Plumbing run question

[ReefWidowed]

I posted this over in the main forums, but would be more interested in what you thought.

So, I hate plumbing...I know that it is most DIYers favorite part...but not this one.

I have a 37 Oceanic that I had drilled, I was originally going to use one for the overflow and one for the return. However it was suggested to me that since I was starting from scratch, that I might want to give a Calfo overflow a shot. If seemed like a good idea and so I went with it.

Now I have 2 overflow outs and will have to do some up-and-over returns.

my main question as I start the plumbing for this is, do I take one out and take it straight to my filter (Rena XP3) and back and one line to the fuge and back...which in theory is almost like having 2 returns and therefore more flow...OR

Do I take both lines down to the fuge and run the filter out of the fuge.


This will be a primarily soft coral tank with LR .I have not decided on a substrate for the main tank, but I'm thinking about giving Miracle Mud a shot in the fuge with some macro and a few pieces of LR

To start things off (until I see where levels are) I intend on only using LR rubble and some carbon in the filter.



THANKS!!
Jennifer

 

[cbcostanza]

Sorry I can't answer your question, but I am going to build a calfo style overflow in my 40 breeder. Do you have any pics of yours? Did you use glass or acrylic? Just curious how easy it was to make. Thanks,
Chris

 

[ReefWidowed]

I used glass, and a lot of swearing. I don't have too many pictures of the actual construction. Lowes was kind enough to cut my glass for me, we took the tank right into the store. It took a while, patience was the hardest part. waiting a few days per step, so that the silicone could set up properly. The hardest part is getting that first piece of glass to set up happy and level when making the interior box . I taped right angle squares to the back wall and leveled them so that I had something to set the glass on while it set.


HTH

 

[scottfarcuz]

If you don't mind the look of the intake, and exhaust I would run it in tank. The additional flow cant hurt. Mechanical filtration on the fuge would be pretty detrimental depending on what you are trying to get out of a fuge.

Let me know if you need some softie frags. I have several I would be willing to cut for free.

 

[joshuaroot]

an overflow like this one? is that what u wanted to see?

 

[cbcostanza]

nice looking overflow. Exactly what I want to do, but with black glass.

 

[ReefWidowed]

So, to hijack this post back........Would it work if I ran one bulkhead directly into the filter and then back up and over, and then another bulkhead into the sump/fuge and then return it up and over? And would PVC Pipe straps/super glue be ok to hold the tubing in place? (not sure if I'm going to use tubing or pvc for the return yet)

Thanks

BTW joshuaroot, your overflow silicone job is way prettier than mine lol. Mine looks like I sub-contracted the short-bus patrol to help. ;-)

Jennifer

 

[MJAnderson]

I would use PVC and some loc line when you do the returns. Nice to be able to direct the flow and better than vinyl tubing.

Personally I would just run both overflows into a sump and run the filter out of the sump. If you hook your filter to one of the returns, you would need to add a ball valve to close off the return so that you could take the filter off the system to change the media. Not a biggie but a bit of a mess every time you do this (which should be often).

You don't really get more flow by splitting it up. If these are 1" overflows they can handle 600 gph. "T" them together to a 1.5" pipe leading down to your sump and you can do 1200gph, same as 2 seperate overflows at 600gph. Also, that filter is rated at 350 gph, and since it will only let flow into it what it can pump out, given head loss I'd say it would only be flowing maybe 200gph? That means your other pump would be a 1000gph pump? Overkill if you ask me, especially for a softie tank.

 

[ReefWidowed]

Thanks, yeah....This tank was originally going to be a SH tank, but then the boyfriend decided that he only wanted SPS and LPS in his tank and is giving my softies the boot.....The filter will probably not even last long on this tank, will basically get it up and running so I can get familiar with it, and then when I get a tank for SHs it's probably going to be relocated there. Got it used....i guess we'll just have to see how it goes.

Thanks again
Jennifer