First timer plumbing advice

[Acrofiend]

Hi fellow reefers. I’m looking to plumb my 50g Cadlights tank with all new plumbing and here’s my set up. If you have any advice/recommendations. Let me know. Thank you.
Current set up:

Plumbing inside overflow:

Planned set up:

 

[Acrofiend]

Middle is drain. Left is emergency drain and right is return

 

[Fudsey]

Only thing I would do different is skip the check valve. They fail often because they get gummed up and add to head pressure. You could also do 2 - 45s on return to eliminate one of the 90s for less head pressure

 

[Acrofiend]

Only thing I would do different is skip the check valve. They fail often because they get gummed up and add to head pressure. You could also do 2 - 45s on return to eliminate one of the 90s for less head pressure

Is there something I should put in place of the check valve in case my pump were to stop working?

 

[Fudsey]

Is your return below the water line? I have my return at the waterline so it doesn't create a siphon. This is also helpful in creating surface disruption for gas exchange. But this is just the way I did it. If you want your return below the waterline, then by all means use the check valve, but I would also make sure your sump can handle the water if it and your pump fail or during a power outage.

 

[Salty1962]

Replacing 90s with 45s will help flow and noise. I did it on my 70 G Artisan II.

 

[Salty1962]

Is there something I should put in place of the check valve in case my pump were to stop working?

Put siphon break holes on the return line just below the water line.

 

[Acrofiend]

Replacing 90s with 45s will help flow and noise. I did it on my 70 G Artisan II.

I’d use 45’s but my cabinet doesn’t have much space.

 

[Acrofiend]

Is it necessary for a valve on the emergency drain or should I just put a union there?

 

[Acrofiend]

Is your return below the water line? I have my return at the waterline so it doesn't create a siphon. This is also helpful in creating surface disruption for gas exchange. But this is just the way I did it. If you want your return below the waterline, then by all means use the check valve, but I would also make sure your sump can handle the water if it and your pump fail or during a power outage.

Return will be underneath the water.

 

[Fudsey]

By the looks of the cabinet, I think you'd have enough room for 2 - 45s but I would dry fit to test it of course.

I'd look into a siphon break if your return is under water instead of using a check valve as well. And I would loose the valve on the emergency overflow. If you accidentally turn it off, that will be when you need it... Law of averages LOL

 

[Salty1962]

I’d use 45’s but my cabinet doesn’t have much space.

Takes up about the same space, get the measurements and lay it out and you may be surprised.

 

[Acrofiend]

By the looks of the cabinet, I think you'd have enough room for 2 - 45s but I would dry fit to test it of course.

I'd look into a siphon break if your return is under water instead of using a check valve as well. And I would loose the valve on the emergency overflow. If you accidentally turn it off, that will be when you need it... Law of averages LOL

So 45’s only on the return side?
I’m going to skip the check valve and valve on emergency drain. Seems like it’ll cause more issues.

 

[Fudsey]

Ya the 90's on the drains won't cause any issues at all

 

[Acrofiend]

Takes up about the same space, get the measurements and lay it out and you may be surprised.

Thanks. I’ll have to measure everything. I want it as quiet as I can get it.

 

[Acrofiend]

Ya the 90's on the drains won't cause any issues at all

Thanks for the help!

 

[Acrofiend]

Noob question. How do I connect the return pump plumbing to vinyl tubing?

 

[Acrofiend]

Also should I add a union before the return pump?

 

[Fudsey]

You can get a barbed connector to connect vinyl to PVC and a union would be if you were going to hard plumb the pump to the PVC. Not really necessary as you can remove the vinyl tube to take the pump out for servicing.

 

[Salty1962]

So 45’s only on the return side?
I’m going to skip the check valve and valve on emergency drain. Seems like it’ll cause more issues.

On the drain side. Not using 45s won't cause issues, just makes it less restrictive for better flow. Just food for thought
Here's a quick pic of mine when I set it up.