Aquarium Drains and Returns

Coronus

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Hello, So I am purchasing my first custom aquarium in a few days. It’s a 243 gallon tank. It has a center overflow with 3x 1 inch holes. One hole is going to be the return, another I would like to use as a full siphon drain, and the last hole as an emergency drain. My question is, does this sound like a good enough plumbing system for this size tank?
The pump I was going to buy was a Sicce Syncra 5.0 rated for 1300gph or maybe a 4.0. Rated for around 950gph. These are rough estimates.
The flow rate I want through the sump is around 5x.
Thoughts?
 

redfishbluefish

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There are flow rate tables that show a 1 inch pipe flow rate at 600. Note that there are variables. That said, I've seen 1 inch pipe max out at 900 gph.

Is the sump directly below the tank or are you setting up a basement sump? That will impact your headloss on the return pump...and therefore the choice of pumps.
 

Showcasegars

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I'd say try it it out with the second return pipe maybe half a inch higher than the main drain. So if it doesn't drain enough the second pipe will kick on fairly quickly to assist with the excess water.
 

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