Plumbing for a 75 gallon tank

[hampmp]

I am quite a novice at this. I have most of my equipment for my tank and am getting ready to have the tank drilled. Tank dimensions are 48x18x18. I was thinking of doing a center drilled overflow. I'm just not sure how many holes I want drilled and could really use some advice. I will be keeping fish, sps, and lps coral. I have a 20 gallon sump. Main questions are what is going to work the best at a fairly economical price I'm getting ready to buy rock so I'd like to keep it to a reasonable cost. What size holes should I be looking at? How many? What size return pump should I be running to ensure proper flow? Thanks for your patience and understanding.

 

[davework]

IMO, it is better to create the flow in the tank with Vortechs or other power heads, than have it go down the overflow and through your sump. The flow will be a lot better (less laminar) from those devices than coming back from your return pump. I would still go as big as you can on the overflow, with more than one being preferable. They cake up over time and diameter will decrease. I would go (2) 1.5in, then you should be set for a long time.

 

[hampmp]

Oh I will have powerheads... I'm looking at 2 Koralia 4's (new generation) with a controller they are rated at 1400 and from my understanding you should be looking at power heads around that size for a 75. Also what I meant by flow is return flow just a pump that would have enough power to push the water back through the return efficiently (Sorry if that wasn't clear).

 

[davework]

Is the sump directly below the tank?

 

[davework]

You want an in sump return pump, or external?

 

[davework]

I would go for somewhere around 900-1200gph. Mag 9 or 12 in sump.

 

[hampmp]

The sump is directly below the tank and in sump return pump.

 

[davework]

I would go for 15x turnover, which is around 1000gph.

Mag 9 would be good probably.

 

[hampmp]

Do you know of any place to get a nice diagram possibly to show a plumbing layout? Most of the ones I've seen are far more elaborate than I need.

 

[shred5]

I actually am setting up a 75 gallon in the next few months my girl just bought me. I will have to figure out the same things. I am a fan of slower flow through the sump since I always also include a refugium in my tanks.

 

[hampmp]

My wife bought me mine as well :) This is also my first saltwater. Nervous, but I've been reading up on this since last may so I think I'm ready lol.

 

[shred5]

My wife bought me mine as well :) This is also my first saltwater. Nervous, but I've been reading up on this since last may so I think I'm ready lol.

Nice wife. I have actually owned 75 gallon reefs before. My second reef was.