My sump and plumbing idea - Will it Work?

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Reefscape

Reefscape

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Hello people, thanks for the feedback about the stand i going to make..Plans for that are near enough job done..Next plans are for the plumbing and sump connection..Can you experienced people have a look over my basic drawing of how i think it should work and please give me some feedback..I do accept constructive criticism very good you know..

Remember, its only a basic drawing so far, just want to make sure that i have the principles right before going on to what pump i need etc etc..

Thanks in advance

Niko

Plumbing1.jpg
 
Last edited:
Squawkbert

Squawkbert

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I would just have a single ball valve on the short arm going into the refugium, which I would make a little larger diameter than the tank return (if I could find a T fitting like that). If you open that ball valve full, you'd get almost no tank return flow at all - full control, no fully closed setting possible (keeps someone from trashing the pump).
 
Reefscape

Reefscape

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Cheers Squawkbert...

I think the "T" bit your refering too is just a tap.....Or do you mean something else?

The diameter i was planning was about 1.5" pipe work internal diameter, so would you suggest about 2" internal diameter for the fuge return?

Niko
 
Squawkbert

Squawkbert

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That would probably do - although 1.5" & 2" sound a little large to me (don't let that bother you, I have not built a refugium/sump myself).
 
rbell219

rbell219

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The pipe diameter for the return should be largely dictated by the pump flow rate. You can loose pressure and flow with too large of pipe. I'm no physicist though--consult the fish store or pump manufacturer.
 
Reefscape

Reefscape

I shoot people with a Canon
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Cheers RB for the bit about pipe diameter..

Can anyone explain to me how to work out what pump i am going to need for this setup..??

The Sump is 23 US Gals and the tank is 84 US Gals..

Niko
 
Squawkbert

Squawkbert

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My 1st guess would be about 3 volumes per hour, at whatever head height you're looking at...

If your 'fuge is to be 3' beneath your tank, look for a pump rated at 300gph@3' up (gph goes down as a function of head height - how far up the water must be pushed). 300gph comes from approx 'fuge+tank vol of ~100g, 3x. I think Iwaki, Little Giant, many others should have something in that range. The sizes of fittings on the pumps will yield a clue about return pipe diameter.
 
P

Phonemonkey

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Nov 13, 2006
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Couple things...

1 1/2" is probably too big for the flow rate you're looking at. I'd go with 1 1/4".

Do you have the overflow box already? if not, I can give you some info on a DIY overflow using pvc pipe thats amazingly cheap and works amazingly well.
 
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