Plumbing advice needed.

[Bugeater281]

So I’m getting close to setting up my need tank. Been cooking some rock for 6-9months. Tank is drilled for a closed loop. Sump is built. All that’s left is plumbing and cycling. My questions are concerning plumbing. My current set up will include.

135g tank, 75g sump(35g of refugium).
Skimz recirculating skimmer,
Vectra m2 foreclosed loop,
Jabeo 10,000 return pump.

My first question concerns the closed loop. I wanted to hard plumb it, but I’m worried about vibration loosening bulkheads. And at the same time, I only have a single pump for the closed loop. However, I drilled enough holes to run 2 pumps for my closed loop. This make hard plumbing a bit more complicated. So I was thinking of just using tubbing. I have 2 2in returns for the closed loop(excessive, but I don’t want us sucking stuff up with force). And 4 3/4in returns. This will allow me to choose which inlets and outlet id like to use(I will have shutoff valves attached to each bulkhead). Will tubing affect the flow of the pump if I’m using a good enough size? Like 1.25in and and 3/4in tubing?

my next question concerns the skimmer. In my manual it mentions running the skimmer off the drain. Then no pump is required. I like that idea, plus then I can dump the skimmer straight into the bubble trap, bypassing the refugium. Allowing me to move more water with the return pumpwhile also slowing the flow of water through the refugium. Has anyone done this? And what are the pros vs cons.

also, bulkheads are not installed in this photo. I just put them there to show where they would be located.

 

[Montiman]

I prefer to soft plumb closed loops. This is because after installing many over the years I have seen multiple people break the bulkheads on the bottom of their closed loop or crack the tank because they bumped the hard plumbing under the tank too hard while doing maintenance. Soft plumbing will allow for more give in case you bump something.

I also recommend using the LocLine Ballvalves on the Inside of the tank. This will allow you another point to turn off the water if you need to change the plumbing down below. I would not recommend a ball valve directly below the bulkhead. I have seen many people crack bulkheads while trying to turn the valve underneath the bulkhead. Instead put true unions right up against the pump and use the small LocLine Valves or even screw in a plug on the inside to turn off the flow should you ever need to replace the soft tubing. Good soft tubing can last for decades provided the Barbed Adapters are PVC and not Nylon.

 

[Silent]

Never heard of running a skimmer off of the drain. I suppose it is possible with a venturi. The skimmer in the picture has a pump on it so not sure how they recommend hooking it up to a drain.

 

[BlennyTime]

I’d use at least a foot or two of soft plumbing off the pump into the hard plumbing, that will help with vibrations.

 

[Bugeater281]

I prefer to soft plumb closed loops. This is because after installing many over the years I have seen multiple people break the bulkheads on the bottom of their closed loop or crack the tank because they bumped the hard plumbing under the tank too hard while doing maintenance. Soft plumbing will allow for more give in case you bump something.

I also recommend using the LocLine Ballvalves on the Inside of the tank. This will allow you another point to turn off the water if you need to change the plumbing down below. I would not recommend a ball valve directly below the bulkhead. I have seen many people crack bulkheads while trying to turn the valve underneath the bulkhead. Instead put true unions right up against the pump and use the small LocLine Valves or even screw in a plug on the inside to turn off the flow should you ever need to replace the soft tubing. Good soft tubing can last for decades provided the Barbed Adapters are PVC and not Nylon.

This is awesome advice. Thank you so much!

 

[Bugeater281]

Never heard of running a skimmer off of the drain. I suppose it is possible with a venturi. The skimmer in the picture has a pump on it so not sure how they recommend hooking it up to a drain.

It’s a recirculating skimmer. So the pump just injects air and moves water around inside the skimmer. It has a 1.5in drain. Water flows from the drain, into the skimmer, the skimmer moves that water around and injects air. As more water comes in, old water is pushed out when it gets to a certain level in the skimmer body. But my skimmer requires 550gph. I’d rather not have another pump I have to pay to run . The inlet on the skimmer is a 3/4in barb. And based on my research, that should allow up to 620gph to flow though it with minimal pressure.
I had never heard of running a skimmer off an overflow either. But they mention it in the skimmer owners manual. And I thought that could be a good option.