I want to make a return

[Gill Roy]

I am getting all the equipment together to set up my 120 gal. tank.
I have noticed it can get quite expensive when it comes to return head systems.
I felt it is essentially an articulated piece of tubing like that used for coolant dispensing when doing machining, mostly metalwork but however used on many other materials.

I looked online and found a lot of alternatives with these for an aquarium application.
Comes in several materials and seems fairly easy to work with.

I am going to run a Mag Drive 18 for the return @ 5' of head with around 1100gph that height.


Questions come to mind when considering the whole picture.
What material would be best? (plastic of course, ie; Polypropylene, Nylon, ect)
Should I get a 4 outlet manifold? (all outlets would be close together)
or
Should I get 2 @ 2 outlets? (would be a pair of 2 and could space them more)
or should I consider the modular type manifold?

Some links to the system in question...

http://www.mcmaster.com/#water-manifolds/=37ppxd
http://www.mcmaster.com/#5253k313/=37prn6
http://www.mcmaster.com/#5253k303/=37ps0l
http://www.mcmaster.com/#catalog/115/2160/=37pv5m
http://www.mcmaster.com/#snap-loc-coolant-hose/=37pun2
http://www.use-enco.com/CGI/INPDFF?PMPAGE=857&PMCTLG=00

 

[excuzzzeme]

I made a spray bar out of pvc piping. Using barbed fittings to connect to the hose, has worked well for the past 2 years. By going with pvc I could make the configuration I wanted that I felt best for my application. My spray bar covers 4' of a 6' tank. For the return holes I drilled 1/4" holes 1" apart.

I use a mag drive 9.5 at a 4' head giving me approx 750-800 gph. Tank size - 100 gallon, 6' long.

 

[Gill Roy]

I considered a spray bar and then realized I wouldn't have any way of adjusting flow directions.
And I want this to have return entry below the water line.

 

[Gill Roy]

Also this is a 4'X2'X2' tank