OM-4 Way question

[boydx6]

I want opinions for the setup of my OM-4 Way. I have a 180 with a wavebox and a Tunze 6100. The OM will be fed by a Dart. I am going BB so blowing sand will not be an issue. Where should I set the outlets? Right now I am thinking 4-1" lines with 3/4" LocLine outlets. I want to try and prevent any dead spots for detritus to accumulate.

 

[rlxwcapt]

I would talk to Paul from OM and he will give you great suggestions. I think it depends on how you set your live rock. Paul recommended 2 in the front pointing up towards the over flow. 2 in the back facing forward and then have your return pump facing down in the back. This will creat a rolling of the water.

 

[boydx6]

rlxwcapt, thanks, The OM is going to be my return. My tank is not drilled for a closed loop.

I plan to have 2 islands that do not go higher than half way up. I want the fish to have plenty of swim room.

 

[dsandfort]

Since the Dart is not a pressure pump, I would encourage you to try and use as big a pipe as you can to and from the OM. If you use sch26 1 1/2" PVC to the OM and the same out of the OM your flow volume will be maximized (lowest possible head loss). Using 1" pipe and lockline on a DART is like putting a corset on Latifah. No room to move.

 

[boydx6]

dsandfort, LOL, thanks for the info.

 

[mflamb]

I used 1 inch pipe to a T and put two 3/4 inch loc line on each of the 4 OM outlets.

 

[boydx6]

Mike, you have a dart running that 4 way right? If so, what kind of flow are you getting out of the outlets? I was going to only use 4 outlets but if there is plenty of flow I will prefer 8.

 

[mflamb]

Stephen, a 1" pipe has .785 square inches of flow area. A 3/4" loc line (which is actually less than 3/4") has .402 square inches of flow area, so two loc lines have .804 square inches of flow area. According to fluid dynamics, you will have about 95% as much force coming out of each of the loc lines as you would if you only had one lock line on a 1 inch pipe, but you will have almost twice as much water moving.

I have two of those setups, each with a Dart and another Dart for sump return on 4 loc lines.

 

[boydx6]

Thanks Mike