Plumbing question

[Sobo's Reef]

I have a Skimz UP34 sump and it has 2 drains built into it leading to the filter socks but my tank only has one drain bulkhead. My question is, how would you plumb this to use both drains on the sump? See pic to know what I’m talking about exactly...

 

[Crabs McJones]

I have a Skimz UP34 sump and it has 2 drains built into it leading to the filter socks but my tank only has one drain bulkhead. My question is, how would you plumb this to use both drains on the sump? See pic to know what I’m talking about exactly...

Does each drain go to it's own filter sock or does it fill a chamber that overflows into filter socks? If it's the second one, you could run your single drain and cap off the other inlet. Or go to your local hardware store and buy a Y fitting and have it split from one pipe to two just to take up thast second input port.

 

[Sobo's Reef]

Yeah it overflows into another sock... I wanna try and use both since they’re there but if it’s going to be too complicated or bulky then I’ll prob just go with what you said. I was thinking of doing something like this...

...obviously imagine it front to back rather than sideways. May be too tight of an area to pull this off though

 

[Medic755]

They both go into their own filter sock? I have the smaller version of that sump and they just drain into their own little box which then overflows into the sock holders. You could replumb the overflow into a herbie and then use both drains. Or split the one drain line. Or just cap it off and have an extra.

 

[Crabs McJones]

Yeah it overflows into another sock... I wanna try and use both since they’re there but if it’s going to be too complicated or bulky then I’ll prob just go with what you said. I was thinking of doing something like this...

...obviously imagine it front to back rather than sideways. May be too tight of an area to pull this off though

The problem with this design is the first pipe is going to get all the water. If you can get a Y fitting the water would at least split and utilize both

 

[Brew12]

Yeah it overflows into another sock... I wanna try and use both since they’re there but if it’s going to be too complicated or bulky then I’ll prob just go with what you said. I was thinking of doing something like this...

...obviously imagine it front to back rather than sideways. May be too tight of an area to pull this off though

I don't see that being worth the effort. Odds of having your drain clog in the last few inches is very unlikely.

I would just slide something like this over the unused one.
https://www.lowes.com/pd/LASCO-1-1-2-in-Dia-PVC-Sch-40-Cap/3371576

 

[Idoc]

I second the change to a herbie design. It will make the drains so quiet! Then either drill another hole for your return line, or take your return line up over the back of the tank... that's what I did and I'm so glad I did...no noise st all.

 

[David Mc]

How large is your display tank? What type of drain setup is it using?

I have had a UP36 running for a couple months now.

 

[Sobo's Reef]

It’s a Deep Blue 57 RR tank... center overflow.. 1” drain and 3/4” return line

 

[Sobo's Reef]

Do you guys think it’s necessary to have a ball valve on the return line if the return pump is controllable?

 

[eschulist]

Its always nice to shut off the flow of water if youre doing maintenance on the pump.

 

[Sobo's Reef]

Do you guys use anything before tightening down threaded pvc parts? Like Teflon tap or something?

 

[JoshH]

PVC thread sealant is what you want to use for threaded joints, not teflon tape

 

[Sobo's Reef]

Gotcha! Never used Threaded parts before but I’m trying something new for my bulkheads so I wasn’t sure

 

[JoshH]

Something new is always fun A lot of people turn down threaded fittings but if installed properly they don't leak and are an excellent part of any plumbing system

 

[Sobo's Reef]

That’s true! Couple questions tho, is there a specific type of thread sealant I should get? And when using this sealant, will that make the connection permanent?

 

[cgdcinc]

You could put the tee as your first fitting out of your overflow. Then run two separate lines to the socks. It will split the water evenly. It must be in the bullhead position. Not on the run.

 

[JoshH]

It should say it's designed for PVC plumbing but other than that all brands will work. And no it will not permanently bond your joints, It's almost like a soft gum type of material that fills in between the threads

 

[Sobo's Reef]

When tightening a threaded adapter onto a bulkhead with thread sealant, the consensus is to hand tighten it as much as possible(and carefully) right? Don’t use any tools?

 

[JoshH]

You can tighten with a tool on a threaded adapter. It is not advised to use a tool for anything more than a 1/4 turn on the nut portion of the bulkhad itself when tightening though.