Returning water

[bgibb42]

I'm working on my plumbing and would like to know what some of you use to deliver the water back to the main tank from the sump. I do not have a reef-ready tank, and I don't want to drill any holes in the back. I will be splitting the return and using a SCWD to create movement. Do you turn PVC over the top and use fittings to direct the water? Do you supplement this flow with powerheads?

[thegrun]

There are factory made over the top returns that will look better than made with PVC returns. The flow needed depends on what type f tank you are going to keep. If it is fish only, 10 times DT volume is adequate, if you keep corals it will take 3 to 40 times. The amount of rock will sometimes require additional flow to prevent low flow spots where algae will become an issue.

[Everyones Hero]

I use a short vinyl tube connected to the pump then it goes to PVC. I used elbows & just hang the PVC on the back of the tank.

To increase flow in the tank without having too much through my sump I use powerheads.

The vinyl tube helps reduce the vibrations from the pump to the return line & makes it a little easier to remove for cleaning.

[bgibb42]

Originally Posted by thegrun

There are factory made over the top returns that will look better than made with PVC returns.

Where do you find these?

[sdmarriott1]

Originally Posted by bgibb42

Where do you find these?

Try this link - http://www.marinedepot.com/U_Tube_wi...FIFTRP-vi.html

[one clownfish]

You could make a manifold to go over the top to direct the water.

[brycerb]

I would just make your own out of pvc. I have a drilled reef tank and I still use pvc. I didn't like the 1/2 flexible pipe the tank came with, so I upgraded the size to 3/4 pvc elbows so the flow was the same just not as strong. It unly looks stupid for a while til it gets over grown with algea.