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Adventures of Correct Plumbing

Discussion in 'General Discussion' started by ThyRaven, Aug 29, 2011.

  1. Aug 29, 2011 #1
    ThyRaven

    ThyRaven Well-Known ReefKeeper

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    I thought I'd start a small thread on my adventures in replumbing my 125g tank.  When I set it up a few months ago I through the plumbing together. 
    Drain:
    Aqua-lifter pump on a HOB over flow that had a 1.5" hose that fell into a 10g tank where my Reef Octo 150 skimmer sat which was then pumped over back a Mag5 to the sump in my utility room. 
    Return:
    Hose to a barb that went to a threaded 90 angle to a 5 foot piece of 1" PVC to another threaded 90 degree angle to a hose bard back to a hose that was 3 foot long to the return on my surface skimmer.
    One night AJ stopped by and had a look at my system cuz I kept flooding my utility room as the return pump couldn't keep up with the incoming water flow from the 10g tank.  During the time AJ was here we came up with a new plan of action for my systems plumbing. 
    I put out a cry for scrap acrylic or glass.  Chad had a scrap piece about 20" X 17".  This evening (a few hrs ago) I finally got it cut down to size and have it bonded together with clear silicon that is drying as I type this out.  My final overflow box is 20" L by 3" D by 5" T.  Hope that is big enough.  Per the calc on RC that's enough surface area for 1300 GPH. 
    Here within the next week or so, havent had a chance to set a date with AJ yet, we'll drill 2 - 1.5" holes for 2 - 1" drains.  On the back of the tank I'll plumb them together and have the drain be a full 2" from the T of the 2 drains bulk heads to the sump.  The skimmer will not sit in the center compartment of the sump.  I'll have cheato on the drain side and below it will be live rock rubble.  While AJ was here we found an Iwaki 40XLT external pump that will be plumbed back to the display tank with 1" PVC.  Once we make it to the back side of the DT we'll T it off and run 2 returns over the back of the tank instead of drilling more holes.  The returns will be 6" off of each side of the over flow box. 
    So far that is where I am.  If anything I've said seems off or needs clarifying please let me know.  I would post a pic of my box but my dog ate my phones cable.  (anyone want a beagle?)  If I can get my email to play nice I'll get it up asap. 
    O hey, anyone have any scrap PVC?  If I can add right I need about 8 to 10 foot and I also need prolly close to 12 foot of 1"
     
  2. Aug 30, 2011 #2
    AJ

    AJ Inactive User

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    Silicone does not bond to acrylic well. It may stay together for a short time, but in time, it will fall apart. You need to use weld-on when working with acrylic. It makes a chemical bond and if the acrylic is cut clean and square, and the seam is glued correctly, it's incredibly strong. There are various formulations of weld on with some being incredibly thin like water (like a Weld-On 4), and others being rather thick like super glue gel (like a Weld-On 20). I think I have some Weld-On 20 around that you can use if you want. Let me know and I can check. I really don't know much about working with acrylic and have only done some rudimentary work myself, but others in the club like B-Rad, KirklinsClownfish and Floyd R Turbo (along with many others I'm sure) have done extensive work with acrylic and are much better resources on the topic than I am.

    Also, based on your dimensions, your overflow is rated for more like 1650 GPH as the size calculator speaks of linear overflow size. In your case, your overflow size is 3 deep front to back and 20 inches wide. That's a total of 26 linear inches (3 + 20 + 3) which is rated for about 1650. For a 125, that's more than enough.

    I may have some scrap PVC in my garage...or it may have already found it's way to the curb. I don't re-use PVC after I cut it out (unless I'm in a bind like late night plumbing and the hardware store is closed) and just cut out about 15 feet or so of 3/4" or 1"...I don't remember. In any case, PVC is one of the cheapest things that you can buy with 10 feet running something like $4 or $5. Personally, I would just buy new, but if you want me to check to see if I still have that scrap around, I will.

    --AJ
     
  3. Aug 30, 2011 #3
    ThyRaven

    ThyRaven Well-Known ReefKeeper

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    Haha forgot about the 2 3" sides when I was playing with the calc. I'm working on getting some new PVC. The 2 - 1" bulk heads going to be enough for drains? And what are your thoughts about plumbing them together before heading down to the 2" line that goes to the sump?
     
  4. Aug 30, 2011 #4
    AJ

    AJ Inactive User

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    The plumbing can only handle as much water as the most restrictive point in the plumbing. Plumbing them together (assuming that you plumb them together using the same 1" PVC) limits your overflow to 600 GPH as that's the max that a 1" PVC pipe is recommended for. Actually, slightly less than that. At the point where you plumb them together, use a 2" PVC "T" connector. On the two ends where your drain plumbing goes from the tank and into the T, use a PVC reducing bushing and reduce it to 1". Then your drain plumbing fits right in. Your connectors will be the most expensive part of this job as once you get into the 2" PVC stuff, the connectors start to get kind of expensive (relatively).

    --AJ
     
  5. Aug 30, 2011 #5
    Netofficer3710

    Netofficer3710 Inactive User

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    it sounds like you have a few issues going on.
    first of all your return pump shouldn't have to keep up with your overflow, if it does than you did something wrong.
    your return pump should always be slower than your overflow. if you are flooding it sounds like either:
    A. your DT is overflowing as your return pump fills it faster than your overflow can drain it
    or
    B. you have too much water in the system and you need to try to run your sump at a lower level.

    Secondly HOB overflows are a disaster waiting to happen, you need to drill that tank ASAP. I am happy to see that you have that planned to do in the future.
     
  6. Sep 20, 2011 #6
    ThyRaven

    ThyRaven Well-Known ReefKeeper

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    It has been a while since I've updated this.  So here goes
    AJ was kind enough to come and drill two holes in the rear of my tank.  I didnt know I had to have the sand out of the tank so we could turn it on its side so we figured out a way to drill it standing up.  Worked out well and took maybe a hour.
    I had built my own box out of a piece of acrylic Chad(Reefified) gave me.  I got it mounted with the use of the bulk heads from Don (Clown) and then started the task of running all the PVC pipe.  I am now running a dual 1" overflow that Ts into a 2" line to my sump for a drain.  Then off of my sump I am using my Iwaki 40 RXT external pump for my return that is all 1" PVC and Ts off for dual returns into my tank.  Here soon I'll have loc line on the returns where I can point the flow better.
    To see pics of this please go to http://photobucket.com/thysalttank
     

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