Need advice on manifold

[mtnrunner]

I’ve built a manifold and am powering it with an Ecotech Vectra S1. I have it coming straight up from the pump, but I think I need to put in a section of flexible tubing to reduce the stress of the straight up style.

Here are some pix of the basic construction.

I have had a heck of a time trying to use the Ecotech collar - both the input and output. I hand tighten them and then when I think I have it about tight it “pops” of the threads somehow. I though maybe I had cracked collars, but I do not. Maybe it is just the small threads? I finally just replaced the blue Ecotech collars with my own PVC connector as you can see.

I’m also fighting a couple of small leaks that I just can’t get stopped.

Do I add a section of flexible tubing between the pump and the manifold?

Thanks

 

[Fritzhamer]

I would but personally the entire concept of manifolds make no sense to me. I get that it looks cool, I get that using one pump can be nicer than two or three but its SO inefficient. I run my reactors off a Sicce pump that pulls about 8 watts. When I decide to stop running them I just shut the pump off. If I wanted to plumb the reactors into my return it would do two things: 1) Cost me about 30 watts more in head pressure 2) Mess up the flow to the tank because of head pressure through the manifold, back pressure from the reactors and less flow to the main tank.

I would take this opportunity to just plumb this pump right to the return and pickup a few tiny, cheap, efficient pumps for things you may or may not need to run in the future.

 

[mtnrunner]

I’ve used the small pumps for reactors and such for years and am finally frustrated with fighting flow rates, mostly low flow, and yes I had valves on the lines. Now with this S1, I will be able to crank up the output of the pump when I need more flow or add new reactors, etc. - all with a single quality pump.

 

[Fritzhamer]

Yes and no. If you think fighting flow was hard before....
When you crank up the pump it will add more to all of the outlets. When you open the valve to add more flow to your reactors it will steal that flow from the other outputs and not necessarily evenly. As you open another valve to compensate for the loss it will steal from the other outputs causing you to have to adjust them as well. The finite adjustments that you'll need to constantly make just can't be done with ball valves. You really need gate valves for that kind of control. Also it's super important to support the pipes. That will alleviate the flexing. If you MUST go manifold its good to drop down in pipe size. Most reactors will use 1/2". Dropping to a 1/2" run out of the manifold will help you control flow a little better as well as minimizing back pressure.

Maybe plumb the main branch with one inch or 1.25 inch and then the offshoots on the manifold at 1/2" each. The final segment up to the tank could then go 3/4".