Help with plumbing please

[Tuffloud1]

I’m in the process of installing a frag tank in the stand under my 90 gallon. The 90 gallon will be either a display refugium or for something else, haven’t decided yet.

The frag tank will be connected to a sump with a 3 inch pipe (sump and frag tank at same level). Above that sump will be an in wall 220 gallon sps display.

I have a Herbie 3/4 full siphon and 1 inch emergency on the 90 which will go into the frag tank below.

My question is - should I plumb the main siphon drain to the right side of the frag tank since the 3 inch pipe leading to the sump is in the left side?
My concern was that if I drain straight down, it will flow right where the 3 inch pipe is which seems like it would not be ideal for flow within the frag tank.

 

[lolgranny]

I like your new, updated sketch

The only thing I don’t like about the drain into the frag tank is the bubbles that will get in there and the detritus so keep that in mind when you’re plumbing and your cleanings. I would run the drain below the surface to alleviate some of the bubbles and make a “siphon” you can google some designs. I’d also get a “bucket head” from Home Depot, it’s a mini shop vac for a 5galoon bucket. You can easily siphon out all the debris that settles every few months

However, the drain shouldn’t be your main source for flow in the tank. You’ll want a power head in there. What you could do is T off your drain and have it drain to both the front and back of the tank. I think if i was doing it I would plumb it the want you have shown. I would have a power head on the right hand side pushing water across to the left side or the exit into your main sump.

Idea for your fuge display. Do a anemone tank. I’ll see if I can find a photo of @sugartooth and the one she had. It was awesome and a definitely conversation piece.

 

[lolgranny]

Hers is down a little bit

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2106297

I want one myself. #envious

 

[Tuffloud1]

I like your new, updated sketch

The only thing I don’t like about the drain into the frag tank is the bubbles that will get in there and the detritus so keep that in mind when you’re plumbing and your cleanings. I would run the drain below the surface to alleviate some of the bubbles and make a “siphon” you can google some designs. I’d also get a “bucket head” from Home Depot, it’s a mini shop vac for a 5galoon bucket. You can easily siphon out all the debris that settles every few months

However, the drain shouldn’t be your main source for flow in the tank. You’ll want a power head in there. What you could do is T off your drain and have it drain to both the front and back of the tank. I think if i was doing it I would plumb it the want you have shown. I would have a power head on the right hand side pushing water across to the left side or the exit into your main sump.

Idea for your fuge display. Do a anemone tank. I’ll see if I can find a photo of @sugartooth and the one she had. It was awesome and a definitely conversation piece.

It is a full siphon so bubbles shouldn’t be much of an issue. I was more concerned with whether it would be a bad decision to drop horizontally to the right rather than straight down which is always best with full siphon.

Also wondering if it would be worth it to drill the tank and have the full siphon pop through the side of the tank rather than flow into the top without drilling it.

 

[lolgranny]

It is a full siphon so bubbles shouldn’t be much of an issue. I was more concerned with whether it would be a bad decision to drop horizontally to the right rather than straight down which is always best with full siphon.

Also wondering if it would be worth it to drill the tank and have the full siphon pop through the side of the tank rather than flow into the top without drilling it.

Oh yes, I missed that full siphon part haha. I don’t think you need to drill it. I have a full siphon / trickle/ emergency on mine that’s drilled because it couldn’t go over the side and I don’t see a issue with either way. I wouldn’t drill it if I had your option

 

[Tuffloud1]

So dropping the main drain straight down right next to the 3 inch pipe is fine as long as I have a power head to circulate?

 

[lolgranny]

So dropping the main drain straight down right next to the 3 inch pipe is fine as long as I have a power head to circulate?

I don’t see why not? You’re going to be circulating the water and have a turnover no matter what. The water will disperse in the frag tank and the circulation will be there. You could put a T below the water line to push water to that right and left hand side if you wanted to as well.

 

[Tuffloud1]

I don’t see why not? You’re going to be circulating the water and have a turnover no matter what. The water will disperse in the frag tank and the circulation will be there. You could put a T below the water line to push water to that right and left hand side if you wanted to as well.

How tough are the ABS bulkheads?

I always get freaked out of the long runs of pipe coming off the bulkhead without anything reinforcing it from tweaking.

With a big Spears valve and union, it scares me that the bulkhead or even glass around the hole could break.

Do people reinforce the pipe somehow? I thought about getting the pipe up against the wall to fasten it, but having unions make that difficult.

 

[lolgranny]

How tough are the ABS bulkheads?

I always get freaked out of the long runs of pipe coming off the bulkhead without anything reinforcing it from tweaking.

With a big Spears valve and union, it scares me that the bulkhead or even glass around the hole could break.

Do people reinforce the pipe somehow? I thought about getting the pipe up against the wall to fasten it, but having unions make that difficult.

They are strong, they make hangers for horizontal runs. I have hangars on mine as they are going 50’ across the house. Otherwise I don’t have anything for the verticals. Mine has a big 1-1/2 ball valve and a union. I’ve never had a issue.