Sump and flow setup suggestions

[Andy265]

Hi All
Being new to the hobby and tweeking a Red Sea Max 250 marine tank to be a planted tank i am after some opinions regarding the flow setup from my outlets, i have tried a few things to improve flow and circulation (diy spray bar fitted to outlets,diy spray bar currently fitted to small intank pump fitted to the front angled towards the weir) as the main tank relies on debris going over the weir rather than being sucked from the main tank, also i now have started injected CO2 via a JBL Taifun intank reactor so would like to ensure good circulation round the tank. Below are photos one with the tank empty to show the weir and outlets, other as it is running today, and a picture from Red Sea max to show sump setup (minus the skimmer and media basket as sump is stacked with sponge and filter floss) the two outlet pumps have been changed to 800lph as the original were blowing the fish about as designed for marine.

Any suggestions would be great to still utilise the sump and outlets but give a better spread of flow and circulation and position of CO2 reactor.

 

[Edvet]

First: tank looks healthy!
You could use a tube to siphon the bottom debris over the weir, just an upside down u-tube, maybe you have to block the weir a bit to get a deficit, could use some foam for that.
For circulation a spraybar would probably be best in the end, just attach a half tank size one to each pump. Probably you can put a CO2 diffusor in the space under the filtersponge or a reactor. I would duoble up on it and do in both sides, with lower bubble count per side.

 

[Andy265]

Thanks
I like the siphon idea with a small mesh over the end as have fry and shrimp that are too nosy for their own good, am constantly pulling shrimp and fry from the sump, in the centre where the skimmer would be I have stuffed with stiff foam already.
The spraybars would you have one pointing across the top and the opposite angled slightly down to push the flow round?
I am guessing that the CO2 you would split the incoming through individual needle valves and then halve the bubble count?
Would like to remove the intank filter eventually as it is only powering my full width spraybar and helping with the debris floating mid water column.

 

[Edvet]

I''d do two half tank spraybars, meeting, but not connecting in the middle, aimed at just below the surface
Yes, two needle valves each with half the bubble count.
Just use the two foamblocks and remove the rest, maybe add one to rinse out easily or maybe use a filtersock on the filterside from the siphon, exchange weekly.