How important do you think "aiming" your returns is?

[NeveSSL]

Hi all,

I was planning on using 3/4" LocLine on my returns on my 180g I'm doing, but I've seen a few tanks lately that are only using bulkheads on the back-glass with no plumbing extending into the tank at all. I think it would bother me a little not being able to control which direction the water flows as I'd like to extend it past the overflow and out into the tank, so to speak. At the same time, I'll have PLENTY of flow from two WP40s running in Else mode that will most likely churn the return water in very nicely with whats already there. In other words, I think my fear of water coming from the sump and going right back into the sump is not likely to actually happen.

What do you guys think? Anyone out there rocking the bulkhead only returns? Or do you think its absolutely necessary to point your returns somewhere?

Brandon

 

[philr]

I do have 2 returns on each side of my tank, and direct them into different areas of the tank. Water flow is very important, and I try to use whatever I can to help direct movement into any dead areas of the tank.

 

[pam0630]

my husband set up my returns....its all plumbed in the back of the tank and my returns are in each corner pointed towards the front...mine are about an inch under water...my shut off valves are right behind the tank..easy to reach...thats just the way we did it.......but to each his own....you can go all fancy and or just go simple........

 

[Railcar79]

I have the return on the right side overflow on the left. My new tank has locline slightly off center, I am thinking of using a SCWD and a sea swirl, that should give some real random flow

 

[Connie]

The more random you can make your flow, the better. All coral like changing current.

 

[NeveSSL]

So far I have received completely random answers to the question I posed. oh:

Anyone care to answer this question? "Anyone out there rocking the bulkhead only returns? Or do you think its absolutely necessary to point your returns somewhere?"



Thanks!

Brandon

 

[anotherchevy]

I have a 3/4" return and have it pointed to flow a bit to the opposite front corner. Seems to turn over well with no dead spots, but I have 2 mp40's to help with random flow.

I find if I point it towards the front wall more it just stirs up the sand. I'm not sure if there is any set rule for a return. Just as long as its points so you have some type of turn over that doesn't keep recycling the same exact water.

 

[Dowtish]

I would use locline, so I can control the flow and the height that I want the siphon break to happen when the return shuts off.

 

[NeveSSL]

Thanks for the replies, guys. A well placed bulkhead will do the same as far as siphon breaks go, but I completely understand your point and had my last tank setup with the locline coming up like that.

I think I may actually try the bulkhead only first. Worst case scenario, it doesn't work or I don't like it and I put locline in. Would take about 10 minutes.

Brandon

 

[Connie]

I personally think extensions from the bulkhead into the tank are very important. I point them to the front and to the middle and have them at the top of the water. This helps keep the water oxygenated and helps gasses escape.

 

[AZDesertRat]

If you did not have the additional powerheads being able to aim the returns would be very important but with the WP-40's you will have lots of circulation and movement so its not really necessary. I have both WP-25's and two bulkhead w/Loc Line returns but I took it another step and have a Ocean Motions Squirt two way on teh returns so get even more reandom flows. I don't think I would see the benefit of the Squirt if I had just bulkheads without being able to aim the Loc Lines. Anothe radvantage of the Loc Lines is I can raise the nozzles higher than the Bulkheads so the backsiphon in a power outage is less. The bulkhead holes had to be 2" away from the edge of the glass and I keep the Loc Line nozzles only 3/4" submerged.

 

[NeveSSL]

Many, many thanks for the replies, guys. I had thought about just letting the water backsiphon back into my sump, as I have a 100g stock tank in the garage and it should be able to hold all of that water, no problem. And then I realized this would also cause my skimmer to overflow, which is something I don't want to happen and I've got PSK 2500s on it, so I'd rather not turn it off as they have restart issues some times. I'll have to check and see where I can drill. If I can drill high enough, and I'm not aware of a reason why I couldn't, it may work perfectly fine still.

Brandon

 

[Chameleon]

Many, many thanks for the replies, guys. I had thought about just letting the water backsiphon back into my sump, as I have a 100g stock tank in the garage and it should be able to hold all of that water, no problem. And then I realized this would also cause my skimmer to overflow, which is something I don't want to happen and I've got PSK 2500s on it, so I'd rather not turn it off as they have restart issues some times. I'll have to check and see where I can drill. If I can drill high enough, and I'm not aware of a reason why I couldn't, it may work perfectly fine still.

Brandon

personally I dont see the need for lock line specifically but I do like the fact that I have an over the back return as a simple 1/4 inch hole drilled in the pvc just under the water line minimized back siphoning. I have a 1.5'' street elbow over the back strait into a 1.5-1'' bushing with a short 1 inch pvc to connect a 3 way corner 1 inch union so the water exits in two directions parallel to the water surface and 90 degress apart.

i dont like a lot of back siphon because with 1.5'' plumbing from the basement there is all ready a lot of water in the return line to go back to the sump and I dont have a check valve