return location

[rnhrtfan]

OK so I was in the DIY forum scanning this guys 90G build thread where he raise what I thought was a very good question...why is it in RR systems that the return line located directly beside the drain line? His thought was (and mine to) by returning the water that close to the drain a good portion of the clean water you are bringing to the tank is getting pulled back down the drain instead of going into the tank....so he re-routed the return using some PVC and brought it up in the overflow box as normally done and then used a 90 elbow to run the return to the other side of the tank...here is a link to it...it is about half way down the page..

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1213499&perpage=25&pagenumber=18

...what do you think???

 

[carb850]

If the tank has good turnover, I cannot see that it would make that much difference but that is just a guestimate.

 

[Kung]

You would lose SOME PSI with those elbows, but the idea is certainly valid in my mind.

 

[LtPiper]

yeah rerouting is gonna cut down on your flow rate but makes a valid point.

 

[mcox33]

what about the RR tanks drilled in both back corners make both lines in each end return and both in the other end drain. would that work? I have been considering this for my new setup for a while now.

 

[namsupak]

the only thing about that is then one corner (the one for the return) would have a column of standing water essentially right? While the drain corner would of course be flowing down to the sump.

 

[igotsalt]

dead spots....nope!

dead spots....nope!

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11921652#post11921652 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mcox33
what about the RR tanks drilled in both back corners make both lines in each end return and both in the other end drain. would that work? I have been considering this for my new setup for a while now.

I have this set-up on my 125 sps tank. I don't have dead spots. I used the mega-flow overflow kits. Both "overflow pipes" have a 90 attached to the bulkhead underneath tank. Using PVC I combined both overflow lines to one pipe to disperse water into 1st compartment of sump.

The 3rd compartment of sump has the return pump. The return line from the pump is split with a "t" and a 90 on each end going back to tank. The water is pushed up the return pipe in each corner. I split each return line once it reaches the tank using the flex loc-line pipes. Another words I have 4 pipes returning water inside tank to be aimed where ever I need flow. I realize the 90's slow down the water but I don't really need it! If I did I could crank up the tunze's. I am running a Mag drive 18 as return pump. Also have 2 tunze 6101's with controller. The controller is running pumps about 60%. Plenty of flow and no dead spots. Hope this helps!

 

[MattG]

I really dont think it would make much of a difference. The water coming from the return is being pushed away from the overflow. If you had a dribble out of the return i could see it making a difference. I would think as little as say 100 gph would be enough to push it away from the overflow.

Only downside to rerouting it that i can see is the added head loss.