Plumbing for a 140g

[Zerandise]

Just plumbed the new 140g tank. It my first plumb job ever. I have not glued yet so can still change it! Please give me some pointers!

All the closed loop plumbing is done in 1 1/2". the outlet is 1 1/2" and the 4 returns are 1". the Retrun from the refugium on the left is 1". I had a March pump for the closed loop at one time but have changed it to a Dolphin Ampmaster 3000.

http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/500/1035plumbing.jpg



This is the rest of the closed loop under the tank.

http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/500/1035dolphin.jpg



This is under the stand from the front

http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/500/1035cabinet.jpg



This is my Becket skimmer and and Kalk reactor made for me localy by OceanAquatics. Very well made. Better than i could ever dreamed of doing.

http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/500/1035skimmer.jpg

Please let me know what you think before i glue it (do remember its my first shot at it)!!!

[Canadian Man]

Looking at your closed loop compared to how I have mine set up. I'm guessing my your pvc parts choice you will get much more flow out of the upper 2 holes compared to the bottom 2 holes.

This may be a good or bad thing depending on what you had in mind for flow.

:biggrin:

[Zerandise]

Yeah thats why I put in the ball valves so i can control how much flow comes from each return. With any luck i should be able to adjust them all to just how i want them. Or i could just not know what i am doing and screwing it all up :)

[Jaws]

Looks good. How much did all the plumbing cost you approx.?

[Canadian Man]

I understand your point but if your looking for maximum preformance from your pump. closing the top 2 ball valves to redirect the flow to the bottom 2 holes will reduce the flow in your closed loop system.

I'm just being nit pickey btw. Looks ok but you asked if we saw anything that looked fishey

[Zerandise]

yes be picky! Let me know what you would do. I wont learn otherwise (i am worried about to much flow already the dolphin will put out a buttload).

As for cost it was a nice shiney penny. All plumbing came from Terasen Gas and Home Depot here in richmond. Total cost on plumbing is $200 or more. I could be for getting.

[Willow]

wow it looks very fancy.. i have know idea whats going where but it looks badass! :mrgreen:

[Canadian Man]

I would do a large square output for the closed loop. You would have to have it a few more inches away from the tank if you want to have the ball valves on each hole or not have any ball valves at all.

Function wise I like your way.

Flow wise I like my big square way.
:biggrin:

[Nemo]

I would recomend the following, I do not think I saw them.

1. Unions and more unions, around pumps inlet and outlet for easy change, and around any tank conection for an easy change if you every want to re vamp your design.

2. Some people like to drill a hole in the return line to prevent any vacum in the event of a power loss. I like using a check valve.


Just my 10 cents


Robert

[Zerandise]

The pumps are all unioned off in one way or another. All can be removed in less than 5 minutes with no real effort.

Yeah i have seen that done. My return only flows about 500gph at most so it sits real close to the top of the water line. overflow is half stopped the flow breaks. That is a great peice of advise tho! I have ready many horror stories about flooding from that.

thanks much!

[Willow]

i thought check valves usally fail after a few months? least thats what ive heard, i have a vacum release holes in the top of my plumbing.

can i ask what are unions? can i see a closeup of what they look like and what they do?

[Nemo]

i thought check valves usally fail after a few months? least thats what ive heard, i have a vacum release holes in the top of my plumbing.

can i ask what are unions? can i see a closeup of what they look like and what they do?

ball checks need to be cleaned every month or so, swing checks maybe every 2 or 3 months

unions are a fitting that you can undo seperating the pipes, this allows you the ability to take a pump out or other item in the system without cutting the pipe.


Robert

[muck]

can i ask what are unions? can i see a closeup of what they look like and what they do?

Check this link. Its at the bottom of the page. :cool:

http://www.sl-valve.com.tw/p13.htm#13