure your overflow will work faster then the water pump. On the filtration issue that all depends on what your keeping and how you built you sump, with enough filter media and a reasonably stocked tank a 30gallon filter could handle a 205gallon tank but if its not enough you can always buy a canister to pick up the slack.

I'm not sure I understand the red and green lines but the gray lines are about right if the return is coming up over the top or in from the back
 
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