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Alright the idea is as follows, i want to take the sump/ref out from under the tank, and plumb it down to the basement. This would not only reduce the noise (the pumps i have right now tend to vibrate alot. But it would also help to cool down the water, because the submersible pumps im currently running give off alot of heat to the water. This would be a big project, and would require at least 50 feet of large diameter tubing(1"1/4+) and another 50 of return line (1" with an adapter for the last few inches to be 3/4" to hook up to the returns to the tank.

Im thinking about running two external pumps. Any suggestions?
Currently im looking at the Little giant 4-MDQX-SC, which has a rating of around 700 gph at a 12 ft head.

Moving the sump to the basement would allow for a larger tank/ref because my basement is unfinished, the noise levels would be reduced, it has so many advantages.

the only downside is, i would have to pit four 1 inch holes in the wall behind the tank which would feed down into the wall and down to the basement. (perfectly feasable).

Any suggestions? ideas? comments?

Nick
"Impossumable- unable to play dead"

Are you looking for plumbing help or just for confidence?

If I'm not mistaking you have a 180 right?

Guy in my reef club, Joe, RC ID: JBNY...has a 180 plumbed down to his basement. Amazing tank, I've seen it myself; there's just so much more you can do when you plumb downstairs. It does reduce noise, and it also makes it a lot easier to work in the tank, as well as add on things like fuges and frag grow out tanks and stuff.

Go for it.

-Formerly known as the Ferretfish

looking for a little bit of both

im thinking that 1" flexible tubing is going to be the best bet, just for the situation.

I will do it as soon as i can, i just need the permission from my parents. Just make sure its ok with them before im let loose on the wall, heh....

it will make things alot nicer, and ill be able to increase my water volume, if a put a 55 on with my current sump. Ill let you know how it goes.

if anyone has better plumming suggestions let me know, but as of right now, it looks like 1" diam tube (instead of mostly pvc, two external pumps, and plenty of ball valves to control the flow. If all goes well i plan to add at least a 55 gal ref on.

Nick
"Impossumable- unable to play dead"

If you are planning on pushing the water 50ft you will have a hard time finding a pump that will do that and still keep decent flow....even if you go with a pressure rated pump you will have a hard time doing that.

Also, on that large of a pump you will most likely be looking at plumbing your drain lines from your tank in 2inch pipe and your return lines in 1.5 inch pipe so you wont cavitate the pump. I wouldnt reduce the size down any either when you return it back to the tank....if you reduce it down to 3/4 you will be increasing velocity which you dont want...you want to increase flow/volume, not velocity.

the water is not going 50 feet, sorry if i made it sound like that. Thats how much line im going to need total! The water is going to travel no more that 15 feet, more like 10-12, but i need four lines, two drain, two return.

The pumps im looking at right now are rated at about 700 gph at a 12 foot head. If the pumps normal imput output is 1", can i just stick with that without putting too much stress on them? and will haveing the drain and return lines both at 1" cause any flow problems because they are the same size?

Nick
"Impossumable- unable to play dead"

700gph isnt that much volume at all especially when you figure in elbows, coupling fittings, etc all adding to the friction loss and adding to the "head". Even at 12 ft I would either go with a pump that is way oversized or one that is pressure rated.

When I had my 180 plumbed to the basement I used a 3200gph pump and it was IMO just the right size to get the job done. You have to remember that if you are running dual overflow that each overflow will handle atleast 600gph...why not take advantage of it and use the extra turnover?

Edit*....you will always want your drain line bigger than your return line or you take a risk of cavitating (starving the pump) because it is pumping the water faster than it is receiving it