Manifold 'Domino' Affect?

[TheFishTeen]

It may sound good, but a circular loop only adds more resistance which would eat gph from your master pump. A 'T' manifold will not 'starve' any port so long as you have significant flow from the master pump that supports all the outputs. Your water is not going to start racing around the loop as it is looking for one thing, the path of least resistance. In a application for supply flow in a tank this is likely better for a more gentle flow, but serves to add only complication for an aurium application.

So how exactly would you design a manifold?

 

[Steved13]

I think he means a loop and only a loop...with it's own pump, not teed off another pipe (at least that's what's pictured). I would think a design like that would create more of the "domino effect" that you originally asked about.

Mine is very similar to your original design and works great.

 

[TheFishTeen]

I think he means a loop and only a loop...with it's own pump, not teed off another pipe (at least that's what's pictured). I would think a design like that would create more of the "domino effect" that you originally asked about.

Mine is very similar to your original design and works great.

I think he meant the loop except instead of the 90 feeding it, add a 'T' that runs to the tank.

That is the same idea, except for a closed loop return... But just think of that loop as the manifold, and a tee instead of the 90 feeding it.

 

[DeathWish302]

So how exactly would you design a manifold?

Your designs in posts 7 & 13 would work fine.

I prefer to keep a 'stright' manifold so it is easy to clean with a modified toilet brush with some nylon rope to the end. Therefore, mine is an 'L' design instead of a 'T'. If your using a 'flow' rated pump, the less bends (90deg PVC fitting) result in less losses due to plumbing. IMO, the loops adds turns that aren't required and result in no greater pressure gradient over an 'L' or 'T' setup.

Not trying to start the 'my manifold is better than yours' argument with anyone, but you cannot defy the fluid dynamics that others have proven in the industry so many years before this. Just speaking wrt these principles.