Plumbing Woes.....

[BigBoi5680]

I'm to the point of planning my plumbing on my 210 and the plumbing research has gotten me a tad baffled. So a few questions I have are:

1. My skimmer (SRO 3000INT) has a processing rate of 400 gph, but I've seen advice given NOT to out pump (on the return) your skimmer!? Can someone clarify?

2. What is the true advantage of using a union if there is not a gate or ball valve on it? I see where people advise that you use unions off of the bulkheads and at other points of access but don't quite understand the advantage.

3. On the Dursos.....I have two overflows, is one of the standpipes aligned with the overflow and one an inch or two below it?

4. And what size pipe am I running beneath the tank for drain, return, etc.? All four overflow holes are drilled for 1" bulkheads......my drain pipes are 1 1/4" and the return pipes are 3/4".

I am also planning on setting up a manifold, and currently have a Mag12 but was looking at moving that to backup and getting a Water Blaster 5000.

Please help bring me to the light!! Lol

[Fish_wiz2]

Originally Posted by BigBoi5680

I'm to the point of planning my plumbing on my 210 and the plumbing research has gotten me a tad baffled. So a few questions I have are:

1. My skimmer (SRO 3000INT) has a processing rate of 400 gph, but I've seen advice given NOT to out pump (on the return) your skimmer!? Can someone clarify?

I believe this means not to push more water than your skimmer can handle.

2. What is the true advantage of using a union if there is not a gate or ball valve on it? I see where people advise that you use unions off of the bulkheads and at other points of access but don't quite understand the advantage.

Usually, i use unions to take apart plumbing easily when i need to either redo a part or there is a leak instead of chopping it all apart.

3. On the Dursos.....I have two overflows, is one of the standpipes aligned with the overflow and one an inch or two below it?

Correct, 2" is safer, but what are your pipe sizes?

4. And what size pipe am I running beneath the tank for drain, return, etc.? All four overflow holes are drilled for 1" bulkheads......my drain pipes are 1 1/4" and the return pipes are 3/4".

I recommend at least 1.5" for drain and 3/4" is fine for the return. On the stock overflows, i would use both holes for the drains and go over the top for the return.

I am also planning on setting up a manifold, and currently have a Mag12 but was looking at moving that to backup and getting a Water Blaster 5000.

Great plan, a mag 12 should work for the time being.

Please help bring me to the light!! Lol

Hope that helps, Wiz.

[BigBoi5680]

Yes Wiz! Thank you, that definitely provides some clarity! And so my plumbing underneath the tank is essentially the same size as the PVC in the overflows for the drain and return lines, correct? I don't have to reduce or increase those pipe sizes at any point?

[Entropy]

You can stay the same size. Honestly it appears you plan to flow very little water through your overflows if you are going to be under 400gph. Any one of your bulkheads can drain more than that by themselves. You can skipt he unions but as mentioned above if you need to take the plumbing apart for some reason it sure makes it easier than cutting and then regluing them. I am a big fan of unions now. I think on your particular setup I would go with a herbie over a durso. I would run the main drain as a syphon with a ball/gate valve to control the flow, use the second bulkhead as a emergency drain, and then just return over the back. I assume you have two identical overflows (corners?)?

[BigBoi5680]

@Entropy...I had been planning on going by the 3-5X tank volume for my flow, but then I saw a post where they advised NOT to outpump the skimmer. Im still going with @ least 1200 gph though, and just see where it takes me. And yes, identical overflows drilled with 2 holes for 1" bulkheads in each. I cant return over the back because the wall that the tank is on is adjacent to the foyer, so if you come through the front door you will see the entire back of the tank when you walk past......my ole' lady would have a FIT!! *shrugs*

[Entropy]

I completely understand the wife angle (trust me). My tank it flush against a wall for the same reason.

I think I would probably set one overflow as a drain with one pipe as a straight syphon and the other as a return. This should be able to handle the whole 1200gph by itself. The other overflow could be the emergency drain and another return. The only flaw to my plan that jumps out is you would have no circulation in the second overflow unless the first got plugged, but it would be dead silent other than any noise generated by water going over the overflow wall. No bubbles in the sump. You would have to ball/gate valve the syphon to adjust the flow rate. Maybe search around to other big tank builds and see how they set it up. I have a single overflow with three holes so my setup was actually easier.

[Fish_wiz2]

Originally Posted by BigBoi5680

Yes Wiz! Thank you, that definitely provides some clarity! And so my plumbing underneath the tank is essentially the same size as the PVC in the overflows for the drain and return lines, correct? I don't have to reduce or increase those pipe sizes at any point?

I dont remember if the overflows will fit but 1.5" all around for the drains would not hurt. If anything, keep it as big as you can in the overflows and 1.5" everywhere else.

Originally Posted by BigBoi5680

@Entropy...I had been planning on going by the 3-5X tank volume for my flow, but then I saw a post where they advised NOT to outpump the skimmer. Im still going with @ least 1200 gph though, and just see where it takes me. And yes, identical overflows drilled with 2 holes for 1" bulkheads in each. I cant return over the back because the wall that the tank is on is adjacent to the foyer, so if you come through the front door you will see the entire back of the tank when you walk past......my ole' lady would have a FIT!! *shrugs*

Outpumping the skimmer can be avoided by using a manifold or its own pump to power it the max 400 gph. You can do whatever gph through your sump though. I set up an external skimmer for my buddy and have the skimmer on its own mag 5 while we had a dart (3600 gph) through the sump on a 180.

Is there any way to hide the gap in the back of the tank? I would recommend going over as if you do plan to upgrade your pump the 4 holes will be there to handle it as one 1" bulkhead is able to handle up to 600gph.