OK. I am still in the plumbing design phase and have a few weeks before I start up my tank and get my feet "wet" again. I've picked up a lot of info on the basics of plumbing design, but wanted to get some more details.

I am going to run a 75g glass tank with an 18g aquarium as a sump in my stand underneath. I am going to use a 600gph external overflow since I'm not planning on drilling my glass. I am using a Rio 2100 as a return pump. My tank is going to be viewable from the front, back and one side with all my wiring and plumbing running along a 9" pocket on one side of my tank to give it a clean look.

So this means I will be running the overflow and return from the same side. In order to maximize the surface skimming of the overflow, I want to have the return water come back as far away as possible, right?

I was thinging of running a PVC pipe at least 2 feet aling the top edge before dumping back in the display tank. I figure I'll probably end up with about 400gph flow after the return plumbing and will mix it up more with a few powerheads. In order to get the best flow from my return plumbing, is it best to use just a PVC fitting like an elbow to dump the water in or use something else?

Any links to some examples would be great!

Ok,

So I have never used this product, so I am a little hesitent to recomend it, but my LFS that i trust does recomend the use of this, so I may try it in teh future.

It's called the SCWD. You connect one end to you return line and the system, tees off to other lines. The unit automatically switches between the 2 lines, alternating the flow.

I am sure that you could figure out a way to plumb it to your PVC.

SCWD Wavemaker - Switching Current Water Director (Squid) (Saltwater Aquarium Supplies > Wavemakers > External ) (http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewItem~idProduct~3Q1111.html)

Sorry that I do not have personal experience this product, but as I said above, my LFS does sell and recomend this product, and I do trust them.

Good Luck!

John

Ok,

So I have never used this product, so I am a little hesitent to recomend it, but my LFS that i trust does recomend the use of this, so I may try it in teh future.

It's called the SCWD. You connect one end to you return line and the system, tees off to other lines. The unit automatically switches between the 2 lines, alternating the flow.

I am sure that you could figure out a way to plumb it to your PVC.

SCWD Wavemaker - Switching Current Water Director (Squid) (Saltwater Aquarium Supplies > Wavemakers > External ) (http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewItem~idProduct~3Q1111.html)

Sorry that I do not have personal experience this product, but as I said above, my LFS does sell and recomend this product, and I do trust them.

Good Luck!

John
We gave up on SCWD about 4 years ago here. I used them, and every and which one failed. They also choke the hell out of your pumps.

I say stick to simple.

The problem with the SCWD is that most hobbyists over drive them, eg, instead of pumping 500 gph through them they try 1000 gph (Just as an example). Most of the internal parts are plastic and cannot take the speed the higher flow creates. Using them as an auxiliary source of directional flow should work fine. I've used them that way on smaller systems without problems.

Dick

John, Thanks for the recommondation....I did look at the SCWD and was wondering how it worked. I think the jury is still out on that one. I'd like to stay away from as much mechanical movement as possible since debris and salt will reduce performance and eventualy could break and leave you back at square one and out a few bucks.

Fat Walrus, I think you are right on keeping it simple. I have about a million great ideas in my head but want to keep things looking clean, accesable and simple :) so I think that's great advice. Is there any benefit or negative aspects for running some kind of reducer to create a tighter stream coming out of PVC? Like going 1" to 1/2"? I know you will create back pressure on teh pump that may not be.good. I thought I remembered hearing Rob and Bobby talking about something Bobby used to increas flow from a recent podcast...maybe I'll have to browse the shownotes.

I designed my stand in Google Sketchup which was pretty cool and was starting on teh plumbing, but I couldn't figure out how to do bends, etc. to mock up some plumbing. If I can figure out what I have in mind, I'll share some pics. I know in this hobby I can read 100 posts but sometimes just 1 picture makes it ALL click!

Thanks evryone.

they make something called an eductor that raises the flow from a standard PVC outlet. they are a bit pricey for me though. the only other thing that i can think of is the MJ mod kits that turn a 295gph MJ1200 into a 1200 - 1600 gph monster pump.

I remember eductors from my Navy days and all the damage control and firefighting classes they make you take, something tells me those models might be a little too powerful, but isn't the TR manta, there is never too much flow :)

We should make a Monster Garage for Reef Tanks...How to power a skimmer with a Chevy V-8 big block

isn't the TR manta, there is never too much flow :)

We should make a Monster Garage for Reef Tanks...How to power a skimmer with a Chevy V-8 big block

yes that is our moto here (for us SPSers)

Monster Garage for reefs !! Excellent idea !!