advice on plumbing

[Dominik Hradecki]

I will be adding a sump to my setup and need some advice on plumbing.

I will be using schedule 40 pvc from the overflow box to the tank. Is this ok?

What type of tubing can I use for the return? Will regular flexible plastic tubing work? Or black vinyl tubing?

Any suggestions are appreciated

 

[FishBeard]

I will be adding a sump to my setup and need some advice on plumbing.

I will be using schedule 40 pvc from the overflow box to the tank. Is this ok?

What type of tubing can I use for the return? Will regular flexible plastic tubing work? Or black vinyl tubing?

Any suggestions are appreciated

Sch 40 is fine, just be sure to use the correct PVC glue. Also, add any additional connection points now you may want for future expansion, saves having to build it twice. I would recommend you have a piece of flex tube somewhere in your drain line to allow for vibrations if you are hard plumbing to the sump. If your outlet is going to be free floating at the sump, this is not as critical.

If you use soft tubing, I'd suggest buying the Lee's stuff or Eheim stuff, and use the same size as the standard outlet on your return pump. Using a smaller hose instantly cuts the flow your pump is able to generate. It's better to use a larger return line, and add a ball valve or gate valve near the pump to adjust flow as required. Also take into account the flow rate of your return pump and the head loss curve. A 650gph pump does NOT flow 650gph when your return nozzle is 5 feet above the pump. Buy a pump sized for the right amount of flow at the outlet, not at the pump.

 

[Herbie]

Sch 40 is fine, just be sure to use the correct PVC glue. Also, add any additional connection points now you may want for future expansion, saves having to build it twice. I would recommend you have a piece of flex tube somewhere in your drain line to allow for vibrations if you are hard plumbing to the sump. If your outlet is going to be free floating at the sump, this is not as critical.

If you use soft tubing, I'd suggest buying the Lee's stuff or Eheim stuff, and use the same size as the standard outlet on your return pump. Using a smaller hose instantly cuts the flow your pump is able to generate. It's better to use a larger return line, and add a ball valve or gate valve near the pump to adjust flow as required. Also take into account the flow rate of your return pump and the head loss curve. A 650gph pump does NOT flow 650gph when your return nozzle is 5 feet above the pump. Buy a pump sized for the right amount of flow at the outlet, not at the pump.

That is a wicked awesome nugget of expertise.