Manifold?

[Argos02]

Hello,

I know manifolds are not required but should I plan to put one in my first saltwater aquarium just in case for future use? I am planning on a 112 gallon tank that will only run a filter roll and refugium. I am considering a manifold as a "just in case" decision further down the road if I want to run a reactor of some kind.

1. Is a manifold for anything other than running reactors? Can it have other beneficial uses?
2. Is there such a way to have the water initially bypass the manifold until I actually need it? (Sorry for the stupid question, I am very new at this and have done hours of research but can't find a good description on manifolds specifically)
3. Would you personally recommend putting in a manifold for my plans, and why?

Thanks for any insights, your expertise is greatly appreciated!

 

[JGT]

Yes, UV
Yes, use gate valves and have them turned off until ready to use
Yes

 

[Jeffcb]

That's a good question. Are planning 1 or 2 return pumps. What is you sump size. If the sump is large enough you have lots of room for a lot of options and may not need a manifold. What kind of tank are you building?

 

[Argos02]

Yes, UV
Yes, use gate valves and have them turned off until ready to use
Yes

Thanks for taking the time to respond. Sorry should have included UV/reactors. Any other uses?

That's a good question. Are planning 1 or 2 return pumps. What is you sump size. If the sump is large enough you have lots of room for a lot of options and may not need a manifold. What kind of tank are you building?

Thanks for taking the time to respond and ask questions specifically about my plans.

I am planning on running 2 return pumps, manifold or not for redundancy. I don't have a sump yet but will probably go with a DIY 20 or 40 gallon ($1 per gallon tank). I haven't picked out a tank yet but I am strongly considering the IM int/ext lagoon for a reef tank. (soft and lps)

 

[Jeffcb]

If you run a manifold on one pump and not the other you will have 2 different return pressures. Even flow like may be better.

 

[Argos02]

If you run a manifold on one pump and not the other you will have 2 different return pressures. Even flow like may be better.

Why wouldn't one implement a manifold in their system then? (If you were going to run dual pumps anyways and fully recognizing that more pipes=more places for failure) Is there a real negative?

 

[Waters]

No, there is no negative to running a manifold....it can be shut off with gate valves when it isn't needed. Even if you have multiple pumps, the return flow can be adjusted with valves or software in the case of DC pumps. I definitely would put one in.....much harder to add one afterwards if you need it.

 

[Argos02]

No, there is no negative to running a manifold....it can be shut off with gate valves when it isn't needed. Even if you have multiple pumps, the return flow can be adjusted with valves or software in the case of DC pumps. I definitely would put one in.....much harder to add one afterwards if you need it.

Thank you!

 

[Jeffcb]

Why wouldn't one implement a manifold in their system then? (If you were going to run dual pumps anyways and fully recognizing that more pipes=more places for failure) Is there a real negative?

Are you goin to have 2 return pumps and 2 returns in the tank?

 

[Argos02]

Are you goin to have 2 return pumps and 2 returns in the tank?

Yes that is the tentative plan. The tank will most likely be a Innovative Marine 150 (or 112) lagoon aquarium.

 

[Jeffcb]

Yes that is the tentative plan. The tank will most likely be a Innovative Marine 150 (or 112) lagoon aquarium.

You could run 1 manifold between both return lines. If you run the manifold on only one return line you would have different flow rates on the 2 returns but I guess you could adjust that as well. I am starting a RS 3XL 900 build (240) gal. with 2 pumps and 2 return lines. The sump is large enough to run almost any thing I want in sump. Of Couse requires more pumps but gives more control. The way I look at it the least amount of adjustments the better. Just my opinion.

 

[Argos02]

Thanks for all the suggestions.

Please excuse my stupidity. Could I ask a clarifying question? When you say run the manifold on one return line you mean one return pump goes straight to one tank return and the other return pump goes to the other return but through a manifold first correct?

How would you run it between both return lines? What would that diagram roughly look like?

For example my first instinct would be something like this (where the bottom would be the floor/sump)

Sorry, I am a visual person. ;Shamefullyembarrased

 

[Jeffcb]

I have never done that so I'm not sure. I'm hoping some one else will chime in on that has or knows. I just know If you tap only one return with a manifold you will have 2 different head pressures on them. I personally wouldn't want that.

 

[SPS2020]

I can't add anything regarding the use of two return pumps. However, I will chime in to say that if you were ever going to consider a UV, do it now. It is far more difficult to add later. My build thread has some pictures of how I plumbed mine with manifold in case that may be of benefit. You could always run just one pump and have another on hand just in case of failure for an easy switch out.

Oh...be sure to use unions EVERYWHERE!!

 

[Gtinnel]

When I did the plumbing on my tank I didn't include any and I wish I would've, so my vote is that you should go ahead and add them. You never know what you will want in the future that would be easy to hook up to one. It also doesn't have any negative effect on your plumbing if you have them and don't use them.

 

[Argos02]

Thanks! I will definitely include one.

How should I plumb it in? (see diagrams)

 

[Gtinnel]

I never used two pumps for my return so I'm not the best person to answer this, but if it were me I would do it like your first diagram where the two pumps aren't connected together. Then I would try to somewhat match the flow from the returns by adjusting the output of each pump (assuming your going to use dc pumps). That way if you attach something to the manifold you can just turn that pump up to account for it.