470g inwall construction thread

[ReefDragon]

Another option is to plumb your returns so that the line from the pump rises above the water level of the tank, then Tee off a small barb fitting (1/4" or so) and run a tube to the tank for a siphon break. You'll get some flow penalty, and the plumbing is annoying, but it's practically foolproof. There's no reason the returns themselves have to come out near the surface -- just the siphon break!

-Jon

 

[curthendrix]

Hmmm....run the return line above the water level with a small siphon break into the tank.....since flow reduction is not really an issue due to the pump size....sounds like a solution to me! Won't look near as clean but would allow me to sleep better. Will check out the plumbing options tonight!

 

[Lunchbucket]

glad you are considering other options

you'll sleep a LOT better

Lunchbucket

 

[curthendrix]

Should finish the plumbing tonight ! Tap water will go in for a leak and pump test probably Thursday. Pic of Craven hooking up a seaswirl to a 1" return..notice the bookshelves are beginning to go up too.

Pic of my "overkill...ie...paranoid...ie...sleeping better" double checkvalve setup for the returns which sit low in the tank!

 

[curthendrix]

Sorry for the double pic...try this!

 

[curthendrix]

 

[bussboy]

so no low tide?
that plumbing is the best i have ever seen

 

[lugi]

Is that two George Fisher check valves stacked on top of one another? You shouldnt have any worries with that setup! also the plumbing looks awesome!!

 

[curthendrix]

that plumbing is the best i have ever seen

Thank you. I had a "valve engineer" over last night to design the checkvalve setup....although I started to worry when he couldn't read a standard tape measure!!

 

[lugi]

You know some guys are educated beyond their intelligence,maybe thats the case you have with your "valve engineer" friend

 

[curthendrix]

Is that two George Fisher check valves stacked on top of one another? You shouldnt have any worries with that setup! also the plumbing looks awesome!!

Yes, they are two 1 1/2" George Fisher check valves plumbed inline separated by an union. Thanks for the plumbing compliments...Larry and Craven do great work when they're not spilling PVC glue in the tank

 

[curthendrix]

Seriously, the guys that have designed the plumbing on this tank are absolutely brilliant at plumbing a tank....We are plumbing the skimmer, UV, and chiller tonight off a Barracuda pump.

 

[xtrstangx]

It looks incredible.

Sorry if its a really stupid question, but what does a check valve do? :x

 

[lchase12]

Check Valves are supposed to insure that water only flows in one direction.

They have a reputation of failure after being used for quite some time. I supposed that is why he has stacked two in series.

Not a stupid question, this board is to help spread information.

 

[bussboy]

it keeps the water from siphoning down till there is a break in the siphon there are two ways a siphon will stop either there is a air break in the siphon or the two water levels level out

 

[curthendrix]

They have a reputation of failure after being used for quite some time. I supposed that is why he has stacked two in series.

Yes, that is why I am using the two in sequence and have them between unions...so I can change them out every year or so!!

 

[curthendrix]

Bussboy,

Would you like to share with us your caculations based on your experimentation with flow reduction is check valves?

 

[lchase12]

I stacked two in my design also. I test mine everytime I do a water change, which is evry two weeks.

I wish I would have used unions in between mine also, that would have made it a lot simplier.

 

[curthendrix]

I stacked two in my design also. I test mine everytime I do a water change, which is evry two weeks.

Nice to know there are other people out there that are as paranoid as I am!!!

 

[bussboy]

so lchase12 what kind of check valves do you have and how many probs have you had with them?