Hello. I just bought this setup and not sure what to do with the drains. Here’s some pics. I really like the bean animal but not sure I can make that work with the 2 smaller standpipes and valves under the tank. What do you think?
Drain setup?
- Thread starter jandb
- Start date
Technically I dont think that's a BA as it uses straight standpipes.
That looks more of a hybrid with Herbie and a dry edrain like BA. I have the same set up. As long as the full siphon drain is low enough you should be fine. I'd add a strainer to that.
What specific question or concern do you have in terms of the plumbing?
That looks more of a hybrid with Herbie and a dry edrain like BA. I have the same set up. As long as the full siphon drain is low enough you should be fine. I'd add a strainer to that.
What specific question or concern do you have in terms of the plumbing?
Can you confirm the diameter of the smaller pipes?
You would need to consider what turnover you need/want. I have found those running larger pipes having to close the gate/ball valve more so to create a full siphon. Moreover, the weir teeth becomes the bottleneck to flow and not the pipe diameter alone.
If you have access I suggest a gate valve for the primary, ball valve for the trickle and third drain for maintenance. I'd also consider using a DC pump for more control as suggested.
To answer your question, I would keep the drains as is and pair with a pump you want to use and see how that runs while you have the chance to experiment. The edrain not being full siphon but larger diameter is a good thing.
What do you plan to keep in the tank?
Here's my drain looking down...right drain with strainer is full siphon, to the left is trickle and far left is dry edrain. The T pipe is my return split to bulkheads to loclines, FYI.
You would need to consider what turnover you need/want. I have found those running larger pipes having to close the gate/ball valve more so to create a full siphon. Moreover, the weir teeth becomes the bottleneck to flow and not the pipe diameter alone.
If you have access I suggest a gate valve for the primary, ball valve for the trickle and third drain for maintenance. I'd also consider using a DC pump for more control as suggested.
To answer your question, I would keep the drains as is and pair with a pump you want to use and see how that runs while you have the chance to experiment. The edrain not being full siphon but larger diameter is a good thing.
What do you plan to keep in the tank?
Here's my drain looking down...right drain with strainer is full siphon, to the left is trickle and far left is dry edrain. The T pipe is my return split to bulkheads to loclines, FYI.
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Thanks for al the info. Your setup looks real good.
I’m picking up the tank something this week so I’m not 100% sure on the small standpipes but I bebelive they’re 3/4”.
What recommendations would you have on a dc pump? The last submersible I bought was a mag 18 back in 2011 so I’m out of the loop there.
I’m going to go for a blackwater look with different severums, geos and larger tetras.
I shouldn’t have any trouble finding a gate valve. Do you think 3/4” at full siphon is enough flow?
I’m picking up the tank something this week so I’m not 100% sure on the small standpipes but I bebelive they’re 3/4”.
What recommendations would you have on a dc pump? The last submersible I bought was a mag 18 back in 2011 so I’m out of the loop there.
I’m going to go for a blackwater look with different severums, geos and larger tetras.
I shouldn’t have any trouble finding a gate valve. Do you think 3/4” at full siphon is enough flow?
I would say 3/4" is on the small end, and the smallest I've seen applied has been 1". This doesnt mean it would not work for you, however. Did the previous owner use as has been described - I'd give it a try.
For the value, a lot of folks have had good success with the Jebao line if DC pumps. They are relatively inexpensive but seem to perform well. I don't use that brand but would not hesitate to try. I currently have a Waveline 10000 II for my return pump and it's worked well for 3 years so far. I had the 12000 for my closed loop where the controller died after 2.5 years - it may have not done well with pump running out of the sump. I have now Ecotech, but it's on the expensive side and would recommend as well. There are a few other DC brands I know reefers use as well with good results. All DC are very quiet too.
For the value, a lot of folks have had good success with the Jebao line if DC pumps. They are relatively inexpensive but seem to perform well. I don't use that brand but would not hesitate to try. I currently have a Waveline 10000 II for my return pump and it's worked well for 3 years so far. I had the 12000 for my closed loop where the controller died after 2.5 years - it may have not done well with pump running out of the sump. I have now Ecotech, but it's on the expensive side and would recommend as well. There are a few other DC brands I know reefers use as well with good results. All DC are very quiet too.
Just picked up the tank and confirmed the siphon and trickle are 3/4”. Darn. The tank is about 260 gallons and won’t be too heavily stocked so I may not need that much flow but 3/4” just seems small. My fishroom 540 has 2” drains at full siphon and it’s like a whirlpool. 1” or 1 1/4” seems more appropriate though.
My first thought was to reverse them and use the 1 1/2” as the full siphon. I’d wager in the event of a catastrophe the others would get overwhelmed but I’d think that would be very rare.
My second thought was to try and enlarge the 3/4 bulkheads. I’ve drilled acrylic before with a bimetal hole saw but I couldn’t use that here because there’s no place for the pilot bit since there are already holes. I have a spiral saw and guess I could try that?
Does anyone know of a flow calculator for a full siphon drain based on pvc diameter?
My first thought was to reverse them and use the 1 1/2” as the full siphon. I’d wager in the event of a catastrophe the others would get overwhelmed but I’d think that would be very rare.
My second thought was to try and enlarge the 3/4 bulkheads. I’ve drilled acrylic before with a bimetal hole saw but I couldn’t use that here because there’s no place for the pilot bit since there are already holes. I have a spiral saw and guess I could try that?
Does anyone know of a flow calculator for a full siphon drain based on pvc diameter?
This thread has the chart...sorry on my phone.
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https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/sump-help.697379/
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https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/sump-help.697379/