plumbing question

reeferwanabe · Sep 17, 2009

I'm going to switch sumps from acrylic wet/dry to 55 glass tank.
I want to keep my external pump but cant drill untempered glass.
has anyone ever run plumbing up and over into tank? I realize I would loose a little flow but my dolphin pump is pretty powerful.
Also wanted to add filter sock with 2 overflows. does anyone know of a good duel holder for the sock? I read some reviews of cpr and others that are kind of flimsy. also saw the diy thread but would like something that would A. be more stable and B. would be easier to change the sock. Also I would have to make that first section pretty big to hold both filter sock and skimmer.

Mbodell · Sep 17, 2009

You would need a self priming pump and you would have to prime the overflow tube as well.

jimroth · Sep 17, 2009

There is a kind of sloppy but effective way you can do it, especially if the pump sits a bit lower than the tank, like on the floor. You use a street elbow to make a u-tube over the rim of the tank, and cap the open part of the WYE. Then you have a standpipe that you can fill with water (by opening the cap) and which will stay filled with water if the power goes off. The pump is therefore primed and will pull water (and any air) though the U-tube and run. It works.

steamman · Sep 17, 2009

You use a street elbow to make a u-tube over the rim of the tank, and cap the open part of the WYE. Then you have a standpipe that you can fill with water (by opening the cap) and which will stay filled with water if the power goes off.

I think that method would work but you would have to have a install a valve on the pipe inside of the sump. Close it when you filled the line. Open that valve when the line is full after you cap the y or t (or install another valve on top). It should stay primed.

Mbodell · Sep 17, 2009

I would think it would be as easy as just having a small reservoir with a plug in it before the pump. Even a small canister would work. The pipe idea is probably the easiest though.

Nickjr000 · Sep 17, 2009

You can drill untempered glass, You can't drill tempered.

curt · Sep 17, 2009

I've done it on a small tank just to see if it would work. It does.I didn't use any tee or valve.
check this out.
http://archive.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1273495&highlight=return+plumbing

Nickjr000 · Sep 17, 2009

I thought up the same thing with my system but it will lose it's prime if the power goes out and you might come home to a burned out pump

steamman · Sep 18, 2009

Maybe the addition of a check valve on the suction line inside the sump below the water line instead of a ball or gate valve would work better. I don't see how a power loss could make that loose prime. I guess anything is possible.

Baxreefs · Sep 24, 2009

I was digging for pics of this but had to dig it out of the sstorage and take some of this crusty'ol unit. Still covered in coraline

I made this as a undrilled CL. It went over the top of my 75. I had two one fed a PW 55PX and one a Mag 9.

You want sweeps at the over the top part and a plug so you can prime the down tube. That plug is critcal!

Reduce the intake to the size of the pump. This was pressure fit with teflon tape, but I'd wished I'd made the top a threaded fitting. Would've made cleaning easier.

Very, very, very impotant ... A ball valve and union above the inlet of the pump.

This worked flawlessly on a CL.

The only worry I have for a return is that you don't have the siphon strength cause you don't have the elevation differential. A check valve after the strainer is a must to try it, but you still risk your pump if you loose siphon.

plumbing question

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