Show me your BACKSIDE!

I need some Ideas, I have a 20g tall, and am starting a Nano Reef.
I do not want to have anything mechanical in the tank. I am going
to have a 10g sump, so everything is going in there. I need to see
how you have solve siphon problems, return size, outlet size, check
valves, Etc. Basically how to get the water into and out of the
sump. I want a bulkhead fitting with a grate over it for the return to
the sump, but need to know sizing and placement. I want to use a
bulkhead jet similar to a Jacuzzi jet for the output. So if you can
take some pictures of the back of your tanks, I would love to see
them.
BTW I will be using a MAG 5 with a ball valve to regulate the flow.

 

mag 5 on a nano?

I used 5/8" all around for my 20g hex. Everything is good. You'll have harder time finding fittings, since 3/4, 1/2, 1" are more common. You would have to get your fittings from like marinedepot.com to prevent from jumping around fish store to fish store. Used a 3/4" ball valve with 3/4 to 1/2" barb fitting (couldn't find 5/8 but 1/2 worked.

You usually install the bulkhead toward the bottom where the water is gonna exit the filter. You can get the dang water from the tank down with an OF, geez!

 

Thanks for the advice.

What kind of pump were/are you using. I plan on using a mag 5. Should be
about 375gph into the tank, I am looking for the size fitting that will allow
that much water to drain out and down to the sump. I don't want to use
an overflow, I want a very clean look to the tank. I just tried drilling two
1 inch holes in a plastic bucket, and pumping 300gph into it, and it will
maintain a level at the top of the holes. So if I add 75gph to that, I will
have an all-tank-over-flow. Any suggestions?

 

You can use bulkheads with strainers if you dont want an overflow. Of course, you would have to figure out how much water will approxamitely flow out. I guess it depends on the size of the bulkhead.

 

I found a calculator for pipe size on reefcentral.com and it said that a pipe size
of .92 inches will flow 500gph, but I did not see that with the bucket test I did.
I used a 315gph powerhead and pumped water from one bucket into another
that I had drilled a 1 inch hole in, and the water level rose above the hole.
I had to drill 2 - 1 inch holes to keep the water level at the top of the holes.
I am thinking that a 2 inch hole should handle as much flow as I can throw at it.

What do you think?

 

A 2" hole has 4 times the area of a 1" hole. Four 1" holes equates to a single 2" hole in area, and should therefore be well plenty.