Need help with plumbing

[Gnomy]

I have a 55g corner aquarium drilled for 3/4 and 1 inch bulkheads. I'm planning on a Herbie drain. Typical of rounded corner tanks, there is practically no room for a sump in the stand. I have a closet that I can plumb to about 15 ft away, head height 16 inches. Before I cut holes in the drywall and spend time plumbing, does this sound like a viable option? I can fit a 40g breeder in the coat closet plus all my media reactors and a high 'fuge. Really want it to work.

 

[Crabs McJones]

I have a 55g corner aquarium drilled for 3/4 and 1 inch bulkheads. I'm planning on a Herbie drain. Typical of rounded corner tanks, there is practically no room for a sump in the stand. I have a closet that I can plumb to about 15 ft away, head height 16 inches. Before I cut holes in the drywall and spend time plumbing, does this sound like a viable option? I can fit a 40g breeder in the coat closet plus all my media reactors and a high 'fuge. Really want it to work.

I would think as long as you had a strong enough return pump to carry the water for the 15 feet its completely possible. The 16 inch head height isnt so much an issue as the 15 foot lead is.

 

[Gnomy]

I would think as long as you had a strong enough return pump to carry the water for the 15 feet its completely possible. The 16 inch head height isnt so much an issue as the 15 foot lead is.

Yeah, that's what I thought. I'm worried about the 3/4 drain line friction and how it will affect the turn over rate in the display tank. Is sch 80 or vinyl pipe better for this application?

 

[laverda]

Use the 1” for the drain and the 3/4 for the return. If you only have one drain be sure to put a screen on it so snails and anything else can not get in it and block or restrict it. It would be safer to use both as drain lines. Add a return line over the top. Schedule 80 has a smaller id. Schedule 40 will flow more.

 

[Crabs McJones]

Yeah, that's what I thought. I'm worried about the 3/4 drain line friction and how it will affect the turn over rate in the display tank. Is sch 80 or vinyl pipe better for this application?

Use the 1” for the drain and the 3/4 for the return. If you only have one drain be sure to put a screen on it so snails and anything else can not get in it and block or restrict it. It would be safer to use both as drain lines. Add a return line over the top. Schedule 80 has a smaller id. Schedule 40 will flow more.

agreed. 1 inch drain and 3/4 return would be a better bet.

 

[Gnomy]

Thanks laverda. I plan on using both bulkheads for drains, had clogged drain issue in the past:(. I'm mostly worried about how well the Herbie "full siphon" is at pulling water out of the tank. 16" head height doesn't give gravity a whole of time to work, especially with 15 ft of pipe drag.

 

[George Lopez]

I just did this for my 90. My 1" is my main and 3/4" it's my emergency. The 3/4 is basically a straight shot and my 1" is a labyrinth for my uv and the 3/4 takes my full 1000gph flow by itself but like I said straight shot. You can always test to see how much flow it will be able to take but as always the less turns the better

 

[Fin]

Don't forget to make sure your sump is large enough to contain the back flow from 15' of those pipes (drains & return) if the power goes out.

 

[George Lopez]

Yes when you fill up first fill the tank then the overflow chamber and then your sump and don't forget a siphon break preferably just at or above the water line on your return pipe

 

[Gnomy]

Do you think I will have a too extreme of temp difference between the display and sump if the heater and temp probe are in the sump?

 

[Rangers26]

you can always use larger pipe up to the tank and than use a coupling for may 1 to 3/4 or 1 1/4 to 3/4 for less head pressure loss on the 15 foot return

 

[Rangers26]

no my sump is in my garage in ny where the temp drops to low during the winter months as long as your sump turn over is high and tank turnover with power heads you shouldn't have an issue

 

[Rangers26]

Do you think I will have a too extreme of temp difference between the display and sump if the heater and temp probe are in the sump?

^^^^^^

 

[Gnomy]

Thanks for the info TomLi, I live in Colorado, if it works in NY it will work in CO. :)

 

[Gnomy]

I have decided to build a "TV stand" for my sump setup. It will add 12" of head height and shorten the pipe length by 6 ft. Now I need to run it by my wife...

 

[Rangers26]

of course we do wrap the sump in the foam insulation because its glass and keep a lid on during the winter months to help every little bit helps

 

[Gnomy]

Wife said no. :(. Maybe I will give the garage idea a try. I could always just build a small room in the garage with a little radiator heater for the cold months.