IM EXT 25 Herbie Build - got everything?

[FlyPenFly]

BulkReef Supply helped me over the phone with this order but I feel like I'm still missing something here?

Drain is dual 1 inch, return is 3/4th.

Don't I need a 1 inch hose and a barb on the main drain to create the full siphon? I plan to probably use the Trigger Crystal cube 18 sump or the MRC X-20 sump.

Skimmer is a Vertex Omega 130.

 

[FlyPenFly]

Hmmm thinking it over, instead of all these 90 degree turns, wouldn't it be better to use a single 45 degree elbow per drain near the sump with a barbed end and hose into the sump?

 

[FlyPenFly]

Okay, going to add unions anyway to the gate valve and probably put the valve closer to the overflow... unless there's a good reason not to do that?

 

[Justfebreezeit]

I have the 75 ext and hard piped all the drains to the sump and used 3/4 braided vinyl for the returns as well. Looks like you got it all.

 

[FlyPenFly]

I'm a little worried about hard piping under the water level of the sump because that seems like it'll make it really hard to clean the sump out or clean up spills.

 

[Sod Buster]

The only reason the gate valve is down there is because it picks up siphon faster. I would also put it closer to the overflow on the back to make it easily adjustable with out getting in the sump to turn it. About 30 seconds difference in time if you are fine with that.

 

[Sod Buster]

Mine is just fine and tunable where it is.

If you are hard piped, you need take apart unions to get the sump out to scrub it or change anything.

 

[FlyPenFly]

Is there a point to hard piping into the sump then? Wouldn't it just be a lot easier to have hoses into the sump after hard piping 90% of the way there?

 

[Sod Buster]

You depend on the bulkheads now to support the hard pipe. I know that stand is 36" tall, the tank 18"? That is some weight you need to support. I use the silicone because it's not permanent. I had pretty plumbing on my 1st tank, only to cut it all up to change things. BRS has a nice plumbing return policy. If you use the hard pipe, a small section of silicone or rubber tube off the return pump to the sump bulkhead to absorb vibration noise.

 

[FlyPenFly]

Well now I'm worried about all the weight of the plumbing hanging off the small overflow. Maybe I should just go for braided vinyl on everything.

 

[Sod Buster]

No, you'll be fine if you get 2 slip unions for the 2 drains. Stagger the unions so they kinda nest one after the other cleanly. Then figure out how you want the braid from the return pump to run. It'll be fine, not worth the effort worrying. That sounds exhausting.

 

[Sod Buster]

You can put the take apart unions here to make it easier. As long as you can slide the tank away from the wall enough to get at them.

 

[FlyPenFly]

Ok got it, I think then it makes sense to put the valve closer to the unions at the bottom

 

[Sod Buster]

Wherever you can adjust it easily.