New tank, new plumbing

[Rawsreef]

GM reefers,

I wanted to know for a 6' tank with dual overflows. Should I use one single RFG on each end? Or can I use a T or Y fitting to have 2 RFGs on each?

Basically I want to know, how I can tell if I have enough power from my return pump to run a total of 4 RFGs. Or if it would be best to just run 2 (one on each back-corner.

Pump is an Ecotech L1
Sump is a pro clear aquatic system, not sure how many gallons.

 

[blaxsun]

You can run either 1 or 2 RFGs on each end - it's entirely up to you. I think the L1 will be more than sufficient for either setup.

 

[Rawsreef]

You can run either 1 or 2 RFGs on each end - it's entirely up to you. I think the L1 will be more than sufficient for either setup.

This is what I was thinking, I didn't think power would be an issue.

But what I've noticed is the higher power I run my return pump, the lower my sump water level goes. I usually operate at around 40-50%. If I crank it up to 80-100% won't this be putting too much water into my display? I already have an issue where when I turn my return pump off, the water level in my sump goes high.

 

[blaxsun]

This is what I was thinking, I didn't think power would be an issue.

But what I've noticed is the higher power I run my return pump, the lower my sump water level goes. I usually operate at around 40-50%. If I crank it up to 80-100% won't this be putting too much water into my display? I already have an issue where when I turn my return pump off, the water level in my sump goes high.

You may have to adjust your gate valve on your overflow pipe to compensate.

 

[QuickrdenU]

I had high expectations of running 4 RFG's on my dual returns of my 6' tank also. Until I realized how much back pressure it created making my vectra pumps loud as heck! I took them all off... I guess it's kinda pointless anyways if you have plenty of powerhead flow within the tank.

 

[QuickrdenU]

This is what I was thinking, I didn't think power would be an issue.

But what I've noticed is the higher power I run my return pump, the lower my sump water level goes. I usually operate at around 40-50%. If I crank it up to 80-100% won't this be putting too much water into my display? I already have an issue where when I turn my return pump off, the water level in my sump goes high.

If the water level in your tank goes up noticeably with increased pump power, I would assume that means your over flow isn't able to flow that much volume. I wouldn't do that...

The water level in your sump will always rise when you shut off the pumps. Water exits the overflow until water level in the DT is equal to the lowest part of the grates on the overflow. And then it would continue to drain if the return outlets are lower than the overflow and have no check valves on them.

 

[Rawsreef]

If the water level in your tank goes up noticeably with increased pump power, I would assume that means your over flow isn't able to flow that much volume. I wouldn't do that...

The water level in your sump will always rise when you shut off the pumps. Water exits the overflow until water level in the DT is equal to the lowest part of the grates on the overflow. And then it would continue to drain if the return outlets are lower than the overflow and have no check valves on them.

How can I know how much water going up in the DT is acceptable?

My return lines do not have check valves so I always thought they were creating a backwards siphon when the pump shuts off. I don't have a lot of power heads and I would rather use an extra 2 RFGs instead of an extra power head or two if it's possible and will do the same function

 

[Rawsreef]

You may have to adjust your gate valve on your overflow pipe to compensate.

I don't think I have an adjustable overflow pipe

Only way I could think of adjusting it would be either making it longer (new pipe) or shorter by cutting.

It's basically a roughly 2 foot PVC with 2 elbow fittings and a strainer (to keep snails and other critters out)

Basically the overflow pipe looks like this :
___
| |
|
|
|

 

[Troylee]

How can I know how much water going up in the DT is acceptable?

My return lines do not have check valves so I always thought they were creating a backwards siphon when the pump shuts off. I don't have a lot of power heads and I would rather use an extra 2 RFGs instead of an extra power head or two if it's possible and will do the same function

LxWxH divide by 230 then take that number that’s how many gallons the tank holds” and divide by how many inches tall your tank is.. this will give you let’s say 12 gallons “for example” of water per inch. Now you know when your tank drains 2” down that’s 24 gallons of water.. do the same on your sump and see if it can handle the back flow when your return pump is off.. check valves work but do leak and known to fail so that’s a option but not a 100% guarantee..

Side note the tank will always drain to the bottom of the weir on the overflow. So if you know where the water line is in the tank you can measure from it to the bottom of the teeth of the overflow to exact amount of water.

 

[blaxsun]

My return lines do not have check valves so I always thought they were creating a backwards siphon when the pump shuts off. I don't have a lot of power heads and I would rather use an extra 2 RFGs instead of an extra power head or two if it's possible and will do the same function

Check valves on return lines for this purpose aren't a good idea anyway as they will eventually fail at some point.

 

[Rawsreef]

I was able to pick up a new tank today, 180 gallon with two overflows, not corner overflows but on the back wall.

I was going to begin plumbing it, doing nothing special, just going based off my previous tanks setup.

Any improvements I can make plumbing wise?