Manifold question

[mikellini]

I'm wondering if you can help me decide whether or not I should use a larger pump on a manifold system, or just a few small pumps. I'm setting up a 93g rimless system (ULNS SPS dominant), still deciding on the sump but it will probably be 24x12 or slightly larger... I've decided against using a calcium reactor, I think it's probably overkill and more headache than I want (looking for simplicity). So, I'll be running dosing pumps for chemical replacement and carbon dosing. Skimmer will probably either be a Vertex Omega 150 or Tunze 9011, mostly depending on the space available in the sump. Aside from that, I'd like to run either two reactors for carbon and GFO, or one reactor combining both. Not really interested in the maintenance aspects of an ATS or refugium...

Is it worth having a manifold system for just the return and reactor(s)? Or should I just get a smaller return pump and separate feed pump for the reactors? Can you think of anything else I might be missing or want to consider? Thanks RC!

[billdogg]

You are almost always farther ahead to run one larger pump rather than several smaller ones. A DIY manifold can be put together with misc. pvc parts or take a look at www.savko.com to find a real manifold.

I do keep a spare pump on hand so that if (when) it fails I can just switch them out and keep on going.

[Donkeykong]

I had a manifold sytem setup and liked it since I had less equipment and if done properly you can really dial everything in. I had a spare pump that I kept around that I used for mixing salt that could be switched in, this is important cause if everything is running off one pump you then have one major point of failure. One down side, I was running a beanimal drain which takes fine tuning to make silent. Every time I touch the reactors, to change out media or to stir media I would have to re adjust the drain to get complete silence. It was an annoyance, not deal breaker but nice to know about when comparing the pro's and con's of running one pump.

[Fallling]

I have a manifold setup to run various stuff such as a separate refugium, UV, chiller, and reactor. I do use a separate, dedicated pump from my return though. One thing that I did when plumbing was use a combination of ball valves and gates valves.

For the reactor, for example, I adjusted the flow precisely with a gate valve, but also put a ball valve right before so I can easily turn off flow to the reactor without monkeying up the dialed in setting. All of the other stuff I run off the manifold is setup in a similar fashion with the ball valves directly off the manifold... the gate valves may not be directly off the manifold but are still somewhere inline before the equipment. My tank sits diagonally in the corner, so I'm actually able to easily get behind it with lots of space to work in.

While it did take me a few weeks to really wrap my head around how I wanted to set the manifold up, I'm really happy with it now as it really simplifies and consolidates things.

[Stolireef]

I know this is slightly OT, but why don't you want a Ca reactor. Or, more specifically, why is it more complicated than dosing. I run a reactor but I don't have any issues with dosing. I'm just curious.

As far a the manifold is concerned, my life has become so much easier since plumbing as much as possible off the main return. I reduced the number of pumps under my stand by three. Plus, by using true unions, I can pop out the return pump and pop a new one in in less than five minutes.

[Fishmommy]

what type of drain system will you be running? Some are more sensitive than others to changes in return flow. As reactors clog or are turned off and on, your return flow rate will change a little bit. I run a separate return pump and reactor pump and have a herbie system. That is the way it was recommended to me to do it. Not saying you can't do either, just something to consider.

[mikellini]

Stolireef - With regard to a calcium reactor, I just feel that it's too much added complexity. For example, there are many pieces to the reactor, including flow, media, valves, gauges, regulators, solenoids, canisters etc... in my mind, more to worry about. Also, I'll have to dose additional chemicals anyway (trace elements and additives not found in coral skeleton, carbon source, possibly magnesium) so I wouldn't even be trading one piece of equipment for another, but adding one instead. I feel that dosing would just be simpler, and no more or less effective.

I'll be running a Herbie overflow; I've heard from a few different sources that it's best to have a dedicated return pump, and now I think I see why that is. This means that I would only be running one or two reactors off of a manifold, which really wouldn't reduce the equipment I would need. I think I've come to a decision, thanks everyone!

[Sethjamto]

I'm running a manifold off of my Dart. It supplies the skimmer and fuge right now, but I have a few extra valved fittings not in use (yet) that can be for whatever I need reactor wise. I like the simplicity of the system this way, and have a spare Dart sitting ready to go in the event I have a failure. I'll probably swap them out automatically every 6-12 months regardless to change the seals and make sure they stay in top running condition.

[4Hummer]

Here is mine:



Only using 2 of the 4 outputs on the Manifold (GFO, and Carbon) at this time.

[SantaMonica]

I did the herbie for 6 years or so. Was great, and basically silent except for a slight trickle in the emergency pipe.

[mikellini]

Yeah I've actually been looking at the aqueon proflex sump, designed for 1 input and makes it relatively silent, I might just go with that instead of the Herbie. Too many choices! I've always had AIOs before so the overflow is a big learning experience

[biecacka]

Here is one from savko that bill was maybe mentioning. I got the idea from him.
I went another route tho due to my space restrictions


Corey