Plumbing help.

[AbjectMaelstroM]

I originally asked this in my build thread, but I figured this forum would get more traffic than just another build thread.

Finishing up plumbing this week and I need some help. The way it is now, the overflow is plumbed using 1" for all 3 drains (Exotic Marine 20"). The return, coming off Varios 6 is normally 1.25" but is immediately reduced to a 1" barb, soft tubing, to a 1" manifold. The manifold will have 2 t-off ball valves coming off of it for future equipment UV/reactors. Then manifold also feeds the two returns, which are 1" all the way to the bulkheads, at which point they are reduced to 1/2" as this tank is unfortunately is predrilled for 1/2.

So my question is two fold:

1. My plan was to downsize the manifold valves to 1/2 as reactors/UV don't require a ton of flow. Is this wise? Should I leave them 1"? Reduce to 3/4" instead of 1/2?

2. Knowing what you know now, how many manifold valves/branches would you plumb? Is 2 enough? Increase it to 3?

PS. Spit balling here, but I guess I could always union-off the manifold to the left and right of the valves so the whole branch is removable if I need to do anything with the valves...

 

[Ron Reefman]

I originally asked this in my build thread, but I figured this forum would get more traffic than just another build thread.
Probably a good decission. You could also have used a hashtag reefsquad for some replies.

So my question is two fold:

1. My plan was to downsize the manifold valves to 1/2 as reactors/UV don't require a ton of flow. Is this wise? Should I leave them 1"? Reduce to 3/4" instead of 1/2?
I don't see why you would downsize the lines to the reactors or UV as you can reduce the flow all you want with a gate valve off the manifold. I'd leave them at 1" just in case you ever need the bigger size.

2. Knowing what you know now, how many manifold valves/branches would you plumb? Is 2 enough? Increase it to 3?
I just finished plumbing my new 90g tank and I only added 1 'spare' line. It's probably more likely to get used with a chiller if we lose power due to a hurricane than for a reactor. I have a generator that will run almost everything in the house (8500 watts) except the whole house AC. And it gets hot here in hurricane season!

PS. Spit balling here, but I guess I could always union-off the manifold to the left and right of the valves so the whole branch is removable if I need to do anything with the valves...
Now you have me thinking I should cut my main manifold line and add a union. I think it's a great idea and not expensive to do.[/QUOTE]

 

[Tampaman]

You have valves to reduce flow, but you cant go bigger once its all together. Maybe gate valves one day if you leave room. And if you decide differently later, you can always use valved unions.

 

[AbjectMaelstroM]

Slow-going, but finally got more time to work on the plumbing, hoping to finish today.

Down to the drains now. Below shown are the primary and secondary siphons. I know most trying to avoid horizontal runs in the drains, but this is the best I could come up with.... I'm honestly getting burnt out on the plumbing.

Are there any real issue with this setup? Do I need to go back to the drawing board? Ideas? @ReefSquad

PS. Secondary is missing a downpipe, pretend there is one.

 

[motortrendz]

I dont see anythign wrong with it. I planned mine all out for each use and then added an extra. If it was for a manifold with a 1/2" line I used half in valves (reactors) if it was for my chiller I used a 3/4" and same with my return. I used all union valves for ease of cleaning and or replacement if needed. Sonits totally up to you. Nothing wrong with using a 3/4" valve but then reducing the line to half. It's just an extra fitting you have to get and a few buck more in cost.

Heres a pic of mine when I was dry fitting it a while back. I dont have any recent pics. But I did a 1in body with reducer tees to the specific size for each valve.

 

[AbjectMaelstroM]

So I'm 3 hours into my leak test.... And good news, no leaks and it's dead quiet.

Here's my problem though. No matter how low I drop my weir/baffle on the fuge || return section, the water level will not drop.... It's like it is in perfect equilibrium, even though the pump (varios 6) is full blast. The water level is about inch and half to 2 inches above the baffle wall.

Do I need to pump some of the water out? What am I missing?

PS drains are 1" and the returns are 1/2".


EDIT: think I figured out the water level in sump thing.... Just pumped enough water from sump to get it to the level I need.