Drain from overflow

Its from mega flow, It has a 90 with a hole in the top then another 90 with a strainer that comes off of that. This is how I have the plumbing underneath now. I plan on filling it back up this weekend and seeing how it does. I had to use an L since there is an offset from the drain to the sump. Criticism is appreciated. Thanks

 

Looks much better. Nice and smooth. The flex hose is just going to make a bit of noise, just because it causes a bunch of turbulence. but that should be better.

 

Powerman- What would you suggest I run (PVC?) My bulkhead has a hose barbed fitting on the end and not straight threads. I guess I could change that out and run PVC. The tank is empty right now, so if you think that the hose is causing a majority of the noise from turbulence I can change it? Thanks for the input

 

I would stay the way you have it with the exception of changing out the ribbed hose to a short piece of reinforced vinyl tubing. The gradual sweep or bend as you have it is excellent for flow and getting rid of the ribs which cause backcurrents and eddies(turbulence) will quiet it down.
On a gravity system such as an overflow I do not care much for PVC myself as the bends cause restrictions and noise in the solid piping more than a smooth flow like vinyl tubing.

 

Most of the corrugated "pool hose" has a pretty smooth ID now...not all, but most. That being said, I recently used some that I ordered that did not have the smooth ID, and it was indeed a PITA trying to get the connection to stop "weeping" when I slid it over a short piece of PVC.

I used to use the stuff you mentioned, but I got tired of having algae grow in it from my fuge lights, so now I use black vinyl for the returns and pool hose for the drains.

 

What AZ said.

 

With the addition of a pice of SpaFlex hose on the return pump TO the tank! You can put that valve in/on the hose like you can the pipe. Usually a barbed fitting, and might need a hose clamp b/c that is the high pressure side on the return to the tank.

Each 90 degree turn in Aoubt 1 ft of head height resistance.

 

Are your skimmer and return pump in the same sump section?
If so this will be a problem. Microbubbles is the obvious one but the changing water level due to evaporation will be the biggest challenge for the skimmer.
Does the skimmer fit in the center section so you will have baffles between it and the return section for the bubbles to disipate and keep the water level constant?

 

AZ- They are both in the same compartment, I plan on having a fuge in the center, The only problem I can see is the bubble, my return inlet is on the opposite corner of the skimmer outlet...so i'm hoping it will be minimal if at all? If i put some sort of "silencer" on the pump inlet will that help or will it just catch a lot of junk and I'll be cleaning it all the time? As for the water level I will have an ATO controlled by a PLC...thanks for all the help from everyone

Should I leave the skimmer off during the "cycle" period?

 

I think you are going to have microbubble problems. The purpose of multiple over-under-over type baffles is to make the water follow a specified path and physically change directions so it gives up or releases the entrained microbubbles and they rise to the surface between the baffles.
When I designed my 30G sump, I placed the return pump section on the far left with three baffles, over-under-over separating it from the center section where the skimmer resides and the refugium is on the far right. The main portion of the overflow enters the center section with a 1/2" branch off of it feeding the refugium and overflowing back into the center section.
Most skimmers will put off a lot of bubbles so be forewarned just in case.
I don't like any foams, sponges or filter socks in any of my systems and especially don't like anything on the return pump suction. The only thing I put a suction foam filter on is my little MJ powerhead that feeds the calcium reactor, GFO reactor and carbon reactors. If I don't filter that it leads to crud in the medias.

When I cycled both my present systems I used uncured live rock so kept the skimmers running to remove excess die off and nutrients. If you are using dry rock or previously cured rock it really doesn't matter either way as there will be little organics to remove at this point.