Plumbing Question

[BGrand]

Hello every one. Looking for plumbing feedback. It’s a Planet 180 with a Bashshe 48-18 sump. I painted the inside of the cabinet white and put in a strip of led tape lights , so I could see better.

I have this dry fitted. I have sanded and de-burred the pipe. I will add pipe hangers and hose clamps on the tubing once I glue it. Does it look right or should I make some changes?

 

[Utubereefer]

Looks clean.

 

[BGrand]

Just to add some more information. I know I don't need the ball valves on the drain lines, but I thought they looked good. I will probably take all the ball valves off the back. And then just put gate valves in the cabinet on the return lines. I was going to keep the tank off the wall a ways for the valves, but might as well push it back.

 

[RedReefer]

Nothing to do with plumbing. I would make sure there was some kind of drip pan in the stand.. Or add a trim board in between the open areas on the bottom . Then waterproof the interior of the stand. That way it will hold 5-10 gals before it is allowed to get on your floors. Will save you in the long run…

 

[fishface NJ]

Your main drain pipe should be the only one with valve on it. The other two drains should be 100% open

 

[DCR]

I would move the gate valve on the full siphon under the stand just before it enters the sump for easier access and less chance of bubble formation.

 

[UncommonSense]

Other than what’s already been said, and updates being made re: less valves/valves in stand…

— the emergency drain standpipe looks a BIT too tall for comfort; that may be the photo angle, though… — i assume that pipe isn’t fully seated in the bulkhead fitting’s socket (not yet glued), thus the extra 1/4”-1/2” of height?

— put your primary drain gate valve where that primary drain ball valve currently is for easiest drain tuning!

— consider cutting a 45 degree angle into the emergency drain’s pipe stub where it exhausts into the sump, this will help it burp out any air trapped in the plumbing should the emergency drain ever be actually needed! (It can also be wise to keep the emergency drain’s sump discharge emerged during normal operation, making it quite loud if it’s ever being utilized! [audio indication of a drain blockage])

 

[Kooma]

id move your union on the siphon drain to below your valve. Id also remove the valves on the second and emergency drain.

id put the emergency drain somewhere to the side of the skimmer area to keep it out of the way.

I see no reason to have gate valves on the returns before the tank unless you arent running DC pumps. You have flow guages already and could simply dial the pumps up or down.

 

[Tangdora]

How far off the wall are you planning to sit the tank. Personal would have put the gate valves right off the sump bulkhead as oppose to right off the over flow box. May want to set the tank in place and make sure you will have room to read adjust and adjust. Also if those gates are rebuild able. I’d turn them 90 degrees to the side. If it ever had to be rebuilt and you are too close to the wall may not be able to slide out the internals. . Beside that a clean piping job.

 

[BGrand]

I've removed the gate valves from the back, as I already have one on the main overflow. I've added 45° angles and gate valves to the returns above the pumps, allowing me to close them for sump maintenance with minimal water flow back into the sump. This also allowed me to use a straight piece of silicone tubing.Check out the additional pictures.

 

[fishface NJ]

Looks sooo much better! Great job

 

[BGrand]

Looks sooo much better! Great job

Thank you

 

[tsharpe291]

beautiful job, hopefully those hydros flow meters work better than mine did.
mine stopped reading flow after 6 months or so.

 

[BGrand]

beautiful job, hopefully those hydros flow meters work better than mine did.
mine stopped reading flow after 6 months or so.

Man, I hope so! Did you contact their customer service? Did they do anything?

 

[tsharpe291]

Man, I hope so! Did you contact their customer service? Did they do anything?

I did not, I assume I probably need to take it apart and clean it. I have it inline with my uv. maybe next bulb change ill take it apart and see what happens.
I guess at the end of the day it's just a number on my dashboard.

 

[DCR]

The Hydros flow meter is a paddle wheel which depends on the paddle spinning freely. It is going to require routine cleaning in a reef tank application to clear biological growth from restricting it from turning. I personally don't see the value in these meters given the cost and maintenance requirements, but to each his own.

 

[UncommonSense]

Just get all that plumbing supported, and you’re in business!