Manifold

[daveutile7]

I am new to the hobby and beginning to feel overwhelmed with the amount of options available to hobbyists and which options are the best route. I have a 75 gallon reef ready tank that came with no plumbing setup. I was going to do a herbie dual drain with an over the back return but now I am seeing that its better to make a manifold, for whatever they are used for, to make attaching different things easier. Some setups I have looked at have pipes attached to the manifold that drain into different sections of the sump completely bypassing the filtration system. My question is what is the purpose of a manifold, do I need it, why do some people use it to skip the first level of filtration.

 

[J.B.]

Generally speaking, manifolds are used to run other equipment, like reactors. If you do not have plans to run reactors, then you do not need one. That said, if you are going to be adding all the plumbing, why not go ahead and add a manifold so you have the option later. Much easier to do it now, then once all the plumbing is in place, and the tank is up and running.

 

[lapin]

I was going to do a herbie dual drain with an over the back return but now I am seeing that its better to make a manifold, for whatever they are used for, to make attaching different things easier. Some setups I have looked at have pipes attached to the manifold that drain into different sections of the sump completely bypassing the filtration system. My question is what is the purpose of a manifold?
A manifold is used on the return section to supply water to any reactors you might want to run.
do I need it?
No, you can power any reactor with smaller pumps located in your sump
why do some people use it to skip the first level of filtration?
If they have a refugium they might want to offer the critters a complete meal rater than one that has been skimmed.

Sometimes simpler is better. There is nothing wrong with your first choice.

 

[daveutile7]

Generally speaking, manifolds are used to run other equipment, like reactors. If you do not have plans to run reactors, then you do not need one. That said, if you are going to be adding all the plumbing, why not go ahead and add a manifold so you have the option later. Much easier to do it now, then once all the plumbing is in place, and the tank is up and running.

I was leaning towards that route despite the fact that I don't know what a reactor is. I figured after I have been doing this awhile and become more proficient, I would regret not doing it

 

[daveutile7]

I agree. I just have anxiety about getting this right the first time. I did all this research for something as simple as plumbing and finally settled on something, just to find out about something I've never heard of at the last minute.

 

[mitch91175]

I was leaning towards that route despite the fact that I don't know what a reactor is. I figured after I have been doing this awhile and become more proficient, I would regret not doing it

You definitely will regret it for sure because if you add any reactors later, you will be using more electricity when you add the pump for the reactors. Reactors are generally used for GFO, carbon, etc.

When I plumbed my system, I setup a manifold with 3 outlets so that way I feel that I am good for a very long time. I am currently running 2 reactors of carbon and have the 3rd ready for anything needed in the future.

Happy reefing!!

 

[mrsixstrings12]

You definitely will regret it for sure because if you add any reactors later, you will be using more electricity when you add the pump for the reactors. Reactors are generally used for GFO, carbon, etc.

When I plumbed my system, I setup a manifold with 3 outlets so that way I feel that I am good for a very long time. I am currently running 2 reactors of carbon and have the 3rd ready for anything needed in the future.

Happy reefing!!

This is something I wish I would've done originally. I was using a separate pump for my carbon reactor and plan on getting a GFO reactor soon. My return pump was only running 40% power so that wasn't an issue, so I turned her off and did some plumbing.

I highly recommend adding a manifold from the get-go, even if it's blocked off till you get some equipment.

 

[daveutile7]

This is something I wish I would've done originally. I was using a separate pump for my carbon reactor and plan on getting a GFO reactor soon. My return pump was only running 40% power so that wasn't an issue, so I turned her off and did some plumbing.

I highly recommend adding a manifold from the get-go, even if it's blocked off till you get some equipment.

Is the manifold attached to the drain or return line? If its the return line, won't that lessen the flow rate?

 

[mrsixstrings12]

Is the manifold attached to the drain or return line? If its the return line, won't that lessen the flow rate?

It is attached to the return pump. Since my return pump was only at 40%, I just bumped it up a notch

 

[rocsec1]

I use one to power my reactors, brs go and carbon, biopellet reactor, return to dt and frag tank