Bean's 300 Gallon AGE Build

[BeanMachine]

If you want the least amount of head loss, I would run 1.25" all the way to the sea swirls.

I know someone that used the same return pump as me, but used 1" flex tubing..the flow was just ok. I ran my return plumbing 1.25" all the way to the tank, my flow has to be twice as much. I was surprised 1/4" made that big of a difference. Also I'm sure flex tubing didn't help.

Thanks Nick. I've been talking to Scott at Royal Exclusive and he is also suggesting I go 1.25" all the way then reduce at each SS. I guess it would be even more efficient if I up sized the pipe even more but I don't want to go any larger.

Here is the current return drawing using a RD3 150, which they agreed would work. Now I'm contemplating running the 230 and adding in the manifold to the same pump as well.

 

[SchnitzelReef]

Bean's 300 Gallon AGE Build

The way your planning on doing the return plumbing would be the easiest, but wouldn't the first SS have much more flow than the last one? Seems like it would work a lot better to run your return plumbing something like this. (Excuse my 5 year old style drawing)


Or if you did it the way you have it drawn, you will need to add ball valves at the first and second SS to force the water to the third SS. (Headache)

 

[ycnibrc]

I'm not a fan of high flow sump. I rather have high flow in the tank. If your flow is too fast through your sump then it has less time for your skimmer to skim, noisier and if you have Refugium with algae and high flow then your algae will all float away. You can use the sea swirl to create random flow but the power head still carry the load

 

[BeanMachine]

Thinking about something like this, using the RD3 230 so I can incorporate the manifold and use one pump.

 

[BeanMachine]

I'm not a fan of high flow sump. I rather have high flow in the tank. If your flow is too fast through your sump then it has less time for your skimmer to skim, noisier and if you have Refugium with algae and high flow then your algae will all float away. You can use the sea swirl to create random flow but the power head still carry the load

That topic is highly debatable. In the end, I can turn the DC pump down to my liking so it really doesn't matter what my sump can handle. My fuge has its on feed with a ball or gate valve. Its the last section on the right.

 

[BeanMachine]

The way your planning on doing the return plumbing would be the easiest, but wouldn't the first SS have much more flow than the last one? Seems like it would work a lot better to run your return plumbing something like this. (Excuse my 5 year old style drawing)


Or if you did it the way you have it drawn, you will need to add ball valves at the first and second SS to force the water to the third SS. (Headache)

Doing it that way would add a lot more bends to make it work but I could do that. I cant go straight up through the center with it. At least I don' think I can. Especially if I go with 1.5" pipe.

 

[SchnitzelReef]

Bean's 300 Gallon AGE Build

Doing it that way would add a lot more bends to make it work but I could do that. I cant go straight up through the center with it. At least I don' think I can. Especially if I go with 1.5" pipe.

I don't think using 1.5" will do anything, if the output of the pump is 1.25". Just stick with whatever size the output of the pump has.

Isn't one of your buddies helping you with plumbing? Ask him about what I said, or maybe someone else on here can chime in. I think your original idea will work, you will just need ball valves to get even flow from all 3.

But I could be wrong...

 

[BeanMachine]

I don't think using 1.5" will do anything, if the output of the pump is 1.25". Just stick with whatever size the output of the pump has.

Isn't one of your buddies helping you with plumbing? Ask him about what I said, or maybe someone else on here can chime in. I think your original idea will work, you will just need ball valves to get even flow from all 3.

But I could be wrong...

The output on the RD3 150 is 1.25, the output on the RD3 230 is 1.5". According to Scott at Royal if I'm understanding him correctly, upsizing the pipe even more that the pump output results in "less friction/head loss, and the lower the wattage needed on the pump."

I don't intend to upsize the pipe any more than the output of the pump I go with.

My buddy came by to help me coordinate the jungle, but these questions are above both of our limited understanding. So I'm learning as I go.

 

[BeanMachine]

Here is Ivan @fixmgood's tank showing his Sea Swirl setup. He doesn't utilize any ball valves and the configuration is pretty much the same.

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2568393&page=4

Ivan?

**I think because the main return line (the larger diameter line) has vertical T's up to the Sea Swirls, so the water travels the path of least resistance? Why you don't need the ball valves?

 

[BeanMachine]

Here is where I am at currently. I'm going to ditch the idea of going with two return pumps. I have 2 x Vectra M1s if anyone is looking.

I'm close to pulling the trigger on a RD3 Speedy 230. It has a 1.5" outlet.

I tried keeping the plumbing 1.5" as far as possible, but I don't want to look at 1.5" pipe at the top of the tank so I reduced it to 1".

The jog behind the tank with the two 45's is to avoid my drain plumbing.

Thoughts?

 

[ycnibrc]

I like the 1 pump better less chance to leak less maintenance less cost operations

 

[805reef]

the rd3 230 is a nice pump!

 

[BeanMachine]

the rd3 230 is a nice pump!

What size return plumbing did you go with?

 

[805reef]

What size return plumbing did you go with?

1.5" I only have one return though so I think you will be good splitting it into 3 1"

 

[solitude127]

Why don't you use the M1 for the manifold? That should be plenty for anything you need to run o it

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

 

[BeanMachine]

Why don't you use the M1 for the manifold? That should be plenty for anything you need to run o it

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

The price difference between the RD3 150 and RD3 230 isn't much so figured why use two pumps if a RD3 230 would power it all?

Once I went away with the idea of not using two return pumps for redundancy, what would be the benefit to running a separate pump for a manifold?

 

[SchnitzelReef]

Bean's 300 Gallon AGE Build

I like the idea of only using 1 return pump, easier and 1 less than to worry about.
5400gph seems wayyyy overkill for your size tank, even with a manifold.

Any reason why you don't like the SP6? Check the flow vs watts, that RD pump isn't all that efficient. One downside to D.C. Vs AC is now you have to worry about a controller going bad. Ask Terrence from Neptune systems about his Abyzz pump controller going bad from a brown out. One less thing to worry about with an AC pump. I bet you the SP6 would be plenty of flow to run all 3 SS and your manifold...oh, and Save yourself $800.

 

[BeanMachine]

I like the idea of only using 1 return pump, easier and 1 less than to worry about.
5400gph seems wayyyy overkill for your size tank, even with a manifold.

Any reason why you don't like the SP6? Check the flow vs watts, that RD pump isn't all that efficient. One downside to D.C. Vs AC is now you have to worry about a controller going bad. Ask Terrence from Neptune systems about his Abyzz pump controller going bad from a brown out. One less thing to worry about with an AC pump. I bet you the SP6 would be plenty of flow to run all 3 SS and your manifold...oh, and Save yourself $800.

Maybe I just want another sweet toy? But seriously Scott, Ivan... others here seem to speak highly of them. It sounds like they are dead silent (SPs are definitely quiet, but not dead silent), pump a lot of water, have some cool features on the controller including showing you the wattage they are using at the speed you have them set to... I dunno I want another sweet toy? :wildone:

I do agree with you, the Fluval SP pumps are great.

 

[acesq]

The price difference between the RD3 150 and RD3 230 isn't much so figured why use two pumps if a RD3 230 would power it all?

Once I went away with the idea of not using two return pumps for redundancy, what would be the benefit to running a separate pump for a manifold?

The only benefit is more flow. If I were you, I'd plan on the one pump and see how much flow you get through everything. If you want more, add a pump just for the manifold. That's what I did, the RD3 230 is not enough flow for my return and manifold so I added an L-1 for the manifold. You may not need to since your sump is under the tank.

 

[laverda]

With that arrangement the center SS will get a lot more flow. You might consider using 2 wyes one on top of the other. One could be used in place of you second 45.
Even better would be to get a double wye.
Still not perfect, but should be more ever distribution.

Here is where I am at currently. I'm going to ditch the idea of going with two return pumps. I have 2 x Vectra M1s if anyone is looking.

I'm close to pulling the trigger on a RD3 Speedy 230. It has a 1.5" outlet.

I tried keeping the plumbing 1.5" as far as possible, but I don't want to look at 1.5" pipe at the top of the tank so I reduced it to 1".

The jog behind the tank with the two 45's is to avoid my drain plumbing.

Thoughts?