Plumbing Questions

[target]

Originally Posted by Easto

This is what I have:

75 Gal Display
40 Gal Sump (still need to pick up)
Mag 9 return pump (still need to pick up)
2 x Kessil A350W
BRS Dual Reactor
4 Stage Ro/DI unit
Vertex 130 Protein Skimmer
Vertex Refractometer
Pukani Rock

I need to build a stand and start to plum everything. I just want to make sure I have everything all figured out.

I was going to do a Herbie overflow, but then I discovered the BeanAnimal. Unless someone convinces me otherwise I think I will go with the BeanAnimal.

This is what I need to figure out (recommendations):

1. Size of the internal overflow

2. Bulkhead size

3.Plumbing PVC size

4. On the The Open Channel standpipe - what's the piece called that's drilled into the top with the airline hose attached? I just need to know what to look for at the hardware store.

5. Sump baffles: Can I use plexiglass and silicone them in or do they need to be glass?

6. ???? I am sure I am forgetting some more stuff and they will pop up as soon as I read a reply or two.

Bean animal is great. I installed it on my tank and couldn't be happier with it.

1. My internal overflow is 5"x4" (I'll double check when I get home)

2. I followed the recommendations from Bean animal and went with 1" bulkheads. http://www.beananimal.com/projects/s...ow-system.aspx

3. All the overflow plumbing after the bulkheads is 1.5" PVC. All the return plumbing is 1" PVC

4. The piece at the top is the john guest fitting. There's a picture in the link above that shows it's full name.

5. Definitely go with glass. You are going to need glass for the overflow box anyways, and its all straight simple cuts for a shop to do.

6. I highly recommend using a knife gate valve on the full siphon. It will let you fine tune your system over a wide range of flows. The plumbing sizes I used will easily be able to handle the flow from your pump.

Here's a shot of my tank fully plumbed.

[Easto]

I see in the BeanAnimal article he used 1" bulkheads followed by 1.5" PVC drains.

Is there any reason why you would use a 1" bulkhead when you're using 1.5" PVC drains?

[reefmandan]

I used the BA on a 75g with a 29g sump. This is the fourth BA I've used, and would never go with anything else. I've always used 1" plumbing for the entire drain setup, never saw a reason to expand the size of the plumbing. For the open channel, you can really just drill a 3/16" hole in the cap, and stuff an airline hose in. Has worked great for me.

In terms of the sump baffles. I've always used acrylic, and I've always siliconed them in. Since they aren't holding a huge degree of pressure, they will be fine. I would never silicone acrylic to hold back a volume of water, but for water flowing over, it works great.

[albert_dao]

Beananimal seems like excess to me. Herbie does everything you need with one less pipe and two less valves.

[trilinearmipmap]

I have had Herbie overflows for years and I am happy with them.

When I first read the Beananimal overflow thread on RC, I would not see any advantage to it over the Herbie overflow. Maybe I am missing something, but to me a Herbie works fine and the Beananimal overflow seems like unnecessary complexity for no reason.

[reefmandan]

You only need as many valves in the BA as you do in the Herbie. I am also a huge fan of the Herbie, but generally employ them on tanks that have the corner overflow pre-built only. Redundancy is an immensely important and often overlooked paradigm in this hobby.

[albert_dao]

But... The Herbie has redundancy built into it...

[CM125]

I agree, the BA is really not needed. I have both my tanks set up on herbie (including one with a HOB) and have never had issues. My 210 is 1.5 but I don't see an advantage to 1.5 on a 70.

I use acrylic baffles in a glass aquarium. They work fine, I just have them stuffed in between a big bead of silicone. I even built a flat top piece for a sock out of acrylic and it works fine as well

Also where did you hear mags were quiet....