Return line plumbing (1 Viewer)

[Erin]

My tank is a standard 90 gallon with the overflow on the left, starting 4 inches from the left edge. I currently have 3/4 inch Snap-loc (generic loc-line) on my return which exits the overflow box on the far right. It’s a dual hose with a wye split and 2, 6-segment sections with nozzles. One section curves back toward the left side and the other is relatively straight pointing right. I may need to disassemble my return and am wondering if there is a significant advantage to the way it’s set up now, or if it would actually be better to get higher flow with just one return, and use powerheads/wavemakers for cross flow.

I hope this description makes sense. TIA.

 

[Erin]

Here's what I was trying to describe. Old pic... the glass is much cleaner now

 

[Reefahholic]

Other than surface agitation from the split it really doesn’t make much difference IMO.

I like 1” returns due to less clogs in the pipes, but 3/4” has worked for me w/o issues.

Loc-Line is one of those things that almost starts looking tacky the longer you make it. I tend to make mine shorter now.

I say clean it up and do what looks good for you.

 

[PorpoiseHork]

Agreed.

The more surface agitation you have the better the gas exchange is and more stable the PH will remain. Your powerheads are going to be the primary source of flow in the tank. If you have a second powerhead on the opposite side of the tank about where the one in the pic is and aim them towards each other. Set them to alternating mode with a 20-30 second cycle time and adjust the power base don the types of coral you keep. When setting them up like this the pumps create a left/right counter flow current in the tank. The top 1/2 give or take will flow in one direction and the bottom the opposite. Then when the pumps switch a turbulent roll wave is created as the pump is reversing the direction of flow. You may need to increase or decrease the power of the powerheads as well as space them apart so one if closer to the back of the tank and its opposite is closer.

For the return wish you can remove a couple of segments including the nozzle tips and aim them up towards the surface with the ends about an inch or so down from the surface causing the return jet to break the surface 2-3" away. This will increase surface agitation as well as create a secondary current in the tank from front to back as the flow from the returns his the glass and is forced downward to the sand bed. From there it will move across the sand bed towards the back of the tank and back up. The strength of this flow pattern depends on how high the power heads are set to as well as the output of the return pump and lastly the rockwork.

All combined this can create complex flow currents in the tank reducing dead spots where detrius could collect and to ensure that all your corals are getting adequate flow across them.

I have been running mine setup like this for about 2.5 years and there's a little bit of everything in my tank from softies to acros and they are all happy.

 

[reeftopia]

definily the bigger the better. Can say from shutting down my tanks the crap growing in the pipes yuk definitly could eventually clog smaller pipe.

 

[Erin]

Thank you all

 

[Erin]

Agreed.

The more surface agitation you have the better the gas exchange is and more stable the PH will remain. Your powerheads are going to be the primary source of flow in the tank. If you have a second powerhead on the opposite side of the tank about where the one in the pic is and aim them towards each other. Set them to alternating mode with a 20-30 second cycle time and adjust the power base don the types of coral you keep. When setting them up like this the pumps create a left/right counter flow current in the tank. The top 1/2 give or take will flow in one direction and the bottom the opposite. Then when the pumps switch a turbulent roll wave is created as the pump is reversing the direction of flow. You may need to increase or decrease the power of the powerheads as well as space them apart so one if closer to the back of the tank and its opposite is closer.

For the return wish you can remove a couple of segments including the nozzle tips and aim them up towards the surface with the ends about an inch or so down from the surface causing the return jet to break the surface 2-3" away. This will increase surface agitation as well as create a secondary current in the tank from front to back as the flow from the returns his the glass and is forced downward to the sand bed. From there it will move across the sand bed towards the back of the tank and back up. The strength of this flow pattern depends on how high the power heads are set to as well as the output of the return pump and lastly the rockwork.

All combined this can create complex flow currents in the tank reducing dead spots where detrius could collect and to ensure that all your corals are getting adequate flow across them.

I have been running mine setup like this for about 2.5 years and there's a little bit of everything in my tank from softies to acros and they are all happy.

I have a 30 gallon sump with a skimmer so I’m not worried about surface agitation for the purpose of gas exchange. I do have 2 Jebao powerheads, one on each side panel. One is connected to my battery backup and does point toward the surface. I’m also planning to use a random flow generator on my return(s) in place of the existing nozzles. Just want to maximize what I already have; since it seems that my current loc line configuration reduces flow quite a bit, if I have to redo it anyway, I’m thinking of trying a single return outlet.

 

[PorpoiseHork]

If the return line feeding into the Loc-line is only 3/4" then moving to a larger size won't necessarily increase flow in the system unless you replace the entire return line plumbing. Your best option(s) would be to remove the nozzle tips on the outlets as they restrict flow by increasing the velocity and/or increasing the return pump output. This could be either increasing the flow rate if it is a DC pump or opening up the the valve on the return line if one is equipped. If you're using an AC pump and do not have a ball valve on the return and want to increase return flow, then the only option is upgrading the return pump.

I tried running those RFG tips. They do work but to get them to work correctly they need at least 3" of straight line flow prior to entering the nozzle tip along with at least 400+ GPH behind them. If you have any bends in the line or lower flow than that it can and will cause them to favor one side of the nozzle. They also have a fairly small opening so they would actually restrict flow more than the current nozzles you have installed. I ended up removing them along with 3 Loc-line segment on both returns leaving 3 segments in each return port. By doing that I reduced the return velocity but increased the volume since there were no longer any restrictions aside from the return lines reducing from 1" pipe to 3/4 bulkheads that feed into the Loc-Line.