Help with return plumbing

[MR BACKHAND]

I need some help with my return plumbing.
This is my first time plumbing an aquarium and I need your help. I’m not sure how far I should bring the return plumbing down. I included a shot with a measuring tape. There is only one 3/4 return which will have a ball valve to shut off flow and 2 ball valves inline for additional equipment in the future. Any help is appreciated. Please let me know if I have left out any details that will help with completing the plumbing.

Thanks

 

[Joe31415]

When you say return, do you mean drain? The return line has to connect to the return pump. The drain, on the other hand, should sit about an inch or so underwater when everything is full (of water) and working.
This is a good example of a time when it'll be far easier to make much longer than necessary, then when everything is up and running, you can cut it to the proper length.

It's a lot easier to make it shorter than it is to make it longer.

Edit: I'm confused. Why aren't you just plumbing it to the bulkhead on the sump? It looks like that's what you did in the first picture.

 

[MR BACKHAND]

When you say return, do you mean drain? The return line has to connect to the return pump. The drain, on the other hand, should sit about an inch or so underwater when everything is full (of water) and working.
This is a good example of a time when it'll be far easier to make much longer than necessary, then when everything is up and running, you can cut it to the proper length.

It's a lot easier to make it shorter than it is to make it longer.

Edit: I'm confused. Why aren't you just plumbing it to the bulkhead on the sump? It looks like that's what you did in the first picture.

The bulkhead for the drain is done as seen in the picture. I’m just trying to figure out how far to bring the pipe down from the bulkhead for the return.

 

[RobB'z Reef]

are you speaking to below the bulkhead on the sump? If so, I usually add a short piece to accommodate a barb fitting and then use braided hose between that and the pump (barb mounted to pump output) to reduce vibration. If that's not the case feel free to elaborate.

 

[jorwill]

Youll need the line that goes into the water to be 1 1/2" to 2" into the water no further otherwise the pressure wont release from the line.

 

[MR BACKHAND]

The bulkhead for the drain is done as seen in the picture. I’m just trying to figure out how far to bring the pipe down from the bulkhead for the return.

 

[dbowman5]

pardon me when i suggest that i am not sure whether you are talking about the overflow to the sump or the return line to the display. the valve in the example is not a ball valve it is a gate valve and is the one you should use for the overflow full siphon. the ball valves are used when on and off are the only options needed.
my ball valves are for isolation only. i have my return plumbing teed for future equipment. the off shoot is ball valved to isolate that. I have a variable pump so i do not have a valve between the sump and the display. just a union to be able to remove the pump when necessary. on my other set up with a constant speed return pump i wish i did have a gate valve so that i could throttle the flow with more fine control than i have with the ball valve. in both cases i start at the pump with some vinyl hose to eliminate vibration, adapt to pvc, go through a union then to the display end with an anti siphon

too slow with my reply lol
depending. on your pump angle down to above it, then 45 deg to vertical will give you the least line loss.

 

[Joe31415]

I guess I don't understand then. The pipe that returns the water up to the tank needs to connect to the pump. The physical height of the pump outlet and location will determine how long that pipe needs to be (not counting using a section of soft tubing to reduce noise/vibrations).
Get the return pump situated where you want it and run the pipe to it.

 

[zalick]

It doesn't matter how far down your pvc return line goes below the bottom of your stand in the pic. I like to design my return line so its out of the way as much as possible but still accessible if I want to run anything else off it.

PVC is pretty cheap and you can return fittings. I'd pick a design and dry fit it to see how you like it. Get extra 90s and 45s.


I also do what @Rob.bucek mentioned and run a short piece of flexible line between the pump and the return to reduce vibration.

 

[MR BACKHAND]

Sorry I guess I’m just not explaining it properly. All I need to know is how far would you bring the return plumbing down from the bulkhead.

 

[KStatefan]

Sorry I guess I’m just not explaining it properly. All I need to know is how far would you bring the return plumbing down from the bulkhead.

All the way to the return pump.

 

[Joe31415]

Huh?
That pipe there, with the question mark next to it. You keep calling it a 'return'. Is it a return (water from sump getting 'returned' UP to the tank) or is it a drain (drains water from tank down to sump). There's a huge difference in how the two are plumbed.

If it's actually a return, as you keep saying, then it needs to be connected to the return pump. It's length, distance, position etc, is mostly determined by the location and size of your pump.


Again, I think you're misunderstanding the terminology here. You have drain lines and return lines. They're two different things, serve two different purposes and are plumbed in two different ways.

 

[MR BACKHAND]

Huh?
That pipe there, with the question mark next to it. You keep calling it a 'return'. Is it a return (water from sump getting 'returned' UP to the tank) or is it a drain (drains water from tank down to sump). There's a huge difference in how the two are plumbed.

yes it is the return that will be connected to my return pump that is in the sump.

 

[zalick]

yes it is the return that will be connected to my return pump that is in the sump.

I think people are missing the black bulkhead in the pic because it looks like you are referencing the white drain pipe. The return is kinda hidden.

It literally doesn't matter how far down you bring it to the sump area. Its all what you'd prefer from a space perspective.

 

[Joe31415]

yes it is the return that will be connected to my return pump that is in the sump.

Then, as KStateFan and myself said, the pipe will get connected to the pump. There's no real 'how far' question to be asked.
Look at it like this. If you screwed a hose spigot to the side of your house and asked a plumber to connect it to your plumbing. How would you answer the question "so, how far do you want me to run the copper?"....I mean, all the way to the spigot, right?

 

[Joe31415]

I think people are missing the black return pipe in the pic because it looks like you are referencing the white drain pipe. The return is kinda hidden.

If that's the case, and I'm not saying OP should already know this if he's new, but that's not a pipe, it's a bulkhead.

 

[zalick]

yes it is the return that will be connected to my return pump that is in the sump.

I'd set it up so the return plumbing is not in the way of accessing each section of the sump and also allows you to install a manifold in the future (should you chose to do that). In your scenario that might mean installing a 90 or 45 right at the bulkhead or a line all the way down to the sump and then a 90 or 45.

 

[MR BACKHAND]

yes it is the return that will be connected to my return pump that is in the

The pipe I’m holding I just need to know how far I should bring it down from the bulkhead.
Sorry for making it complicated.

 

[zalick]

If that's the case, and I'm not saying OP should already know this if he's new, but that's not a pipe, it's a bulkhead.

I actually had to look at it twice to make sure since its tough to see in a thumbnail pic and then edited my post to reflect that its a bulkhead.

 

[RobB'z Reef]

Sorry I guess I’m just not explaining it properly. All I need to know is how far would you bring the return plumbing down from the bulkhead.

haha, are we getting terminology mixed up? Return is where you bring water from your sump back to your main display. Drain is where the water comes from your main display to your sump. Just wondering if that's where we are all getting tripped up?