Plumbing advice needed

[Dsnakes]

This is my first time plumbing a sump for a tank with overflows. It's already drilled with bulkheads and corner overflows. I would like to keep it simple and hopefully somewhat quiet. Here is what I had planned. 125g display and 55g sump with 1" pipes. Should I add gate valves anywhere? I think I'll use two return pumps, unless it would be better with one larger.

Any tips and advice appreciated

 

[Crabs McJones]

This is my first time plumbing a sump for a tank with overflows. It's already drilled with bulkheads and corner overflows. I would like to keep it simple and hopefully somewhat quiet. Here is what I had planned. 125g display and 55g sump with 1" pipes. Should I add gate valves anywhere? I think I'll use two return pumps, unless it would be better with one larger.

Any tips and advice appreciated

You have just one drain and one return per side correct? How much water are you looking to push? If it were me, i'd gate valve one of them and use the other one as an emergency in a "herbie drain" style set up. Or are you able to drill another hole for an emergency drain and gate valve both main drains.

 

[Dsnakes]

You have just one drain and one return per side correct? How much water are you looking to push? If it were me, i'd gate valve one of them and use the other one as an emergency in a "herbie drain" style set up. Or are you able to drill another hole for an emergency drain and gate valve both main drains.

Yes one drain and return per side. I would just like decent flow for a mixed reef. I don't really want to try and drill a hole. I plan to have a large powerhead on the right side wall to help with flow.

 

[GoVols]

Yes one drain and return per side. I would just like decent flow for a mixed reef. I don't really want to try and drill a hole. I plan to have a large powerhead on the right side wall to help with flow.

Are you going to run DC return pumps, where you can adjust their flow rates?

 

[Dsnakes]

Are you going to run DC return pumps, where you can adjust their flow rates?

Yes, I have liked the Sicce Syncra pumps I've used in my AIO tanks. I figured I would get larger versions.

 

[Dsnakes]

I've been watching videos on dual durso and that seems like it will be too noisy for my liking. So should I give up a return on one side so that one over flow has 2 drains and the other has 1 drain and a return?

 

[Jr'sReef]

My tank originally was two returns and two drains. I plumbed it three drains with one larger return pump and then added a T to the top of the return (topside of tank) to add additional loc lines

 

[DesertReefT4r]

You have just one drain and one return per side correct? How much water are you looking to push? If it were me, i'd gate valve one of them and use the other one as an emergency in a "herbie drain" style set up.

This is what I suggest as well. Either run the returns over the top or drill 2x 1" or 3/4" holes for bulk heads in the back glass for returns. I would do a single larger return pump, DC controllable, go oversized and dial it down a little.

 

[Coralfuture]

Just from a maintenance stand point I would suggest getting it down to just 1 pump. I recently redid some plumbing on my systems and the return over the back with herb style drain is pretty slick

 

[Forsaken77]

This is my first time plumbing a sump for a tank with overflows. It's already drilled with bulkheads and corner overflows. I would like to keep it simple and hopefully somewhat quiet. Here is what I had planned. 125g display and 55g sump with 1" pipes. Should I add gate valves anywhere? I think I'll use two return pumps, unless it would be better with one larger.

Any tips and advice appreciated

A point could be made for 2 smaller dc pumps for redundancy purposes. In case a pump goes out, or you want to service one, the other will keep the tank running.

The durso's are only really noisy when you try to max out their drainage. If you slow the drainage slightly, it's not bad at all. Also, I've seen people use a piece of airline connected to the syphon break and run it below the stand and it quiets it.

To do a Herbie on the dual, you can still have 2 separate returns, but they will come up over the back of the tank. You would have a drain and an emergency in each overflow. You can T the emergencies together because not much water will go down those.

I would not have just 1 return inside the overflows, meaning 3 drains and 1 return. The 1 return will be bottlenecked at the bulkhead and would provide limited filtration. So either 1 big return over the back, split into 2 loclines going into the tank, or 2 separate 1" returns splitting into dual loclines (4 split returns).

Being you have dual overflows on a 125, you can easily manage 1000 gph through the overflows with minimal noise. They're spec'd to do 700+gph each if it's a Marineland cornerflow with 1" drains and 1" returns. But that will cause more noise. That's why I suggested 500gph each overflow.

Just my take because I've been using a stock durso setup.

 

[5altkreep]

Dsnakes ....I apologize if I'm hijacking the thread.
I have a 125 with corner overflows also, and about to start the plumbing. My thought was 3/4" full siphon / 1" dry emergency on one side, and 3/4" return / 1" open channel drain on the other. Or would it be better to just run returns over the top and use all 4 for drains?

 

[Dsnakes]

If I use all 4 as drains, I can run the return over the left side. Would a design like this allow any flow to the end lock line?

In terms of how the drains work, I have been trying to watch some videos. Most of them seem different. Either with the upside down U shape or just open at the top.

I know you're not supposed to T a herbie drain. Any way to avoid 4 separate pipes going to the sump? Do I need gate valves on any drains or returns?

 

[Jr'sReef]

Why not come up the center of the back and T it off to the center of the drawing you made of the loc lines ... that way you get even flow on both ends, I’d use RFG nozzles on the ends

 

[Dsnakes]

Why not come up the center of the back and T it off to the center of the drawing you made of the loc lines ... that way you get even flow on both ends, I’d use RFG nozzles on the ends

I do like the rfg nozzles. Currently it is up against the wall, only have access from the right side. Pipes won't fit behind it.

 

[Pivitol]

Not my video, but it helped me plumb my 200gal tank

 

[Dsnakes]

Not my video, but it helped me plumb my 200gal tank

I have watched that video a couple times. I will probably attempt to do something like that.

 

[Forsaken77]

If I use all 4 as drains, I can run the return over the left side. Would a design like this allow any flow to the end lock line?

In terms of how the drains work, I have been trying to watch some videos. Most of them seem different. Either with the upside down U shape or just open at the top.

I know you're not supposed to T a herbie drain. Any way to avoid 4 separate pipes going to the sump? Do I need gate valves on any drains or returns?

You would need gate valves on the 2 main drains to equal out the water in the overflows just right.

If you're running a far locline, an option would be to use an unsplit, smaller single locline at the closer one and have the split version at the far end, or use a reducer on the closest one.

They also make loclines that are a long tube with small outputs all along the tubing. That may be a better choice if you're trying to distribute water from the side of the tank. That way you can just have each long piece circle around the the front, for one, and the back, for the other, underneath the black trim.

 

[whittaker727]

I have watched that video a couple times. I will probably attempt to do something like that.

You and me both. That seems like the way to go for my tank.

 

[Dsnakes]

You and me both. That seems like the way to go for my tank.

I think I’m going to give it a shot tomorrow. I guess it’s just a guessing game on heights.

 

[Dsnakes]

Trying to get the plumbing sorted out... do I want both overflows to look like this? Would my water level be middle of the higher tube. I can do my return over the top.

Or... could I do one corner with 2 overflows and the other left durso with the return inside the overflow. I would that be noisy?

;Dead

Also wondering if this pump is the right size for what I’m trying to do. Thanks!