I am needing some help with some plumbing ideas for my 90 RR tank. I'm not that good or familiar with using PVC piping and don't really know how to go about piping my tank. My plan for this tank was to use a 20 gal long that had baffles in it as the sump, but after thinking, I though it would prob. be better to just use the 100 Gal. Plastic Stock Tank that Rubbermaid makes as a sump instead. Now to do this I know I need to pipe the tank over to it as well as do something for the return. Now like I said I'm a little dumb when it comes to this kind of work so I don't even know where to begin or what is the best to use. Once I got this all up do I just drain it all into the sump or into some kind of prefilter. I didnââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢t know if its alright for all the crap to just drain into this. Also should I just fill it with live rock and let that be my main filter? I want to purchase a big skimmer to put inside the sump. Any help would be great. Pictures would do best for me since like I said I'm very PVC illiterate.
Help needed plumbing my 90 gal RR into a rubbermade tank
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CaveManNOhio
New member
The plumbing is actually pretty easy. Once you know where your target for draining is going. You want to try and do as few elbows you can to keep head pressure as low as possible on the return end. If you can you should use to Rubbermaid. One as a Refugium and the other as a sump. Have the tank dump into the refugium then have an overflow on it to go into the sump. Then you'll hook your pump up to the sump to return it back to the tank. You would put your Skimmer and other equipment into the refugium.
The second Rubbermaid is optional, but recommended. You also want to use all sched. 80 plumbing you can use hard pipe or soft pipe. The distance it has to travel is going to be what determines what size pump you will need for the return pump. You can get all your bulkheads for the Rubbermaid at Savko . They are also the ones that carry the flexible PVC. As for Skimmer, Kalkwasser Reactor or Calcium Reactor I would have to say the best place to get them would be from Geo . He has the nicest stuff I've seen, plus with him being local it is real nice for questions, service or modifications that may be needed. He also does a lot on the custom end.
If you would like I could arrange some time to come over and help you with it or walk you through it in person.
The second Rubbermaid is optional, but recommended. You also want to use all sched. 80 plumbing you can use hard pipe or soft pipe. The distance it has to travel is going to be what determines what size pump you will need for the return pump. You can get all your bulkheads for the Rubbermaid at Savko . They are also the ones that carry the flexible PVC. As for Skimmer, Kalkwasser Reactor or Calcium Reactor I would have to say the best place to get them would be from Geo . He has the nicest stuff I've seen, plus with him being local it is real nice for questions, service or modifications that may be needed. He also does a lot on the custom end.
If you would like I could arrange some time to come over and help you with it or walk you through it in person.
If I were to use two rubbermades I would assume that that one would be higher than my tanks over flow...So would the water still travel to it since its higher? My plan is to put these rubbermades right next to the tank since this is in my basment. I thought though that the thing that I'm draining it into has to be lower than where the water is coming from is this correct? Thanks.
Nick
Nick
hollback
Team RC
A filter sock wouldn't hurt. It might cut down on the amount of detritius collecting in your sump but you'd need to clean it often.
You actually want your detritius to collect in your sump. This will make it easy to dispose of. I'd keep your sump free of rock and macro. Only put mechincal devices such as skimmer and heater in your sump. Keep your return pump an externally fed pump to cut down on heat and electricity consumption.
IMO/IME I'd take a different approach than Cave suggested, with no offense. I wouldn't have your display drain into your fuge then your fuge drain into your sump. The problem being that your fuge is lower flow and you will accumulate detritius in your fuge instead of your sump. I'd suggest having your display drain to your sump then your return pump feed the display and T-ing off and feeding your fuge. Then, instead of having your fuge drain back into your sump, have it drain directly into your display. That means that the water level in your fuge needs to be higher than the water level in your display. Here is why... I'm not convienced that macro algae is a strong enough source for nutrient export. Your skimmer and water changes should be more than enough. I'm not saying macro isn't a nutrinet export it's just not nearly as effective as your skimmer and regular water changes. So why have a fuge? I see a fuge being more of a source for micro fauna aka. food. Your "refugium" is a refuge for your plankton population to grow without being consumed by preditors. Having your fuge drain into your display allows more "food" to replenish your display. This would be more ideal than the fauna going through a pump but if you can't gravity feed your display (have your fuge water level higher than your display water level) then it's the next best thing. If need be I'll put together an image to help visually.
Just some things to think about.
You actually want your detritius to collect in your sump. This will make it easy to dispose of. I'd keep your sump free of rock and macro. Only put mechincal devices such as skimmer and heater in your sump. Keep your return pump an externally fed pump to cut down on heat and electricity consumption.
IMO/IME I'd take a different approach than Cave suggested, with no offense. I wouldn't have your display drain into your fuge then your fuge drain into your sump. The problem being that your fuge is lower flow and you will accumulate detritius in your fuge instead of your sump. I'd suggest having your display drain to your sump then your return pump feed the display and T-ing off and feeding your fuge. Then, instead of having your fuge drain back into your sump, have it drain directly into your display. That means that the water level in your fuge needs to be higher than the water level in your display. Here is why... I'm not convienced that macro algae is a strong enough source for nutrient export. Your skimmer and water changes should be more than enough. I'm not saying macro isn't a nutrinet export it's just not nearly as effective as your skimmer and regular water changes. So why have a fuge? I see a fuge being more of a source for micro fauna aka. food. Your "refugium" is a refuge for your plankton population to grow without being consumed by preditors. Having your fuge drain into your display allows more "food" to replenish your display. This would be more ideal than the fauna going through a pump but if you can't gravity feed your display (have your fuge water level higher than your display water level) then it's the next best thing. If need be I'll put together an image to help visually.
Just some things to think about.
CaveManNOhio
New member
hollback, no offense taken. 
He is right in how he is recommending to set up. I can't really do that since I don't want any of the mechanical part's to be visible in my Living Room.
He is right in how he is recommending to set up. I can't really do that since I don't want any of the mechanical part's to be visible in my Living Room.Hollback
I actually have a hang on the back fuge that I was thinking about adding on this tank that is stocked with pods. So could I just run one sump that has just my skimmer and such in it and have it returned to my display? So don't put anything in the sump, not even rock??? What do I use the as my main filter, the rock in my display? Thanks,
Nick
I actually have a hang on the back fuge that I was thinking about adding on this tank that is stocked with pods. So could I just run one sump that has just my skimmer and such in it and have it returned to my display? So don't put anything in the sump, not even rock??? What do I use the as my main filter, the rock in my display? Thanks,
Nick
szwab
Premium Member
there are many ways to do it. How elaborate/simple do you want to go? IMO First you need to decide what filtration you want to run. Live rock in a sump generally collects detritus and makes it harder to keep clean.
Forget about the plumbing for now, what components do you want on your system? Decide that first then worry about how you are going to plumb it. I would suggest a lot of reading and reasearch also check out other peoples systems to see what works and what doesn't, then decide what you want. Keep in mind you can start simple and add things on at a later time.
there's my 2 cents worth.....
Forget about the plumbing for now, what components do you want on your system? Decide that first then worry about how you are going to plumb it. I would suggest a lot of reading and reasearch also check out other peoples systems to see what works and what doesn't, then decide what you want. Keep in mind you can start simple and add things on at a later time.
there's my 2 cents worth.....
So I decided that I want to use 1" flexable PVC from the overflow into the first rubbermade bin ( 50 gal). Then have a 1 1/4" pipe drain into the next Rubbermade bin. I will then have a 1 1/4" pipe come out and have a reducer to 3/4" which will go into my Little Giant 3-MDQ-SC. Then have a 1/2" flexable PVC as my return. That is how I would like to do my plumming. Does this sound like a ok way to do it. I'm not sure how I want to have my bins setup, I know I need to have my heater and skimmer in one of them. Also I would like to grow macro and have live rock in one as well. What do you guys suggest on where to put them? Also with the way I have this setup should I be ok when I have a power outtage? Any help would be great. Thanks.
Nick
Nick
