Help with return pump plumbing :)

Indigoblue12

New member
Here is a pic I just drew for my idea
On my return line on my herbie setup.
I have a overflow box on the left and
Would like to run the PVC like I have in the pic.
Is this possible and is it ok?
I was wondering how I could fasten the
Pipe to the tank on the horizontal run
So it's secure.. Any suggestions?
image.jpg


Are there clips to help me fasten to back I tank?
Hope Home Depot sells black pvc
 
Last edited:
Here is a pic I found online .. I want to do something
Like this but I don't have a background and I
Do not want PVC pipe showing .. So I want to
Run the pipe all the way over to the return box.

image.jpg
 
No reason why you can't do it your way and it is easy to attach pvc to wood.
As the pvc pipe travels along the back of the stand ( not the tank) you can get c-clamps that you use 2 screws or nails ( I'd use screws to make it removeable).
If you don't see them in the pvc pipe section of your local box store, look in the electrical department.

I would use a flexable tubing at the pump.
 
Ohh ok clamps :) that will work!!
So you suggest flex at pump ..

Is that so if the pump goes bad it's easy to
Remove?

That is where a union at the pump helps. It also makes clearing the tiny snail shell out of the impeller a whole lot easier. The flexible tubing helps minimize vibration traveling up the plumbing and becoming troublesome noise.
 
Flexible tubing is mostly to dampen pump vibrations going into the hard pvc pipe. Helps reduce pump noise. Plus it does make a easy spot to remove the pump for servicing.
 
Here is a pic I just drew for my idea
On my return line on my herbie setup.
I have a overflow box on the left and
Would like to run the PVC like I have in the pic.
Is this possible and is it ok?
I was wondering how I could fasten the
Pipe to the tank on the horizontal run
So it's secure.. Any suggestions?
View attachment 288569


Are there clips to help me fasten to back I tank?
Hope Home Depot sells black pvc

Why bother going horizontal at all? Dynamics wise, all that pipe will just cut down your flow rate, requiring a larger pump to do the same job. Go straight up and over the back. Just because the manufacturer thinks it should be done their way, does not mean it should or needs to be. Use the other hole as a drain, and run a siphon system (two pipe,) and make a huge improvement on the system...
 
I guess the only observation I would make about using flexible hose is that hose barbs are terribly restrictive on flow and I either try to avoid them or oversize them.
 
yeah... I'd probably reverse the sump so you don't have the horizontal run.

Don't let the pipe go to deep into your aquarium because that is the amount that's going to back siphon when the power goes out. And always make sure you have the extra space in your sump...unless you make a small hole near the water line.

consider putting a unions on each side of your pump with a ball valve on the outside of that. So you can close off that section with the ball valves, then disconnect the pump at the unions....
 
Ohh I did not know I could reverse the sump!
I always have seen the water drain directly
From left to the right considering my drains are
On the left side...

So I can run the drain lines all the way to the right
And just put a straight return pipe up behind
The overflow so there is no visible pipe showing

I did not think I could run a horizontal drain line
:) sounds like a plan :)
 
Ohh I did not know I could reverse the sump!
I always have seen the water drain directly
From left to the right considering my drains are
On the left side...

So I can run the drain lines all the way to the right
And just put a straight return pipe up behind
The overflow so there is no visible pipe showing

I did not think I could run a horizontal drain line
:) sounds like a plan :)

Plus, if you use gray or black pvc you will not notice the vertical pipe as you view your DT.
 
You want the drain lines to be as SHORT as possible.

You don't need to run the return through the overflow box, you can simply go over the back of the tank instead. Among other benefits, that puts the return on the opposite end of the tank as the overflow.
 
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