Return Line Plumbing

[SaltyO2]

Hi all!! I have a situation: I'm gonna do the Herbie mod to my 75 aga tank soon. And I have to run my return lines (2) up and outside the tank.
Should I just use schedule 40 PVC all the way? Which is what I bought already, and think thats the way to go. I thought about acrylic tubing, but it splits from my 1 return pump into 2 return lines via a T fitting.

Is PVC the way to go?? Is it ok to use PVC?

And what size? looks like tank was made with a 3/4 return, but can do 1/2", to increase pressure???

thanks for help

Salty

[Fly Guy]

While you theory of reducing the pipe WILL increase the velocity, it will come at a price of losing flow. Thsi may not even matter as most people dont need to move as much water through their sump as they think anyway, but just so you know.

PVC will work fine, i prefer flexible pvc as it is quieter and just plumbs easier and better looking than hard pipe IMO.

What return pump are we talking about??

The best way(for instance...as I dont know what pump) is to run 1" from the pump up into a 1" T...in each end of this T out a 1" x 3/4" reducing bushing and then 3/4" from there to each of your returns.

[SaltyO2]

ahhhh.

my return is a Catalina Ca4000 internal....rated at 1300gph...(dont know if thats true, but it will shoot a stream of water from my tank across my room and hit the adjacent wall!!!) It has a 3/4" output on it. I might even have a 3/4'' to 1" adapter if it will help.

thanks
Salty

[Fly Guy]

Originally Posted by SaltyO2

It has a 3/4" output on it. I might even have a 3/4'' to 1" adapter if it will help.

thanks
Salty

Bingo.

Then my example would be perfect for that pump IMO. You could even get more flow out of it if you went up to 1.25 or 1.5" right off the pump....but I doubt you need anymore flow unless you are running a honking skimmer.

Dont forget to install a ball valve as well right off of the pump the same size as the piping you choose. Then you can taper it back accordingly so that you arent moving any more water through your sump than your skimmer can actually process.