what size PVC?

Zestay · 06/26/2008, 08:14 PM

im going to have my 90 gallon drilled.
any reccomendations on the size of plumbing i use?
do i need 2 drains or is one enough?
i was thinking 3 one inch bulk heads. 2 drains one return or do i want a 3/4 return? or larger all together?

Playa-1 · 06/26/2008, 08:45 PM

A 1" drain and a 3/4" return line will work nicely for a standard reef ready set-up. Closed loop systems require more thought.

cpeisher · 06/26/2008, 08:48 PM

I highly recommend you read the thread below, and then drill four bulkheads. 3 Holes for 1.5" drains, and then either a 1" or 1.5" bulkhead for your return.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...readid=1310585

Aquarist007 · 06/26/2008, 09:30 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by cpeisher
I highly recommend you read the thread below, and then drill four bulkheads. 3 Holes for 1.5" drains, and then either a 1" or 1.5" bulkhead for your return.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...readid=1310585

I fully agree with this setup
Tjswifty8 used this setup on his build thread if you want to see pictures
Go to the very first of the thread--its split twice

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...readid=1417839

Zestay · 06/27/2008, 05:36 PM

while yes i do agree with using 3 drains. im drilling the "short" side of the tank and im not sure if i want to put all 4 holes on one side of the tank.

Zestay · 06/27/2008, 05:55 PM

well now that i re-read it. i see its just 4 (one inch ) bulk heads i could probably squeeze that into one side of the tank. hrmm time to mess around in paint for a few and get some crituiques.

Zestay · 06/27/2008, 06:01 PM

comments? think this will be to many holes on one side of a 90 gallon aga?

Zestay · 06/27/2008, 08:08 PM

copied and posted here so i dont lose this
Yes, all (3) bulkheads placed on the same horizontal centerline. You are correct, the up-turned elbow is what sets the failsafe level.

In this particular tank the horizontal center for the 1" bulkheads is at 4.25" from the top of the trim.

The bottom panel of the overflow box is 6" from the top of the trim. I had to cut the bottoms off of the elbows to get them to fit properly, as the overflow was siliconed in place long before I came up with this plan!

The front edge over the overflow is at the bottom of the trim. This way, even with the return pump off, the waterline is never visible from the display side of the tank.

Current Tanks: 75 In-Wall

cpeisher · 06/27/2008, 08:34 PM

I understand you need to do this on the short side of the tank, but I would still make it a "coast to coast" overflow (in other words make the overflow box go from front to back) to increase the skimming effect of the overflow. Then you could just have your return lines on either end come in the overflow area the same way your drain lines do, but use the ball joint flexible type tubing to bend it over the overflow edge and back down into the tank, being sure to drill anti-siphone holes. This increases the effectiveness of your overflow by having a thinner sheet of water go over into the sump. A standard 90g is 18 inches, front to back, this should be plenty of room for three 1" bulkheads and maybe 2 x 3/4" return lines bulkheads. General rule is to separate holes by at least one diameter from other holes and any edges. See if you can draw that up in paint and post it back. Otherwise you reduce the number of holes by using one, 1" return, which should handle plenty of flow...Is your tank 18 inches front to back or some other value?

Zestay · 06/27/2008, 10:25 PM

18x48 24 inchs tall.

define the coast to coast you mean across the entire 18 inch span or the 48 in span.? hrmm sounds like a good idea. ill go coast to coast and use 2 smaller 3/4 bulkheads for return plumbing

thanx for the advice!!

Zestay · 06/28/2008, 05:55 PM

ok so a coast to coast over flow with 2 return useing flex tubing to go over the overflow edge.
maybe im crazy but if i attached locline to the ends of the returns and have them a few inchs below the overflow would they act as a syphons if i turned the power out? should i keep them above the over flow? or am i getting a little paranoid here?

cpeisher · 06/30/2008, 09:04 AM

No your not crazy. The flex tubing i was trying to think of the name, Locline, thank for reminding me. Just drill an anti-siphon hole in the locline a little below the surface of the water. It will back siphon, but only until it reaches the anti-siphon hole, then the small hole you drilled will break the siphon and stol the flow back into your sump.

Zestay · 06/30/2008, 09:28 AM

again thanx for the advice. ... now should i scwd or just run two returns with a T junction?

cpeisher · 06/30/2008, 11:26 AM

sorry, scwd?

Zestay · 06/30/2008, 11:40 AM

the wave maker that alternates which pipe gets flow?

http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewIt...ater_Director_(Squid)_Saltwater_Aquarium_Supplies_Wavemakers_External~vendor~.html?gclid=CIP9hprcnJQCFQKaFQodHEFWt g

cpeisher · 06/30/2008, 12:42 PM

I have no experience with those, i wouldn't no what to tell you there. Are there any posts here that deal with an scwd?

Zestay · 06/30/2008, 02:33 PM

as far as im guessing. they are pretty much like a water pump for your car ( at least the insides look that way ) and after the turbine spins enough , it moves a flap to differ the flow the other way ... thats my basic understanding of the... does anyone have an exploded view of a SCWD?

06/26/2008, 08:14 PM	#1
Zestay Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: gainesville, FL Posts: 1,622	what size PVC? im going to have my 90 gallon drilled. any reccomendations on the size of plumbing i use? do i need 2 drains or is one enough? i was thinking 3 one inch bulk heads. 2 drains one return or do i want a 3/4 return? or larger all together?

06/26/2008, 08:45 PM	#2
Playa-1 Moved On Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Laguna Niguel, CA Posts: 7,497	A 1" drain and a 3/4" return line will work nicely for a standard reef ready set-up. Closed loop systems require more thought.

06/26/2008, 08:48 PM	#3
cpeisher Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Georgia Posts: 170	I highly recommend you read the thread below, and then drill four bulkheads. 3 Holes for 1.5" drains, and then either a 1" or 1.5" bulkhead for your return. http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...readid=1310585

06/27/2008, 05:36 PM	#5
Zestay Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: gainesville, FL Posts: 1,622	while yes i do agree with using 3 drains. im drilling the "short" side of the tank and im not sure if i want to put all 4 holes on one side of the tank.

06/27/2008, 05:55 PM	#6
Zestay Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: gainesville, FL Posts: 1,622	well now that i re-read it. i see its just 4 (one inch ) bulk heads i could probably squeeze that into one side of the tank. hrmm time to mess around in paint for a few and get some crituiques.

06/27/2008, 06:01 PM	#7
Zestay Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: gainesville, FL Posts: 1,622	comments? think this will be to many holes on one side of a 90 gallon aga?

06/27/2008, 08:08 PM	#8
Zestay Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: gainesville, FL Posts: 1,622	copied and posted here so i dont lose this Yes, all (3) bulkheads placed on the same horizontal centerline. You are correct, the up-turned elbow is what sets the failsafe level. In this particular tank the horizontal center for the 1" bulkheads is at 4.25" from the top of the trim. The bottom panel of the overflow box is 6" from the top of the trim. I had to cut the bottoms off of the elbows to get them to fit properly, as the overflow was siliconed in place long before I came up with this plan! The front edge over the overflow is at the bottom of the trim. This way, even with the return pump off, the waterline is never visible from the display side of the tank. Current Tanks: 75 In-Wall

06/27/2008, 08:34 PM	#9
cpeisher Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Georgia Posts: 170	I understand you need to do this on the short side of the tank, but I would still make it a "coast to coast" overflow (in other words make the overflow box go from front to back) to increase the skimming effect of the overflow. Then you could just have your return lines on either end come in the overflow area the same way your drain lines do, but use the ball joint flexible type tubing to bend it over the overflow edge and back down into the tank, being sure to drill anti-siphone holes. This increases the effectiveness of your overflow by having a thinner sheet of water go over into the sump. A standard 90g is 18 inches, front to back, this should be plenty of room for three 1" bulkheads and maybe 2 x 3/4" return lines bulkheads. General rule is to separate holes by at least one diameter from other holes and any edges. See if you can draw that up in paint and post it back. Otherwise you reduce the number of holes by using one, 1" return, which should handle plenty of flow...Is your tank 18 inches front to back or some other value?

06/27/2008, 10:25 PM	#10
Zestay Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: gainesville, FL Posts: 1,622	18x48 24 inchs tall. define the coast to coast you mean across the entire 18 inch span or the 48 in span.? hrmm sounds like a good idea. ill go coast to coast and use 2 smaller 3/4 bulkheads for return plumbing thanx for the advice!!

06/28/2008, 05:55 PM	#11
Zestay Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: gainesville, FL Posts: 1,622	ok so a coast to coast over flow with 2 return useing flex tubing to go over the overflow edge. maybe im crazy but if i attached locline to the ends of the returns and have them a few inchs below the overflow would they act as a syphons if i turned the power out? should i keep them above the over flow? or am i getting a little paranoid here?

06/30/2008, 09:04 AM	#12
cpeisher Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Georgia Posts: 170	No your not crazy. The flex tubing i was trying to think of the name, Locline, thank for reminding me. Just drill an anti-siphon hole in the locline a little below the surface of the water. It will back siphon, but only until it reaches the anti-siphon hole, then the small hole you drilled will break the siphon and stol the flow back into your sump.

06/30/2008, 09:28 AM	#13
Zestay Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: gainesville, FL Posts: 1,622	again thanx for the advice. ... now should i scwd or just run two returns with a T junction?

06/30/2008, 11:26 AM	#14
cpeisher Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Georgia Posts: 170	sorry, scwd?

06/30/2008, 11:40 AM	#15
Zestay Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: gainesville, FL Posts: 1,622	the wave maker that alternates which pipe gets flow? http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewIt...ater_Director_(Squid)_Saltwater_Aquarium_Supplies_Wavemakers_External~vendor~.html?gclid=CIP9hprcnJQCFQKaFQodHEFWt g

06/30/2008, 12:42 PM	#16
cpeisher Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Georgia Posts: 170	I have no experience with those, i wouldn't no what to tell you there. Are there any posts here that deal with an scwd?

06/30/2008, 02:33 PM	#17
Zestay Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: gainesville, FL Posts: 1,622	as far as im guessing. they are pretty much like a water pump for your car ( at least the insides look that way ) and after the turbine spins enough , it moves a flap to differ the flow the other way ... thats my basic understanding of the... does anyone have an exploded view of a SCWD?