I'm running a tunze silence pro 1074.11 as my return pump. From the pump I will plump a manifold for my reactors, etc. my pump outlet is 1-1/2" and typically that is what I'd make the manifold out of. However with this setup I don't have much room and was thinking of making it out of 3/4" PVC. Anyone see any issue with this?
Return pump manifold diameter
- Thread starter nivram
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mayday610
Active Member
hey nivram! Thought i would throw in my two cents. Its hard to determine what you are trying to achieve without more info of how you plan on plumbing your new set up. If you have relied on your pump for your turn over rate into your tank, downsizing probably isn't the best idea. With smaller diameter tubing comes more friction and less flow out of your pump. If you have other means of water movement in your tank and you are using the pump simply as a means to transfer water back to your tank, then no harm done with downsizing your plumbing. If anything, the only problem you probably face is increased pressure on your lines and fittings. If possible, i would tee off from the 1-1/2 with a dedicated line back to the tank with a shut-off valve on it to regulate the flow and pressure on the system. Hope my opinions help
Thank you for your response. At this time I've setup the manifold with 3/4" PVC. And as you stated the water comes out with some decent pressure. I have a feeling ill be increasing the diameter to at least 1". I built it with the intention on plumbing it back to the sump. Ill see how that affects the water pressure first.
My issue regarding the size has to do with space. As I have to run the plumbing thru the center bracing. So I was trying to reduce the size of the holes being drilled in my 2x6 supports.
My return pump a tunze silence pro feeds a wavysea plus and said manifold. I actually have it valved down considerably. This is mainly due to the sand storm that happens if I turn the flow up higher.
What effect would running a larger manifold that's fed by the same 3/4" plumbing from the pump have on the pressure if any?
mayday610
Active Member
I take it when you say a larger manifold you mean using a larger diameter and reducing it back down to 3/4" for your lines like you currently have it set up. The only real benefit of doing that would be that it would help even the pressure at each output that you have in your manifold. But because you don't need to have even pressure across the system, due to the fact that you will be individually applying pressure to each device you plumb in, i wouldn't worry about it. No need to spend further money on all those parts again just to reduce back down to the same size outlets. Also, if you are just worried about drilling holes in the center brace, i wouldn't be too worried about it. Of course i am saying this without knowing how your stand is built, but i'd imagine being a center brace, its not doing a whole lot to support the tank. Unless you have a tank that for some reason needs to be supported in the center as well for some reason. Also, have you thought about plumbing a line off from the line you use to feed your wavysea plus straight into the aquarium? I personally do not use any electronic water movement devices. Instead i built a manifold that runs across the back of my tank for my return water and water movement. its not always the amount of water entering your tank that will create a sand storm, its often just the pressure. I actually rebuilt my manifold about 2 months ago because i didn't like the original design because it did just that, created too much pressure.
mayday610
Active Member
My lines are 1 1/2" and i have one main valve just above the pump which you can't see in the photo. I have it fully open now, but needed it turned down a bit for my last pump that i loved so much and couldn't find again 
This is from the top and how i direct my flow where i want it. As you can see from the previous picture that the manifold is a closed loop which helps regulate the pressure evenly to the nozzles. A better design is to have the manifold wrap around the top of the tank as i had it before, but it was too much in the way to do tank maintenace, which i do from the front. I can barely reach the bottom now and was quite a choir with the pvc in the way before.
This is from the top and how i direct my flow where i want it. As you can see from the previous picture that the manifold is a closed loop which helps regulate the pressure evenly to the nozzles. A better design is to have the manifold wrap around the top of the tank as i had it before, but it was too much in the way to do tank maintenace, which i do from the front. I can barely reach the bottom now and was quite a choir with the pvc in the way before.
That would be great.
I'm actually considering installing a second wavysea. I actually like the sweeping current and the ability to control the speed at which it moves. As far as I can tell, I have no visible dead spots.
mayday610
Active Member
I agree! I would consider one if i had a more square tank. I don't think i would benefit with one over my setup with my tank being long and not that wide. Bought it back in the day for a great price. Wishing now that i had a tank with more depth but lesson learned for the future for sure.
