Plumbing Questions - manifolds on return or drain lines?

FroMan · 10/11/2009, 09:07 PM

I have a few questions that I'm trying to resolve. I would like to gravity feed as much as possible to reduce the amount of water that

First off the tank is an AGA 180 w/ dual overflows.

Skimmer will be run off of one of the drain lines w/ the balance of the flow going into the sump.

Off the second drain line, I would like to run carbon, GFO etc. reactors. This is really where my question lies. Should these be on the drain line? I've seen a few post with concerns about air getting into the reactors if they are on the drain vs. the return lines.

Thank you!

uncleof6 · 10/11/2009, 10:21 PM

All of these pieces of equipment are designed to be "power" fed, not gravity fed. Putting flow control devices on drain lines, cause problems with the drain lines (messes with the physics of them). The only type of drain you put a flow control device on is a full siphon, but branching off the full siphon will change the operating characteristics of it. (again the physics of them) With air/water type drains, (any that are not full siphons) there is an air problem associated with them. Bubble bubble toil and trouble. With full siphons there is a question of back pressure in the line, for starting the siphon. The drain lines are for one reason, to get water from the overflow, to the sump-- nothing in between to cause you problems.

On a parallel topic, you have a build in progress, and it is not running, cycled or anything. You are thinking of putting band aids on problems that do not exist yet. All that stuff, save the skimmer are band aids, that hype, word of mouth what have you say you have to have. They mask a problem, but do not solve it.

Other than lights, flow, live rock, a SAND BED, and a skimmer, there is nothing else other than saltwater, and life that is needed when a tank starts up. Provide an option to use those things? Sure, don't hurt. Put a t and a valve in the return line-- and plug it off till it is proven to be needed. Guess that is my rant of the day

Regards,

Jim

1blackchicken · 10/11/2009, 11:01 PM

+1 on waiting until you need them. I cant see anyway to run them properly off of the drain. If you definitely want to have them then you will need a pump to feed them.

zachtos · 10/21/2009, 12:37 PM

Feed your equipment on the return, NOT the drain. Saves you money on electricity and maintenance too!

10/11/2009, 09:07 PM	#1
FroMan Insane in the Brain Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Vernon, CT Posts: 1,389	Plumbing Questions - manifolds on return or drain lines? I have a few questions that I'm trying to resolve. I would like to gravity feed as much as possible to reduce the amount of water that First off the tank is an AGA 180 w/ dual overflows. Skimmer will be run off of one of the drain lines w/ the balance of the flow going into the sump. Off the second drain line, I would like to run carbon, GFO etc. reactors. This is really where my question lies. Should these be on the drain line? I've seen a few post with concerns about air getting into the reactors if they are on the drain vs. the return lines. Thank you!

10/11/2009, 10:21 PM	#2
uncleof6 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: AWOL Posts: 12,013	All of these pieces of equipment are designed to be "power" fed, not gravity fed. Putting flow control devices on drain lines, cause problems with the drain lines (messes with the physics of them). The only type of drain you put a flow control device on is a full siphon, but branching off the full siphon will change the operating characteristics of it. (again the physics of them) With air/water type drains, (any that are not full siphons) there is an air problem associated with them. Bubble bubble toil and trouble. With full siphons there is a question of back pressure in the line, for starting the siphon. The drain lines are for one reason, to get water from the overflow, to the sump-- nothing in between to cause you problems. On a parallel topic, you have a build in progress, and it is not running, cycled or anything. You are thinking of putting band aids on problems that do not exist yet. All that stuff, save the skimmer are band aids, that hype, word of mouth what have you say you have to have. They mask a problem, but do not solve it. Other than lights, flow, live rock, a SAND BED, and a skimmer, there is nothing else other than saltwater, and life that is needed when a tank starts up. Provide an option to use those things? Sure, don't hurt. Put a t and a valve in the return line-- and plug it off till it is proven to be needed. Guess that is my rant of the day Regards, Jim __________________ "Things should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler." (oft attributed to Einstein; most likely paraphrasing by Roger Sessions; compactly articulates the principle of Occam's Razor) Current Tank Info: 325 6' wide Reef

10/21/2009, 12:37 PM	#4
zachtos Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Milwaukee, WI Posts: 1,161	Feed your equipment on the return, NOT the drain. Saves you money on electricity and maintenance too! __________________ 300G SPS reef build in progress Current Tank Info: 300G reef under construction

10/11/2009, 11:01 PM	#3
1blackchicken Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Marina, Ca. Posts: 232	+1 on waiting until you need them. I cant see anyway to run them properly off of the drain. If you definitely want to have them then you will need a pump to feed them.