Return Plumbing Placement: Does it make a measurable difference?

[d2mini]

Probably the most common way to plumb the return is to come up the back of the tank, possibly tee off into two separate lines, and exit along the back wall with water exiting and flowing towards the front/center of the tank.

I've seen others (mainly with canopies) who plumb their return lines all the way around to the front of the tank with the water exiting towards the rear/center of the tank.

Seems to me that the latter might be more beneficial because you are pushing water towards the overflow rather than away from it. We know that proteins and other junk float to the top of the water surface and need to be skimmed off into the overflow. I run a toothless C2C overflow which surface skims like a demon. Pushing water away seems like it would be counterproductive?

I have a canopy which will hide all plumbing, so I'm wondering which would be the best way to plumb my return lines.
Thoughts appreciated and if you have pics, would love to see 'em!

 

[Daniel62]

I usually place my returns as far away from my over flow as possible. My thinking is, this is the "clean/oxy water from my sump. so I don't really want to send it right back to the sump. Does it make a difference? don't really know. I also run a toothless overflow, skims great.

 

[d2mini]

I don't really want to send it right back to the sump.

This is my concern as well.
I just don't know what happens when you take into consideration things like the water bouncing off the glass, flow from powerheads or the new Gyre pump, etc.

 

[Lavoisier]

I set up my return with random flow in mind.





However, Uncleof6 makes some good arguments to just get the return back as simply as possible with the least amount of friction as possible...one return line.

 

[Aquatron]

If I was plumbing a frag tank I would plumb it one way a DT would be plumbed way different. I try to create a downward counter clock wise flow with top inlets using lower inlets to push a gyro type flow. Water coming from my sump is cooler than DT water so warmer water rising should allow a natural DT water exchange over weir and should benefit my skimmer production The Plan Anyway!