Hard plumbing a return line

[GJak]

Can someone tell me what fittings are needed to hard plumb 1" pvc to a return pump? Does the pump need to come with a specific collar or is there a way to adapt most pumps that use barb fittings to hard plumbing?

 

[ethom0816]

I'd put a short piece of hose between the plumbing and the pump

 

[cracker]

I like ET's suggestion. Pretty much all pumps will take a variety of fittings .

 

[ethom0816]

It should help reduce in vibrations with the hose and use allot of unions so you can take the plumbing apart

 

[Blue Spot Octopus]

Which pump are you using?

 

[GJak]

Which pump are you using?

On my 170 I have a aquastation DC right now but I'm going with something different for the new 100 gallon. Have not settled on which pump I'm going with though.

I want to run the pump externally on a platform that's inside the stand, to the right of the sump, slightly above the top of the sump and just come down with a 90 to a straight pipe with a strainer on the end into the corner of the return chamber. Hard plumbing all the way, all threaded connections. Threaded gate valve above the outlet of the pump. What would your preference in pumps be for a setup like that?

And what fittings do I need to run hard pvc into a return pump? Are the inlet / outlets designed to seal externally at loads with just the gasket and the collars? Are they designed to glue a short run of pvc directly into the inside diameter of the inlet and outlet? Or are there flanged slip fittings that make those connections? That is what is confusing me about running an external setup with all PVC.

 

[Blue Spot Octopus]

I have already built what you want and I am in the process of changing it all up again,

I want to run the pump externally on a platform that's inside the stand, to the right of the sump, slightly above the top of the sump and just come down with a 90 to a straight pipe with a strainer on the end into the corner of the return chamber. Hard plumbing all the way, all threaded connections. Threaded gate valve above the outlet of the pump. What would your preference in pumps be for a setup like that?

I am now putting soft tubing before and after the pump, that way it is even more quiet, no sound vibrations. So I would get some Silicon tubing ie soft, then I would some some eheim tubing coming out of the pump.

So for my new setup
Out of sump- bulkhead- 1x 2 nipple-, 1" 90 ell.- threaded by barb fitting- silicon tubing- barb fitting w/threads- union- thread into pump.
Out of pump. Threaded barb fitting- eheim tubing-threaded barb fitting-union/threaded-Sch 80 Gate Valve Expensive-then how you want to get to the tank.
BRS has the good silicon tubing.
LiveAquaria has the eheim tubing on sale.

 

[ca1ore]

Just be aware that most aquarium pumps do not self prime, so if the pump is above the sump water level you’ll need to figure out how to keep the return pipe flooded all the time. Seems a bit cludgy. Otherwise, pumps intended for external use have either male or female pipe threads on both input and output. You just use the proper sized threaded PVC fittings.

 

[GJak]

I have already built what you want and I am in the process of changing it all up again,

I want to run the pump externally on a platform that's inside the stand, to the right of the sump, slightly above the top of the sump and just come down with a 90 to a straight pipe with a strainer on the end into the corner of the return chamber. Hard plumbing all the way, all threaded connections. Threaded gate valve above the outlet of the pump. What would your preference in pumps be for a setup like that?

I am now putting soft tubing before and after the pump, that way it is even more quiet, no sound vibrations. So I would get some Silicon tubing ie soft, then I would some some eheim tubing coming out of the pump.

So for my new setup
Out of sump- bulkhead- 1x 2 nipple-, 1" 90 ell.- threaded by barb fitting- silicon tubing- barb fitting w/threads- union- thread into pump.
Out of pump. Threaded barb fitting- eheim tubing-threaded barb fitting-union/threaded-Sch 80 Gate Valve Expensive-then how you want to get to the tank.
BRS has the good silicon tubing.
LiveAquaria has the eheim tubing on sale.

Seems like a lot of extra barb fittings etc. Did you drill your sump for the bulkhead so that the pump is in line with the bottom of it?

 

[GJak]

Just be aware that most aquarium pumps do not self prime, so if the pump is above the sump water level you’ll need to figure out how to keep the return pipe flooded all the time. Seems a bit cludgy.

I have a cheap aquastation DC pump off of amazon and it will keep pumping even without water, is that an issue with most other pumps or just older models? I just picked up a neptune cor 20 for the new build.

 

[ca1ore]

I don’t really see how that’s possible.

 

[Blue Spot Octopus]

I drilled my sump for the bulk head, my sump space is very small, and some of my pumps do not fit in there. If your pump comes with a barb on both ends then you only need to buy two barbs not 4. The Corr's pump do not have threaded fittings so you will need to use slip for your design.