Tanks with built in overflows

Good choice on the sump instead of the HOB. Using a HOB in a pre-drilled tank is sort of like crawling when you've already learned to walk.

The overflow serves a few functions. It hides the plumbing that both carries the water to, and returns it from the sump. It also acts as a safeguard in that it's a barrier--so that if the pump stops working, water is prevented from continuing down into the sump. The plumbing kit will include a standpipe, and it's operation should be pretty clear once you see it. If you need help, we're here!

You're on your way!

 

Thanks ReefSparky. Do you know what would be a good return pump for me to get? I'm not sure what the corner-flo is rated in terms of gph.

 

When you receive the tank, the plumbing kit should list the flow rate. You can get a return pump that is maybe 25% greater at a 4' head, and utilize a gate valve on the return back to the tank. For example, if the standpipe is rated for, say 1200 GPH, consider a pump that is capable of 1500 GPH at 4'. In case you don't know--"head" is the rating of a pump's ability to deliver water to a certain height. These head ratings are usually on the side of the pump box in the form of a graph.

Here's an example of such a graph, although it's not taken from a pump you'll use on your tank!



In this picture, the A-05 pump is capable of pumping about 3300 GPH with no piping attached. (At ground level.) By the time you add a 20' pipe, you're down to about 2000 GPH. Put differently, with a 20' head, the pump is rated to move 2000 GPH.

Got it?

 

I get it, thanks for the great explanation. One more question though. For my sump I will use a spare 30 gallon that I have lying around it has no baffles or anything installed in it. Do I have to have baffles in it to use it as a sump?

 

Baffles are usually used to separate chambers for bubble control. There's usually a baffle before the return chamber just to prevent microbubbles (from the skimmer, for example) from being pumped back into the display tank.

If you can situate your gear in the sump so that no bubbles make it back to the display tank, and so that no bubbles from the skimmer interfere with any other device you may have--then no. Baffles are not required by law, but are sometimes necessary.

 

Baffles are good, but they have to be glued in place and require some thinking in design.

If you're not going to run the sump as a refugium you can also trap micro bubbles with bioballs, foam, or rock rubble. Anything the water has to "filter" through that will act as surface area for micro bubbles to collect.

Of course a simple baffle style bubble trap is probably cheaper.