Plumbing on grow-out

[Juck]

I'm so not good at plumbing.

I'm putting together a small clown grow-out system, in my garage,,, I have 8 x 10g tanks each drilled with a 1" drain to the sumps.

I have two questions:

1. There is 4.5 feet of head ,,, what kind of return pump would be appropriate? Obviously I don't want the 10g's to become whirlpools, but I would like a bit of spare oomph in case I add another couple of small tanks.

2. What's the best (easiest, most idiot-proof) way to plumb the returns from the pump to the individual tanks?



Cheers!

 

[Kathy55g]

I've had good luck with the Quiet One 4000High Head. I bought 2 to have a spare.
I also have 4.5 feet of head and with 5 tanks returning from a single manifold, I have to put a T to draw some water off to recirculate in the sump, because my 1 " drains can't drain fast enough.

Are your tanks stacked in two layers, or are they all on one level?

If on one level, a manifold may be what you want.
If on more than one layer, a PVC loop with outlets for the tanks will keep the pressure pretty equal for all the outlets.

I haven't done the loop, just read about it. I do have a manifold since my tanks are on one level, and I like it a lot.

Not too much experience here, so get some advice from someone else as well.

Good luck,
Kathy'

 

[David M]

Bigger is better for the pump Go for something in the 750-1000 gph range and you should be OK.

"I have to put a T to draw some water off to recirculate in the sump, "

In case that isn't clear, what Kathy is saying is that if the pump is too strong you have a "bleeder" valve to relieve the pressure, it just pumps right back into the sump. Can be used to run a skimmer or UV or whatever if you want, or just let it drain into a 50um filter sock.

 

[David M]

Here is a typical supply manifold, 1" pvc, 1" X 1/2" reducing "t"s and 1/2" valves.

 

[Juck]

Thanks guys.

The tanks are on 2 levels,,,, I guess I'd better get off to Home Depot.

David,,, are you using 'U' tubes to maintain the water level in the 2nd and 5th tanks in your pic? Has that ever caused any problems?

 

[David M]

Very observant of you That was a seahorse breeding system, from time to time I'd shut off the flow to a tank when expecting fry and yes the tube kept the water level up and allowed new water in when I siphoned the front bb section of the tank clean. The back section of each tank was a UG filter plate and 2" of med grade cc, the idea was the tank could stand alone for a few days when fry were expected. Horses were fed mysis shrimp in the front section which was easy to clean. It worked very well and I'd do it the exact same way if I ever breed seahorses again.

 

[Dman]

Each one of those tanks can be removed for cleaning. I'm using a .75HP pool pump with a bleed off at the end of the manifold to help regulate the pressure.

 

[Kathy55g]

Seems that everyone puts the drain in the back and the inlet in the front.

If I were to do it again, I would put the drain in the most accessable place in front, and the inlet somewhere in the back of each tank. I rarely need to fiddle with the inlet, but the drain and strainer need almost daily attention at times. And it is good to put the inlet as far as possible from the drain in each tank, to get the most from the water exchange.

 

[Siklid]

Dman, you will for sure be seeing me this week end i'm drooooolling just looking at your picture, but its always the same one

 

[Juck]

Thanks for the pix.

I like the drain flowing into a wide PVC pipe like Dman,,,, need to redraw my plans a bit.

 

[Dman]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7418492#post7418492 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Siklid
Dman, you will for sure be seeing me this week end i'm drooooolling just looking at your picture, but its always the same one

Just for the heck of it I took 35 pictures of my mad laboratory/dungeon.

 

[Dman]

One major change withthis one system, the 3" PVC has been replaced with 2" ABS, mostly for room.
It doesn't have to look pretty, just be functional, hence the drainage in the front where it's acessable. The inflow water is directed towards the back of the tank first

Also, I'm getting ready to install another row of tanks below.

 

[mano]

Don't mean to hijack here but Dman do you have a shot of your drainage on the inside of the tank? What kind of screen do you have in there? I'm looking for ideas.

Thanks!

Christine

 

[Dman]

Here it is installed

and exploded

 

[David M]

Agreed, put all the plumbing right in front where it is easy to service if needed. My oldest section of the system is drilled out the back, stooooopid. Next time I drilled the bottom, better but still a pain to remove a tank if needed. Now I do everything right in front of my face, it's not a living room display

 

[Juck]

Derek,

How come you switched from elbows to 'T's on the outside of the tank?

 

[Dman]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7419546#post7419546 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Juck
Derek,

How come you switched from elbows to 'T's on the outside of the tank?

It works like a vent, allows for maximum water flow without any gurgling and stuff (technically speaking of course)


I should explain a bit about the drainage end. The plastic disks are tube ends from rolls of plastic bags and although you can't see it, I sanded the face and hot glued nylon screening to it. The bulkhead part is a home depot special, 3/4in electrical Carlon fittings and some rubber O-rings. I had to do a little monkeying around to get the tube ends to attach to the electrical fittings by turning down the fittings.

If you need to see anything really specific or need to source or need specs, fire me off an email and I'll see what I can do

David, two of my five systems are draining through the back. Big mistake and I'd change them in a heart beat if they didn't have breeding pairs in them. And half of my main broodstock system is drained through the bottom and that's the absolute worst, rather the back

 

[Juck]

Righty-dokey ,,,, I'll use the T's too.

You have started using 'T's where the tank drain hose enters the 2" pipe,,,, is that better than putting the hose through a hole in the 3" PVC like the old setup? another noise thing?

Thanks again for the advice.