Plumbing questions

[Boga]

Currently I have a 125 G DT on the main floor, and all equipment is in the basement. The set-up that I am thinking is shown in pictures below. Work in progress.

1. I can not make my mind if the refugium should be supplied from the return pump or from the DT drain (Option A or B)?
2. Also planning to add a GFO/Carbon reactor. Where in the system would be the best location? I am thinking sucking water from the sump and returning to refugium?

Any comments are appreciated.

 

[Boga]

Currently I have a 125 G DT on the main floor, and all equipment is in the basement. The set-up that I am thinking is shown in pictures below. Work in progress.

1. I can not make my mind if the refugium should be supplied from the return pump or from the DT drain (Option A or B)?
2. Also planning to add a GFO/Carbon reactor. Where in the system would be the best location? I am thinking sucking water from the sump and returning to refugium?

Any comments are appreciated.

 

[Poseidon]

IMO I would make the drain from the dt T off to the fuge,with a ball valve to control flow of course,  that way any pods etc don't have to pass through the skimmer department first.
The rest is good though, have the fuge drain to the return compartment and send it all back to the DT.

 

[Poseidon]

IMO I would make the drain from the dt T off to the fuge,with a ball valve to control flow of course,  that way any pods etc don't have to pass through the skimmer department first.
The rest is good though, have the fuge drain to the return compartment and send it all back to the DT.

 

[spyd]

I agree with Brandon. Plumb it off the drain line.

Not sure if this is an option for you at all but I would consider moving your sump to the bottom of your stand and have your water mixing tank on the top. This way you can plumb the water change tank directly into your system and utilize it as an additional sump. Just plumb the return directly off your return pump. Have a drain down to the sump and an additional drain at the bottom of this tank with a valve and a hose to drain the tank completely.

Here is a pic of my setup. All most the same as yours, minus the refugium.

Water change tank is plumbed directly off the main pump. This way, there are no additional pumps needed in my setup. Even reactors, etc all run directly off my return pump. Everything is all gravity fed. For a water change, I just turn off the valve from the return pump to the water change tank, then place the hose in my floor drain and open the drain valve. Once the tank is empty, I clean it, close the drain valve, and fill it with RO/DI water, mix in the salt, heat it for a day, then turn the pump return line back on and water change is done. 10 minutes of physical labour. 

 

[spyd]

I agree with Brandon. Plumb it off the drain line.

Not sure if this is an option for you at all but I would consider moving your sump to the bottom of your stand and have your water mixing tank on the top. This way you can plumb the water change tank directly into your system and utilize it as an additional sump. Just plumb the return directly off your return pump. Have a drain down to the sump and an additional drain at the bottom of this tank with a valve and a hose to drain the tank completely.

Here is a pic of my setup. All most the same as yours, minus the refugium.

Water change tank is plumbed directly off the main pump. This way, there are no additional pumps needed in my setup. Even reactors, etc all run directly off my return pump. Everything is all gravity fed. For a water change, I just turn off the valve from the return pump to the water change tank, then place the hose in my floor drain and open the drain valve. Once the tank is empty, I clean it, close the drain valve, and fill it with RO/DI water, mix in the salt, heat it for a day, then turn the pump return line back on and water change is done. 10 minutes of physical labour. 

 

[Boga]

Thank you both for input. I will plumb it off the drain line with ball valves in place.

The main reason I would like to keep the ST at the waist level is because I have already a low flow for return (only 550-600 gal/hr measured). I estimated that if I move the pump 2 ft lower the new flow would be 440-480 g/hr. ???

Spyd - nice and clean setup. Almost did not see the upper tank .

 

[Boga]

Thank you both for input. I will plumb it off the drain line with ball valves in place.

The main reason I would like to keep the ST at the waist level is because I have already a low flow for return (only 550-600 gal/hr measured). I estimated that if I move the pump 2 ft lower the new flow would be 440-480 g/hr. ???

Spyd - nice and clean setup. Almost did not see the upper tank .