Please, critique my plumbing

P

platax88

Active member
As some of you know i am in the process of upgrading to a 125. I need some feedback on my plumbing. This diagram shows the main components and after i get this ironed out i will continue with the Calcium reactor/uv/carbon reactor.

The sump is a 30 standard, skimmer is a MR-1, pump is a Pan World 200 (1750 GPH).

This diagram is all in rigid PVC... will going with tubing be better for flow loss? I really like the clean look of PVC.

Let me know what you think and any red flags.

plumbing.gif


Thanks!

Jack
 
Hey guys... thanks for the replies, but i am not really following. The skimmer does return into the sump. Check out the diagram again, i added flow arrows so you can see the direction of water.
 
Looks well thought out. I probably wouldn't put 90's on the inlets to the pumps and outlet of skimmer (more to reduce friction than anything else). You may want a few more unions around the return pump since there are so many tee's. It'll make removing later easier (and potentially initial installation).
 
Looks good. I'd add some baffles for air bubbles and to make the return chamber a bit smaller. That way if you do an auto topoff in the future, you'll be adding less volume of water more frequently as opposed to less frequent larger volumes. I'd also put a ball valve on the return side, either above the place where the return line splits, or along the split to the right. That way you can control the flow out of each side. And as Gary said, I'd slap a few more unions on the return side.
 
Your skimmer would be more efficient if it was fed as close to the overflows coming from the display as possible.
Put another way... give the skimmer as dirty a water as you can.
 
I also just noticed that you plan to have your pH probe near the effluent of the Ca reactor. This will give you a skewed reading for your tank and your effluent. You may want to have 2 pH probes. One just for the effluent, and one for the tank.
 
thanks for the replies!

gflat65 - my reasoning behind the 90 elbows was to send water towards the top on the skimmer and suck it up from the bottom in the pump end to reduce bubbles as i am trying to stay away from baffles. dont think that would work?

crumbletop - i rather not have any baffles. I thought that by having the skimmer send water towards the surface and having the pump suck from the bottom ... as well as a massive amount of Chaeto would eliminate bubbles... Dont you think? I am definately adding a valve between the sump and pump so i can remove the pump without emptying the sump. Also to the return lines.

KAiNE - unfortunately that wont be an option since i am using the same pump as a return/skimmer feed.

Do you think Ball valves are cool, people are telling me to get Gate Valves instead??? Can i get those at HD?

Also, what do you think about "T'ing" off the return pump again to feed the carbon and UV chamber instead of using the maxi-jet ... should i not sacrifice anymore flow from the return pump?

Thanks again!
 
crumbletop - great point! i will relocate the PH probe to other end of sump... or maybe even in the overflow????
 
... as well as a massive amount of Chaeto
Click to expand...

If you are putting cheato in there, having a section with a constant water level (baffles) could help keep the cheato out of your return plumbing. If it is all in one big section that has a variable water level, you could get that stuff gunking up the return. If it were me, I'd break the sump into sections.
 
I would use Tru-unions (The ball valve with a union on each side) between anything that may need to be removed for service.
Ball valve use is fine for anything that does not need fine control.

I would over size any pump inlets plumbing.

I would feed the P/S with its own pump this will allow for more control and reduced fluctuations.

I would supply media reactors with a feed from the main pump.

I like the UV positioned so all the water going into the tank passes through it but this requires a unit large enough to handle the flow while keeping contact time in the desired range (which means a more expensive and powerful unit is required which also leads to more heat transmitted into the aquarium ) as well as the possibility of having to go with a larger pump to compensate for the added restriction. For a separate loop system yours is fine. Placing the carbon first ( as you did ) increases water clarity and improves UV penetration into the water. A prefilter before the carbon would keep the carbon from becoming impacted withe debris and allow for longer service intervals between carbon replacement/ cleaning.

I would also place valves after the return pump Tees to each return.
 
Thanks dave

The seperate pump for the skimmer is out of the question at this time. I will use Tru-unions as you suggested. Also i just plan to run 150 - 200 GPH through the carbon, uv so i make sure it kills everything (its a 25 watt model)

bkv1997 - do you think bubbles going through carbon and uv is a problem?

Ok, before i update the chart... do you guys think i should "T" off from the main pump for the carbon/uv or stick with the maxi-jet?

Thanks again for all the help!

Jack
 
I doubt it will cause problems in the carbon, excepts build up into bigger bubbels.

The UV filter I could see potentially having its performance hendered with lots of bubbles though..

I would just place that pump below the skimmer return line just incase.

Brandon
 
yeah ... definately. i can even place it on the opposite side of the sump where the return pump is... i'll play with it.
 
I also saw where you mentioned gate valves versus ball valves...

I had a similiar setup at first and had all ball valves... I ended up having to replace the ones were multiple things were on a shared pump with gates.. Every time you adjust one it changes the pressure and will change the other slightly if you want it to or not and ball valves were just a pain in the @$$.

If it were me I would replace the valve going to the tank and the valve going to the skimmer with gate valves.

I ordered my gate valves from http://www.championlighting.com/home.php?cat=449

Brandon
 
They don't in chattanooga... well they do, but parts of the components were metal :(.

I was unable to find solid PVC in chattanooga.

Best of luck.
Brandon
 
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