How do you plumb a reef tank?

[crew]

I'm about ready to set up my 120 and I don't have a ton of experience with plumbing tanks. I've only done it once before, and it was with a single overflow tank in my basement. I had 1 line draining and the other as a return. It was loud at the sump (bubbles, etc).

My new tank is a 120 with dual overflows, and it's in my living room, so quiet is key here. How should I go about plumbing it? I was thinking of running two 'herbie' style systems, one in each overflow.

My tank is set up like this right now:

(o O) (O o)

o = 3/4"
O = 1"

My thoughts were having the two smaller lines be the full siphons with the two larger lines being my emergency drains, with all 4 lines going directly into the sump and not joining together. The issue that I seem to be coming across (in theory) is the drains from the overlow on the right will have to travel a considerably farther distance to get to the sump. Does anyone have experience running a similar set up in a tank with dual overflows? How have you managed to balance the flow so water levels are consistent? I would think you could have gate valves on both siphons and adjust accordingly. If not, do you have any other suggestions on how I could plumb it quietly?

 

[ghbrewer]

Each overflow will be regulated separately, so no big deal if one has a longer line than the other. Just try to reduce bends as much as possible, use 45s or spaflex pipe to help with this.

 

[ghbrewer]

So yes, a gate valve on each siphon.

 

[ghbrewer]

Also, try to put the gate valves as close to the sump as possible. This will keep the pipes filled and reduce noise significantly.

 

[crew]

Plumbing parts... home depot/lowes?

I'm sure some of the nicer pieces will have to be ordered online, but is the bulk of it locally accessible?

 

[ghbrewer]

Lowes! Much better selection and quality.. Gate valves may have to be sourced elsewhere.

 

[crew]

ghbrewer;1011234 wrote: Also, try to put the gate valves as close to the sump as possible. This will keep the pipes filled and reduce noise significantly.

Good point - thanks.

 

[crew]

I hear ball valves really aren't worth even bothering, but that doesn't make much sense to me - the mechanism seems to be nearly identical.

 

[crew]

How do I attach all of this to the bulkheads? I'm assuming I don't want to "glue" that section in case I need to disassemble. SS Hose Clamps? My bulkheads aren't threaded and I'm thinking they should be.

 

[ghbrewer]

I used ball valves on my build, they are just not as precise as gate valves and a little trickier to dial in. I also glued all of my fittings, except for the bulkhead. I used threaded bulkheads. With the use of true union valves and fittings, it makes things modular and easier to repair/modify should you need to. I hate threaded fittings, glued joints where possible are much more reliable. Just be sure to be liberal with the cleaner and solvent. I suggest using the clear cleaner, as the purple stuff is messy looking. Clean and apply solvent to each piece to be joined.

 

[ghbrewer]

Here is a pic of some of my plumbing on my new build, you can somewhat see the drains coming down from the back of the tank. I did not put the valves down where I should have b/c I wanted to have them in the overflow cabinet on the back of the tank. So, it is a little noisier than I would like, but I have been able to fine tune to an acceptable level.

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[crew]

That looks incredible - how much beer/money would it take to just get you over here haha

 

[dball711]

ghbrewer;1011250 wrote: Here is a pic of some of my plumbing on my new build, you can somewhat see the drains coming down from the back of the tank. I did not put the valves down where I should have b/c I wanted to have them in the overflow cabinet on the back of the tank. So, it is a little noisier than I would like, but I have been able to fine tune to an acceptable level.

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Grant, that looks spectacular, great work.

 

[ghbrewer]

Money, no. But beer...

Nah, I could probably swing by sometime and give you a hand.

 

[crew]

My main concerns are mostly organization.

I have a trigger tideline sump (it looks like you do as well?) and it has 3 inlets for high flow siphon drains. I'm thinking that I attach my two main siphons to 2 of the drains and then one of the emergency drains could go there as well. The 2nd emergency drain could just dump straight into my return chamber I think. Microbubbles would be no fun, but it's an emergency drain, so that would be just one more way to alert me of a problem.

 

[ghbrewer]

dball711;1011256 wrote: Grant, that looks spectacular, great work.

Thanks Dave, it turned out really nice. You cannot see it in the pics above, but I ran my saltwater delivery line up from the mixing station in garage that is below the tank. It creates a loop, so it can be used to deliver to the sump, as well as for mixing. I need to add a valve to it b/c it is creating a siphon and not allowing the line to empty into the sump. Also going to add a drain line out of the sump for easier water changes. Still trying to figure out a way to connect my gravel vac to it so that I can use it to clean the sand bed as well.

 

[ghbrewer]

Crew;1011258 wrote: My main concerns are mostly organization.

I have a trigger tideline sump (it looks like you do as well?) and it has 3 inlets for high flow siphon drains. I'm thinking that I attach my two main siphons to 2 of the drains and then one of the emergency drains could go there as well. The 2nd emergency drain could just dump straight into my return chamber I think. Microbubbles would be no fun, but it's an emergency drain, so that would be just one more way to alert me of a problem.

My sump is actually made by Elite Aquatics, similar, but just a couple more bells and whistles.

PM me for my cell number, then shoot me some pics of the sump placed where you want it under the tank. I can draw you up a schematic of what I would suggest doing, to at least give you something to start from.

Also, what size return pump are you going to be using?

And what tools do you have? A good quality PVC pipe cutter and a pair of channel lock pliers are a must for this type of work.

 

[crew]

Here is a picture of what I was thinking.

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I have the cutters and pliers.

The return pump is a reef octopus diablo rated at just under 1000 gph. I know it won't be a ton of flow, but i'm ok with that. I'm planning on cutting back the siphons to match the return, but if you suggest getting a different pump, I suppose I could.

 

[ghbrewer]

Are you going to run a manifold, or just supply tank?
Only reason that I am asking is that if you are going to solely supply the tank, then it might be a bit much for 3/4" siphons. You may want to consider running the 1" drains as siphons.

See this thread: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1814606">http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1814606</a>
Particularly post #2, the table and associated comments.

 

[ghbrewer]

You could also consider using 1" pipe above and below the 3/4" bulkhead, it will increase flow a little bit if you have enough head on the drain.