Plumbing question

[paradizecityz]

Hi there, so my sump is small and I want a refugium and skimmer, only has section for 1. I don't know how to do hard plumbing correctly and also I don't want to wait 24 hours for the glue to dry so what I was thinking is getting a 5 gallon, maybe 10 gallon, tank from petco and plumb that into the sump and set that as the refugium?

My return pump is currently T'd off to 2 return nozzle in my display tank using braided vinyl tubing. Can I T off from one of those into the 5 gallon tank on the side using braided vinyl tubing? That 5 gallon will be higher than the sump so I would get a HOB overflow and have it gravity fed back into the sump, if that makes sense?

If I can do that, what kind of ball valve/gate valve can I add to braided vinyl tubing so I can control the water into the 5 gallon?

 

[Lost in the Sauce]

Hi there, so my sump is small and I want a refugium and skimmer, only has section for 1. I don't know how to do hard plumbing correctly and also I don't want to wait 24 hours for the glue to dry so what I was thinking is getting a 5 gallon, maybe 10 gallon, tank from petco and plumb that into the sump and set that as the refugium?

My return pump is currently T'd off to 2 return nozzle in my display tank using braided vinyl tubing. Can I T off from one of those into the 5 gallon tank on the side using braided vinyl tubing? That 5 gallon will be higher than the sump so I would get a HOB overflow and have it gravity fed back into the sump, if that makes sense?

If I can do that, what kind of ball valve/gate valve can I add to braided vinyl tubing so I can control the water into the 5 gallon?

That sounds like a Way more intensive and expensive solution, to avoid a 24 hours wait for glue to dry.

It's Been my experience that usually when I throw together a solution because it's faster, It usually makes it known at some point why it's inferior.

With that said, I would probably not tee into the vinyl tube that has already been tee'd off of. You're going to create a big pressure differential and that flow will be hard to tune.

 

[paradizecityz]

That sounds like a Way more intensive and expensive solution, to avoid a 24 hours wait for glue to dry.

It's Been my experience that usually when I throw together a solution because it's faster, It usually makes it known at some point why it's inferior.

With that said, I would probably not tee into the vinyl tube that has already been tee'd off of. You're going to create a big pressure differential and that flow will be hard to tune.

Glad I didn't buy the material before asking lol. I was thinking this way because a local reefer has same setup for a frag tank. The only difference is his is hard plumbing where mine would be soft.

Guess it's back to the drawing board.

 

[KrisReef]

Glad I didn't buy the material before asking lol. I was thinking this way because a local reefer has same setup for a frag tank. The only difference is his is hard plumbing where mine would be soft.

Guess it's back to the drawing board.

Yes, plan well and we can celebrate your success when you get it done right!

Post a picture of your plan and people will be happy to suggest improvements and support for a good plan!

 

[Lost in the Sauce]

Glad I didn't buy the material before asking lol. I was thinking this way because a local reefer has same setup for a frag tank. The only difference is his is hard plumbing where mine would be soft.

Guess it's back to the drawing board.

Anyone can do hard plumbing. It is not difficult or expensive to do. There are some great YouTube tutorials. I say this after plumbing my entire system including a manifold, As my first plumbing project ever a year ago. I'm thinking about to be adding a cube display fuge soon. Designing the system in my head.

 

[paradizecityz]

What would be y'alls suggestion then? Should I change the return pump plumbing to all hard pvc and then T off of that into the side tank?

 

[Lost in the Sauce]

What would be y'alls suggestion then? Should I change the return pump plumbing to all hard pvc and then T off of that into the side tank?

Can you post a picture of your sump and surround so that we can see what you're working with?

 

[paradizecityz]

Excuse the mess. First time with sump lol

 

[paradizecityz]

Middle grey are overflow lines. Outside braided is the return lines

 

[Lost in the Sauce]

What kind of pump are you running?

Where is the fuge going?

What do you estimate your gallon per hour flow through the tank to be?

 

[theMeat]

Personally if it works and is leak free would leave the plumbing. Run a separate return pump for sump so you know how much gph you have and have a bit of redundancy. Would also use tubing for fuge return pump, pvc for drain and drill the overflow in sump instead of a hob. Would do two drains from sump, one of with a valve (herbie style) so it runs quiet

 

[paradizecityz]

What kind of pump are you running?

Where is the fuge going?

What do you estimate your gallon per hour flow through the tank to be?

It's a Hydor 2400 return pump and I'm only running it at 50%.
Side tank would be T'd off the return line on the left as that's where the side tank would be sitting, outside the stand.

Personally if it works and is leak free would leave the plumbing. Run a separate return pump for sump so you know how much gph you have and have a bit of redundancy. Would also use tubing for fuge return pump and drill the overflow in sump instead of a hob

I was going to do HOB because again, never drilled before as well. Was thinking this way but was going to try to avoid another pump, more heat, etc.
But this might be easier....hmm

 

[Lost in the Sauce]

With that set up, I would still drill the fuge, not hob and would not touch the return. More likely reroute one of the two overflow lines to feed the fuge.

Drilling tanks It's also super easy and takes zero prior skill. Just a drill and hose.

 

[theMeat]

You’ll be adding more water volume and surface area with the fuge, if you use a decent pump that runs cool you will probably have less heat. Although that depends on what temp you keep your house.
Whether you t into your hydor or not make sure you have siphon break hole drilled on each return line, including sump, to avoid a flood

 

[paradizecityz]

With that set up, I would still drill the fuge, not hob and would not touch the return. More likely reroute one of the two overflow lines to feed the fuge.

Drilling tanks It's also super easy and takes zero prior skill. Just a drill and hose.

Any reason behind drilling vs the HOB?
If I T off one of the overflow lines to feed the fuge and then a small pump from fuge to sump, I'm afraid if my main return pump stops working, the fuge would run dry.

You’ll be adding more water volume and surface area with the fuge, if you use a decent pump that runs cool you will probably have less heat. Although that depends on what temp you keep your house.
Whether you t into your hydor or not make sure you have siphon break hole drilled on each return line, including sump, to avoid a flood

Good note on the siphon break! didn't think about that one!

 

[Lost in the Sauce]

Any reason behind drilling vs the HOB?

If I T off one of the overflow lines to feed the fuge and then a small pump from fuge to sump,

I fully and completely distrust hob overflows.

Have read Far too many siphon loss stories to ever be comfortable incorporating one into a build. I've drilled enough tanks to not be intimidated by is, and know it's a Better way to do it. Removing variable points of failure.


In your scenario above, You would be relying on perfectly matching the incoming line from the overflow to a return pump.

 

[paradizecityz]

I fully and completely distrust hob overflows.

Have read Far too many siphon loss stories to ever be comfortable incorporating one into a build. I've drilled enough tanks to not be intimidated by is, and know it's a Better way to do it. Removing variable points of failure.


In your scenario above, You would be relying on perfectly matching the incoming line from the overflow to a return pump.

Makes sense! Thank you!

 

[theMeat]

Any reason behind drilling vs the HOB?
If I T off one of the overflow lines to feed the fuge and then a small pump from fuge to sump, I'm afraid if my main return pump stops working, the fuge would run dry.



Good note on the siphon break! didn't think about that one!

If I’m understanding this post you want to t into your return pump to supply water to fuge, and want to run a pump from fuge back to sump?
You can’t do that. Pump water up, gravity drain back down to sump!

Watch a vid on drilling aquarium. It’s pretty easy. Just go slow and keep glass cool with water.

 

[paradizecityz]

Well I just had a better idea. Move my ato container out of stand and that way I’ll have more room to get bigger sump, no need to worry about more plumbing lol