Is 1200GPH overflow to much for 80 gallons

[Lgara1303]

SO i just made a post about a 300GPH overflow and if it was enough now I want to know if a 1200GPH is enough for a 80 gallon system. I am just worried it will be too much turn over but I have the opportunity to get a very good deal on a 1200GPH

 

[Lgara1303]

Think i'll be okay I looked at some other post and people with 75 gallons have used 1200 or even 1600

 

[TheStrangler]

Can you not lower the power to get a lower GPH with the same pump? Some people run high turnover tanks, it just makes your protein skimmer less effective as it has less contact time with any given amount of water. If you have alternate nutrient export plans such as a refugium, algae scrubber, filter socks/floss rollers, the 5-10x turnover ratio becomes less important. It's just a guideline anyway.

 

[Lgara1303]

Can you not lower the power to get a lower GPH with the same pump? Some people run high turnover tanks, it just makes your protein skimmer less effective as it has less contact time with any given amount of water. If you have alternate nutrient export plans such as a refugium, algae scrubber, filter socks/floss rollers, the 5-10x turnover ratio becomes less important. It's just a guideline anyway.

Well my nitrates wont come above 5 so I haven't even been running a skimmer tank is pretty filtered to say the least so I guess I just have to find out.

I don't think I follow in terms of the lower power to get lower gph you can but I am asking about the overflow GPH. Are you saying if I lower my return GPH it will lower the overflow GPH ?

 

[TheStrangler]

Yes, the overflow can only return as much water as you're returning to the display from the sump. The gph rating on overflows is a maximum rating if I'm understanding you correctly. If it's rated for 1200gph you could still use a 800gph return pump and only be circulating 800gph.

 

[Lgara1303]

Yes, the overflow can only return as much water as you're returning to the display from the sump. The gph rating on overflows is a maximum rating if I'm understanding you correctly. If it's rated for 1200gph you could still use a 800gph return pump and only be circulating 800gph.

Okay that actually makes sense so I can just run my return a little slower and it should work out because it's only allowing that much back in

 

[edd59]

1200 gph after head loss is probably around 800 gph. you can also gate it back if you feel its too much.

 

[Dread Pirate Dave]

SO i just made a post about a 300GPH overflow and if it was enough now I want to know if a 1200GPH is enough for a 80 gallon system. I am just worried it will be too much turn over but I have the opportunity to get a very good deal on a 1200GPH

I was going to put a 1800gph overflow on a 75 gallon tank until I discovered all the panels are tempered. I was intending on returning about 500gph. I felt like the larger overflow gave me some operating room to adjust the siphon to match the return pump. Also the additional weir area would be less likely to be blocked completely by snails or whatnot.

I'd go with the 1200 and adjust the siphon with a gate valve as needed.

 

[edd59]

I was going to put a 1800gph overflow on a 75 gallon tank until I discovered all the panels are tempered. I was intending on returning about 500gph. I felt like the larger overflow gave me some operating room to adjust the siphon to match the return pump. Also the additional weir area would be less likely to be blocked completely by snails or whatnot.

I'd go with the 1200 and adjust the siphon with a gate valve as needed.

this wouldnt work. if you adust the syphon to say 800 gph and the pump is pumping 1000 gph you will keep pumping the sump dry.
you adjust the syphon to the pump.

 

[Dread Pirate Dave]

this wouldnt work. if you adust the syphon to say 800 gph and the pump is pumping 1000 gph you will keep pumping the sump dry.
you adjust the syphon to the pump.

Sorry for not being clearer. That's what I was trying to convey. Just because the overflow *could* handle a higher flow doesn't mean it has to. For my needs the pump would have only been able to return about 500gph and I would have adjusted the overflow to match as needed. If the pump provides more return gph than the overflow can handle then the pump return needs to be restricted or dialed down.

 

[Lgara1303]

I was going to put a 1800gph overflow on a 75 gallon tank until I discovered all the panels are tempered. I was intending on returning about 500gph. I felt like the larger overflow gave me some operating room to adjust the siphon to match the return pump. Also the additional weir area would be less likely to be blocked completely by snails or whatnot.

I'd go with the 1200 and adjust the siphon with a gate valve as needed.

Sweet because I ordered it a eshopps 1200 for 45 seems pretty dang good for me have fun trying to find one under 100

 

[Lgara1303]

Yes I believe what we all mean here is if you set your return to 1000 on a 1200GPH overflow it is only going to overflow 1000GPH or whatever your returning to the display or you can adjust with gate valves correct?

this wouldnt work. if you adust the syphon to say 800 gph and the pump is pumping 1000 gph you will keep pumping the sump dry.
you adjust the syphon to the pump.