plumbing question

[ha-y-n salt]

is it okay to join two drain pipes coming from a corner overflow(1" and 3/4") into one main pipe and then use a tee to slit the pipe so that one is going to the refugium side of the sump and the other is going to the skimmer side of the sump. If so, how big should my new pipe be that is coming from the 2 drains?

 

[bertoni]

The T-joint will work, but you'll probably want a ball valve on one of the Ts to allow you to adjust the flow ratio. The new pipe just needs to match the total flow rate. There's a calculator off the RC home page that will give suggested pipe sizes give a flow rate.

 

[ha-y-n salt]

would it be a better idea to just run the 3/4" pipe straight to the fuge and the 1" to the skimmer, or would that reduce the flow of the tank because there would be a restricted flow from the 3/4" since i would need a gate valve on there to slow the water coming into the fuge too fast?

 

[bertoni]

I don't understand how you're planning on plumbing this. Can you post a diagram? If you have a recirculating skimmer, you'll definitely want a ball joint to limit the flow, but 3/4" piping might be fine.

 

[ha-y-n salt]

im new to the computer stuff since we just got one installed in our grass huts over here, so i dont really know how to draw a diagram and post it, but instead of joining the pipes like i was saying before, i was thinking of running the 3/4" straight from the overflow to the fuge with a GV (i heard u need a slow flow for a fuge, dont know if thats true or not), and running the 1" straight from the overflow to the skimmer (ASM G2 no mods). Would i still be getting the 900gph this way?

 

[bertoni]

For 900 gph, the recommend drain size is 1.25". I really don't think you need that much flow for a 72g tank. I'd target more like 200 gph or so.

 

[ha-y-n salt]

the tank is a reef ready aga so it has the two holes already drilled. Are u sure about the 200gph. I thought 10x to 30x per hour was the right kind of flow to have? Thanks for your help.

 

[Avi]

It would be a good idea to step down the flow from the return from the sump like Bertoni says. But, the idea is, like you say, to bring it up to about 30X by using something else that would be more effective in the kind of flow you will have in the reef. There are different methods ranging from closed-loops to certain kinds of powerheads to accomplish that.

 

[murphy54]

it should be okay ...try it

 

[bertoni]

10-30x is a good number, but as Avi posted, you can add more flow easily with some Seio pumps or more cleanly with a closed loop. Too much flow through the sump tends to lead to microbubbles, etc.

 

[ha-y-n salt]

thanks for all the help guys. How about this plan: Use the 1" drain to run to the sump with just a skimmer and the return pump, and use the 3/4" drain to run a closed loop system. I dont know if i really need a refugium or not, even though its the popular thing to do. If i do need one, i can use the 1" with a tee to a small fuge and to the skimmer. What do you guys think?

 

[bertoni]

Refugiums can be handy, but they aren't necessary. The line sizes sound reasonable to me.

 

[MarkD40]

I am sure you thought of this but just a suggestion: I would make sure the the pipe from either overflow can handle the full return from your main circulating pump. That way if you want to work on your skimmer you can turn off the flow to it and divert all the water to the other side without overflowing your display or needing to turn off your main pump. This is even more important if you join the two overflow pipes together before splitting them to the fuge and skimmer.

 

[ha-y-n salt]

i think im just going to run the 1" to the sump and the 3/4" to a closed loop. Hope it works. thanks tho

 

[Recife]

My tank has two 1" overflows that join in a Y junction into a 1 1/4" pipe going into the sump. My return pipe is 1" and it works quite well.