so for my 29's overflow & return......

[james3370]

whatcha think of this idea???? :

* glass-holes.com 700gph overflow box & 1.5" bulkhead - carryover from prev build

* return pump will be a mag7...usually too much flow for a 29, till you read my return plans below

* i have a (1) 1.5" input x (4) 3/4" output piece i got from flexpvc.com that i had intended to use on the closed-loop setup on the 50 build, so i'll use it for the below setup......

* (2) 3/4" bulkheads thru upper rear wall w/ loc-line y-adapters so (4) segments in various directions

* (2) 1/2" over-the-top returns similar to THIS thread, except i am doing dual inputs. each input will be via a t-fitting in the front corner to more equally disribute the flow to each front & side leg. in each front & side section i am thinking instead of using spray attachment, i want to put a hydor flo deflector verticle like in the 2nd pic in THIS post

i have always liked the randomness of the flow that the hydors put in my nano, so i think doing (4) of them...1 on each side & 2 in the front....will be the next best thing to a closed-loop setup. that way i don't have to drill a bunch of bulkheads in & i can take it off easily if it doesn't work as planned

so, thoughts?? suggestions??

 

[TitansFan]

I read your plans. Couple of questions.. how large will your sump be? and what can your skimmer handle? I assume your sump will be in the stand and be smaller than the display. Running 700gph through a small sump may create a few problems. dwell time for the skimmer will be low and microbubbles might be an issue as well. This is assuming I understand your plan.

the mag7 u plan to use to feed all these outputs and overflow return duties correct? be careful if you are using other holes besides the overflow to drain to the sump. make sure they are high enough in the tank to not overflow the sump with powerfail in mind draining the tank to these holes.

again maybe i am misunderstanding but sounds to me you are trying to make the mag7 do dual duties of return and an hybrid closed loop?

 

[james3370]

I read your plans. Couple of questions.. how large will your sump be? and what can your skimmer handle? I assume your sump will be in the stand and be smaller than the display. Running 700gph through a small sump may create a few problems. dwell time for the skimmer will be low and microbubbles might be an issue as well. This is assuming I understand your plan.
sump will be a 20 long....same height & width as the display tank only lil shorter in height. refugium section will be 20% of main tank volume. overflow from the sump will be t'd w/ a ball valve so 75% goes to skimmer chamber & 25% to refugium. skimmer is gonna be an asm g1x

the mag7 u plan to use to feed all these outputs and overflow return duties correct? be careful if you are using other holes besides the overflow to drain to the sump. make sure they are high enough in the tank to not overflow the sump with powerfail in mind draining the tank to these holes.
according to this chart, the mag7 at 4' head height drops down to 480gph so that is why i decided on it since it will be split off at the pump & feed 4 lines up to the tank. i could drop down to a mag5 which at the same head height is 310gph or a mag3 drops to 270gph at that head height. i was just concered about that being enough flow when broken into 4 lines. i'm also taking into consideration that the flo deflectors are kinda inefficient & throttle flow by 10-20%

only holes will be the overflow box & the 2 returns in the back wall. they will be placed as high as possible to minimize drainage. i have computed the rough amount of drainage w/ no power & designed the sump to hold that volume on top of it's regular volume

again maybe i am misunderstanding but sounds to me you are trying to make the mag7 do dual duties of return and an hybrid closed loop?
well since there is no dedicated overflow to a pump, technically it isn't a closed loop, but i guess hybrid closed loop is kinda right, or you can say that i am simply doing multiple return points that will add flow in several areas to hopefully make it so i don't have to place powerheads in the tank. i just don't have the room or $$$ for a seperate external closed loop pump & the jist of the thread i linked was to do this hybrid for that reason. my modification to it was to do the hydor flo deflectors instead of spray nozzles to add more randomness to the return flow.

my biggest question was how big a pump i should go w/ considering:
* 4' of head loss
* technically the pump will be running 4 return lines so that will cut more flow i assume
* 4 hydor flo deflectors will also cause flow loss....10-20% i have heard

i know general rule of thumb is return should be approx 3-5x the display tank volume which would be 90-150gph, so i figure by the time i factor in 4 lines at a head height of 4' each & 4 flo deflectors, the mag7 will be around that....maybe more, so should i go w/ it or step down to a mag5??

 

[TitansFan]

Okies..
I understand you now. I think the mag7 will be fine. The only thing I would look at changing is possibly this: (2) 1/2" over-the-top returns.
I might consider a smaller diameter pipe for the returns. This way you may be able to create more "force" on the returning water giving more flow.

 

[james3370]

are you saying change the returns in the back wall that are 3/4" or the around the top manifold that is 1/2" ??

i am planning on running 3/4 to the top of the tank & reducing the over the top lines from 3/4 to 1/2 at that point. doing it all in 1/2 would necessitate buying 2 new bulkheads, a new glass drill bit for the 1/2 bulkheads, & all new loc-line fittings....not worth it

if you meant doing the over the top manifold smaller.....i wasn't aware that there was a pvc smaller than 1/2 & even if i did, they would still have to be sized back up for the hydors

 

[NeveSSL]

If you've got 3/4" bulkheads, just use a 3/4" to 1/2" bushing and do your plumbing in 1/2" to save a bit of money. Probably not a ton, but a few bucks at least.

Brandon

 

[james3370]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14333887#post14333887 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by NeveSSL
If you've got 3/4" bulkheads, just use a 3/4" to 1/2" bushing and do your plumbing in 1/2" to save a bit of money. Probably not a ton, but a few bucks at least.

Brandon

yeah i have 3/4" bulkheads....i also have (2) different distributors that i got from flexpvc.com:

* 1.5"--->(4) 1/2"
* 1.5"--->(4) 1"

i thought the other one i had was 1.5>3/4 but i was mistaken...that is why i earlier said i was going 3/4 to the top of the tank. even though i have quite a bit of 1/2" flexible pvc, i think i'll probably use the 1.5>1 distributor so as to not restrict the pump too much & reduce the bulkheads from 1 to 3/4 @ the bulkheads & the over the tops at the edge of the tank from 1 to 1/2