Plumbing Basic

[h20man]

Hey Guys,

I am busy today setting up tank, have a quick question on plumbing and I am not getting a response on the regular board. Anyone know that answer to my question:

Plumbing Question - Basic
I am finishing up the plumbing on a new reef ready tank with corner overflows (drilled bottom) with durso pipe - Perfecto reef ready system. It has been awhile since I have had a tank and seems like you need to make sure the return from the tank into the sump ends just above the water line of the sump - so the pipe does not extend below the surface in sump. Is this correct?
Or can the return pipe extend under the surface of the water in the sump?

Thanks

Shawn

 

[ScubaTC]

I have two 2" returns and both stop before the sump surface. It also helps with agitating the water. Not sure what type of back pressure or what would happen if they were below the water line in the sump. I recommend keeping them above.... anyone else have suggestions?

 

[ScubaTC]

btw: The two "down tubes" are not glued in. This let me remove them too cut shorter if I found out that I needed to. It also lets me remove them if I ever needed to take the sump out. Just below each of these I have a bag of carbon that sits in egg crate.

When the main pump is turned off and the sump water rises, the drains will become submerged, but this has never caused any type of problems.

 

[ScubaTC]

Here's a pic of the left side (just below the drains) where you can see the egg crate that the carbon sits on and the area below. When the carbon bag is removed there is tremendous water agitation that takes place, which is something most want.

 

[h20man]

Thanks. Since the sump is directly under the tank and in a living room - I need to reduce the sound as much as possible. If I could have the return pipe go below the surface of the water I think it would reduce the noise substantially. For now, I have some flexible tubing attached to the PVC with a bunch of small cuts, this extend below the surface. Helps the noise a bit, and does not seem to affect the draining into the sump. Any tips from anyone one reducing noise would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Shawn

 

[grochmal]

Scuba, just curious.
What is the purpose of all those bends in the line after the ball valves?
Couldn't you just use one 90 degree elbow?

 

[GoldStripe]

I do it just the opposite. My drains are submerged to minimize bubbles and noise. I think if you are just below, maybe an inch or two it's fine. As far as water agitation in the sump, there is still plenty.

I've never had any problems with back pressure running them submerged.

 

[Acroholic]

Ditto with Goldstripe, My Drains are submerged also.....definitely plenty of agitation going on and no back pressure to make any noticeable difference.