Can i put a larger U-Tube one a Eshopps pf300 overflow

Dear reefers,

I am new to this and i recently set up a 55 gallon salt water tank. My plans for stocking this would be lots of live rock and tufa stone. Can anyone answer whether i can put a larger U tube on the pf300. Because i heard the pf300 cant handle it.

 

You heard the pf300 can't handle what, exactly? The GPH rating of your return pump? You can dial back return pumps with a ball valve on the return line. Unless you need (for some reason) major GPH, the pf300 can handle it. You didn't mention your sump size or return pump. Please be as detailed as possible when asking questions. It helps you get the best answer as fast as possible.

Tufa isn't the best option. You don't know what contaminants are in it. It's likely to be high in phospahtes, which will cause major algae problems as it leeches out into the tank. Stick with a known base rock provider, since they know what their rock's composition is.

 

Welcome to 3reef.

I agree with blackraven on everything.

Go to the forum section and navigate to Eshopps' forum and ask them this question. They will respond in a couple of days.

 

Let me add:

You can always put a larger U Tube just by doing so. However, you almost never want to do that for "engineering" reasons. The U Tube isn't going to be the limiting factor in an overflow's maximum rate; that's the bulkhead size. If you do raise the U Tube size, though, you run a larger risk of bubble accumulation, because the velocity of the water is lower. Larger tube = lower speed = less ability to pull through microbubbles.

 

i have a 10 gallon sump cause thats all i culd fit in my stand. and my return pump is a boyu submersibe fp-28 (flow rate 950 L/H)

 

someone also told me that the sump setup i have is not enough. They said its not nearly enough for A 10% water xchange every certain amount of time. i Forgot exactly....

 

250 GPH pump won't be anywhere near that by the time it gets up to the tank. More like 100 GPH, max. You might need a bigger pump.

For a 10% water exchange every hour, you'd need a 550 gph return pump, and that's after you account for head loss and loss from the plumbing. The pump would likely need to be more like 650-700 gph. You don't absolutely need that much, but the pump you said is definitely not enough.

 

So your saying that the overflow i have and the pump dont match,?

 

You want your return pump to be a little lower than your overflow otherwise you will flood your display tank or empty the sump. Recommended flow through a sump is 5 to 10 times the sump's volume.

 

ok im sorry i dont think im grasping what your trying to say.
Can i run what i have now?