Upward 90 in main drain - issue?

[NancyFish]

Is this going to be a nightmare in my main drainage? The bends help with resistance. My 1” pipes are a bit strong, so the gate valve is was closed 80% before lowered and added the upward 90 bend. I’m just wondering about blockages and all. It’s for a reefmat, I took the back leg off it so the pipe can run there, and then I can push it as far back in my sump as possible.

Also is it a bad idea to have chaeto in with a reefmat? That’s my refugium, or I’m not doing anything in the skimmer section if that’s better but it’s not as dark.

 

[twentyleagues]

I dont know if I would do that. Remember its not a pump pushing water to a location its gravity. I dont know 100% what or if that will cause issues. If that is where your reefmat hooks up I would try to route the pipe along the back perpendicular to the sump top and bottom and along the right side to get there. Or if you are not using the other hole on the sump route it that way. The straighter the shot to the destination the better.

 

[NancyFish]

I dont know if I would do that. Remember its not a pump pushing water to a location its gravity. I dont know 100% what or if that will cause issues. If that is where your reefmat hooks up I would try to route the pipe along the back perpendicular to the sump top and bottom and along the right side to get there. Or if you are not using the other hole on the sump route it that way. The straighter the shot to the destination the better.

I ran it yesterday with one less 90 and along the back like you’re saying but it pushes the whole unit forward a few inches. Not terrible but not ideal for space.

The other hole is my secondary, which curves forward a bit, I had to use a flex pvc pipe because I kept getting too much tension (it’s a straight drop to my sump but off maybe 1/2” or so. 45s and even half rigid to half flex wasn’t working).

 

[twentyleagues]

Can you swap the drain placement? I think having the drain in the other spot may make this a little easier. (in keeping with tos I felt the need to rewrite that a few times)

 

[NancyFish]

Can you swap the drain placement? I think having the drain in the other spot may make this a little easier. (in keeping with tos I felt the need to rewrite that a few times)

I could easier if I paid attention to the reef at, instead I already glued my gate valve in place.. I’d have to redo all my plumbing. And buy a new gate valve and all. Then twist the pipes to run behind one.

My thought process was though, a little upward pressure and I can open my gate valve more. It’s more than half closed right now.

I could get a more flexible tube to run instead of rigid - this was my setup when everything ran but it pushed forward too much

(Don’t mind that untrimmed secondary pipe - I had to redo it like 3 times because I kept getting tension in my bulkhead, only way it worked was skipping my sump fitting.

I could always plumb it on the other side but it’d be so snug with my frame. I sacraficed a ton of vertical height to wood frames and keeping the stand a decent height

 

[twentyleagues]

I dont know what kind of havoc that up turned elbow may cause. It might not be that noticeable or it could borderline catostropic. You definitely dont want anything impairing the tanks ability to drain to the sump.

 

[NancyFish]

I was thinking the gate valve would be more of an issue though then upward power, no?

This is my valve before the upward 90, I was kind of hoping the turn may allow me to open that wide open, because I thought that would be a clog magnet:. But having two 90s 6” apart seems like a good way to get clogs too, I would just be able to mange them easier than my main pipe behind the tank.

I appreciate your caution though, this is our first time plumbing and probly needed 3/4” pipes not 1” because without the reefmat I couldn’t slow the drain

I dont know what kind of havoc that up turned elbow may cause. It might not be that noticeable or it could borderline catostropic. You definitely dont want anything impairing the tanks ability to drain to the sump.

 

[twentyleagues]

I was thinking the gate valve would be more of an issue though then upward power, no?

This is my valve before the upward 90, I was kind of hoping the turn may allow me to open that wide open, because I thought that would be a clog magnet:. But having two 90s 6” apart seems like a good way to get clogs too, I would just be able to mange them easier than my main pipe behind the tank.

I appreciate your caution though, this is our first time plumbing and probly needed 3/4” pipes not 1” because without the reefmat I couldn’t slow the drain

Thats what the gate valve is for. 1" is fine. Remember you want all the flow through the main siphon drain the other one if a herbie is for emergency only (cant remember if you are running herbie or beananimal). If you are having too much flow into the tank turn your pump down or get a smaller one. You dont want to limit the drain. By closing the valve you are actually speeding the velocity of the water creating a siphon effect you want that siphon to be consistent.