help me plan my sump for 40 breeder tank

hey, i'm finally gonna convert my 40 breeder into my second reef tank..

anyways, i need some help figuring out the sump...I havent decided what size sump i will use..i can fit quite a bit in there, but i would have to take the stand away from the wall if i ever wanted to get it out because there is a center brace in the front..but the back is completely open..

anyways, i'm getting a hang on overflow (not drilled) for pretty much free....for now anyways..later i'm giving him all the free frags he wants. But anyways, he's got 2 overflows...one was custom made i think, and i cant remember what brand the other was...but one is ~600 gph, and the other is 900...I may also get a return pump from him that is rated for 982 gph..i think the name was somthin about genx or something...cant remember..but its never been used.

my questions are tho, is the 900 gph a good match for the 982 return? And is that overkill? If it is, would i be able to just use the return pump instead of additional powerheads, but have it split somwhere into like 3 or 4 returns? (i think its called spraybar???)

or would i be better off getting the 600, and would the return be too much for that?..there wont be too much head on the return pump...its just a standard 32" stand, and the 40 breeder is only 16 high i think?

lemme knw what you guys think.
mike

 

If it were me, I'd opt for the 600. You could still use the PH that is rated 900GPH as long as you are able to dial it down using a ball valve or a reasonable facsimile thereof. And it's not going to be rated at 900 over the four feet it takes to get from the sump to the main tank anyway.

Along with the return, you could use two Koralia-1s to add to the flow of the tank. It does not need to all come from the return.

In terms of dividing the return, you could do that, but you are still going to need more flow in your tank IMO. Splitting the return flow is not going to increase your power. You will still only be running about 600GPH into your tank from the sump.

Hoped this helped.

Peace.......John.