So after reading a lot of threads and doing as much research as I could I decided to do a drip system for my 100g Acrylic and 200g Acrylic. These are in different rooms and have individual sumps. The washer is in a closet in between them. The garage wall also borders both of them where the drain for the AC is, which I wanted to drain both tanks into.
So I drilled the sumps of both tanks at the height I wanted them to sit at and installed bulkheads I got from my LFS. I am not sure the fitting size but I used 1/2" drain lines. I got adapters to fit the 1/2" along with incorporating a hose section at the sump for easier removal and servicing if needed. I then ran the 1/2" CPVC through the garage around the AC and into the drain. I used standard 1/4" tubing for the fill tubes with a filter from Lowes for now, I plan to order a filter guys one soon just for peace of mind. I don't think my water has Chloramines though since I checked the report online. I am dosing a little Prime manually for now.
It took a couple trips to Lowes and Menards. Lowes by me didn't have hardly anything I needed and had no drip emitters at all. I did get PCV and CPVC there. Menards I got the drip emitters, hose, pressure reducer, faucet splitter, fittings, and so on. I haven't totaled it up yet and I ended up buying way more than I needed of some stuff plus I still need to buy the filter guys filter for $70.
I did get a standard faucet splitter from Lowes first along with a fitting that you could turn on and off, this leaked and didn't work out. I ended up finding a better individually adjustable brass one at Menards (Garden Water hose section) which is also where I got the pressure reducer (Plumbing Dept). I took the backflow part off though because it's meant for outdoor use where it can leak freely. It's meant to do it but obviously this doesn't workout inside. So it comes from the splitter which I have opened just barely through the pressure reducer into 1/2" hose through a closet. Then outside to a brass fitting I made that reduces it to 1/4". Then into the filter and out of filter into a splitter. Then out of the splitter through the emitters and then from there the lines run to the tanks. I put the emitters inline so the connections can be in the garage. I don't think it matters because it shows them inline on the package with a lead of hose running to the plant.
1gph emitters but I am not sure how accurate that is... They can be varied depending how much I open the valve. I plan to adjust so Nitrates stay <10ppm.
Pic 1. Failed fitting and splitter from Lowes (bottom of pic sitting on lid of container)
Pic 2. Closet connection and pressure reducer
Pic 3. Filter, Splitter, and Emitters in garage
Pic 4. 100g Sump Drain - need to trim foam still
Pic 5. 100g Drain into garage alone with drip hose
Pic 6. 100g Drip Tube
Pic 7. 200g Sump Drain connection blurry
Pic 8. 200g Sump Drain bend and through wall, note the chair isn't pushing that down, it's how it sits... also can see a bit of the drip hose coming through the wall...
Pic 9. 200g Drip Tube
Pic 10. Drain at AC for both tanks
So I drilled the sumps of both tanks at the height I wanted them to sit at and installed bulkheads I got from my LFS. I am not sure the fitting size but I used 1/2" drain lines. I got adapters to fit the 1/2" along with incorporating a hose section at the sump for easier removal and servicing if needed. I then ran the 1/2" CPVC through the garage around the AC and into the drain. I used standard 1/4" tubing for the fill tubes with a filter from Lowes for now, I plan to order a filter guys one soon just for peace of mind. I don't think my water has Chloramines though since I checked the report online. I am dosing a little Prime manually for now.
It took a couple trips to Lowes and Menards. Lowes by me didn't have hardly anything I needed and had no drip emitters at all. I did get PCV and CPVC there. Menards I got the drip emitters, hose, pressure reducer, faucet splitter, fittings, and so on. I haven't totaled it up yet and I ended up buying way more than I needed of some stuff plus I still need to buy the filter guys filter for $70.
I did get a standard faucet splitter from Lowes first along with a fitting that you could turn on and off, this leaked and didn't work out. I ended up finding a better individually adjustable brass one at Menards (Garden Water hose section) which is also where I got the pressure reducer (Plumbing Dept). I took the backflow part off though because it's meant for outdoor use where it can leak freely. It's meant to do it but obviously this doesn't workout inside. So it comes from the splitter which I have opened just barely through the pressure reducer into 1/2" hose through a closet. Then outside to a brass fitting I made that reduces it to 1/4". Then into the filter and out of filter into a splitter. Then out of the splitter through the emitters and then from there the lines run to the tanks. I put the emitters inline so the connections can be in the garage. I don't think it matters because it shows them inline on the package with a lead of hose running to the plant.
1gph emitters but I am not sure how accurate that is... They can be varied depending how much I open the valve. I plan to adjust so Nitrates stay <10ppm.
Pic 1. Failed fitting and splitter from Lowes (bottom of pic sitting on lid of container)
Pic 2. Closet connection and pressure reducer
Pic 3. Filter, Splitter, and Emitters in garage
Pic 4. 100g Sump Drain - need to trim foam still
Pic 5. 100g Drain into garage alone with drip hose
Pic 6. 100g Drip Tube
Pic 7. 200g Sump Drain connection blurry
Pic 8. 200g Sump Drain bend and through wall, note the chair isn't pushing that down, it's how it sits... also can see a bit of the drip hose coming through the wall...
Pic 9. 200g Drip Tube
Pic 10. Drain at AC for both tanks
