Plumbing

adamfuzail · Sep 8, 2015

Hi Guys. I am new to setting up a reef tank and need some advice. I need help with the plumbing for the sump. Does anyone have any designs or any advice. I want to have 2 drains and 2 returns. I am most likely going to have a custom built sump how many sections do I need or would a of the shelf 3 section sump be fine?

I have a 180l tank and want the best circulation of the water.

Any help will be appreciated.

Thanks Adam

redfishbluefish · Sep 8, 2015

I have a 40B sump with two drains....One each in the back corners.

On the left chamber is a filter sock (behind skimmer), and a skimmer, on the right the refugium. In the middle a biopellet reactor and the return pump.

adamfuzail · Sep 10, 2015

Are you drains silent? And what's a filter sock?

mikey_p · Sep 11, 2015

i have 2 drains and 2 returns on my 220 1 drain and return in each the back corners drains are 2" and returns are 1.5"-1"-3/4" locline ill get some pics when i get off work for you

redfishbluefish · Sep 11, 2015

adamfuzail said:
Are you drains silent? And what's a filter sock?

The drains are pretty much silent, but I do have a trickling water sound from my Loclines slightly above the water line in my DT.

A filter sock is a device made of fabric that filters the water, trapping detritus. They come in two common different sizes (4 inch and 7 inch), and a choice of two different fabrics (mesh and felt), and different filter sizes. I have 7 inch socks made of mesh, and 200 micron filter size.

I need to change and clean my sock about every three days. I like mesh because all I do to clean it is to run under tap water while rubbing fabric to fabric. Felt is harder to clean and needs a run through your washing machine.

Harold Green · Sep 11, 2015

To start with it helps if you have a tall stand to give room for the pvc. There are some pretty nice unions available online made for aquariums(larger center flow area). Put a union just under the tank bulkheads so you can remove or adjust your lines as needed. Tie both of your returns together and then change to tubing about six inches or so above the return pump to limit vibration. Make sure your skimmer is in a portion of the sump that maintains a steady water level. It's important to decide on skimmer and sump at the same time as most skimmers have a set water height that they work best in and the sump needs to accommodate that level. I'll post a sump picture, the refusium is the far right area in the sump.