Return line options

[jaws7777]

So i was thinking about the return line set up in a new tank thats being built. Currently the retune lines being run up throught the over flow , through the top and back in through the top fitted with a bulk head (im guessing)

Im planning to use loc lines and pvc and tee's

Can anyone give me some other options on this ? Would not going through the top and back into the tank be some how less benificial vs coming up over the over flow ? Or through the over flow ?

If possible post some pics of how your returns are set up

 

[pacu mom]

The advantage of this design applies almost exclusively for tanks that serve as room dividers or where the tanks are visible from all sides. With the return coming up through the overflow box, absolutely no plumbing is visible in the tank. This picture is from Midwest Custom Aquarium's gallery.

Really no advantage if the back of your tank is not visible. We plumbed our 300 gallon tank this way for the return from our mechanical filtration. We drilled three holes in the top of our tank to accommodate other filtration. I personally have an aversion to drilling the back of the tank. Our brutes have broken three bulkheads. We would have been in trouble if the bulkheads had been on the back of the tank.


Have the builder put in the holes for you. We had our big tank built with eleven holes on the top of the tank. On a side note, carefully inspect your tank before you accept it. Once you sign for it and the trucker leaves, it will be too late. It will be a real hassle, because the trucker will be in a hurry to leave, and the tank will be really packed up and on a couple of pallets. We were instructed to inspect the tank before signing for it. We did not do that. Husband was in school, and it was a month or so later before we unpacked the tank and discovered a crack in the floor of the tank starting at the corner of the left overflow box. One of the pallets was damaged--probably a forklift fork coming up through the pallet and stressing the floor of the tank. We were able to repair the crack, and the builder was gracious to send us acrylic pieces and Weldon.

When your tank is crated up, the trucker will be very annoyed if you insist on inspecting the tank. Do it anyway--you have a lot to potentially lose if you don't.

 

[soupa2]

Where ever you have your return pvc/loc-line back into the tank. It should be all the way above the water line so you won't back syphon from your return lines. Insist if your return is inside the over flow have the manufacture drill it by the notches where water goes into the over flow. My mistake was 1" below that so now my return back syphons into sump a little.

 

[jaws7777]

The advantage of this design applies almost exclusively for tanks that serve as room dividers or where the tanks are visible from all sides. With the return coming up through the overflow box, absolutely no plumbing is visible in the tank. This picture is from Midwest Custom Aquarium's gallery.

Really no advantage if the back of your tank is not visible. We plumbed our 300 gallon tank this way for the return from our mechanical filtration. We drilled three holes in the top of our tank to accommodate other filtration. I personally have an aversion to drilling the back of the tank. Our brutes have broken three bulkheads. We would have been in trouble if the bulkheads had been on the back of the tank.


Have the builder put in the holes for you. We had our big tank built with eleven holes on the top of the tank. On a side note, carefully inspect your tank before you accept it. Once you sign for it and the trucker leaves, it will be too late. It will be a real hassle, because the trucker will be in a hurry to leave, and the tank will be really packed up and on a couple of pallets. We were instructed to inspect the tank before signing for it. We did not do that. Husband was in school, and it was a month or so later before we unpacked the tank and discovered a crack in the floor of the tank starting at the corner of the left overflow box. One of the pallets was damaged--probably a forklift fork coming up through the pallet and stressing the floor of the tank. We were able to repair the crack, and the builder was gracious to send us acrylic pieces and Weldon.

When your tank is crated up, the trucker will be very annoyed if you insist on inspecting the tank. Do it anyway--you have a lot to potentially lose if you don't.

Where ever you have your return pvc/loc-line back into the tank. It should be all the way above the water line so you won't back syphon from your return lines. Insist if your return is inside the over flow have the manufacture drill it by the notches where water goes into the over flow. My mistake was 1" below that so now my return back syphons into sump a little.

The returns are coming up through the overflow.

Took this pic from another thread


See how his returns come out and over the top of the tank then back in.

I like ragin_cajun idea of using loc lines and pvc to create a kind of spray bar but was wondering if their were any benefits other than not seeing plumbing ontop of the tank if i kept the return in the tank and coming out of or over the over flow ?

pacu mom i remember you telling me about the shipping/inspecting a while ago and never forgot....murpheys law is VERY REAL for me so...ya know

 

[slippery slimecoat]

Being that I rushed my order with my first drilled tank, I ended up running my return up the back of the tank then used 90's to go back in the tank. Used 1" pvc and painted it black to blend in better. The top bracing and the glass lids were a factor for me in where I was able to run it back into the tank. My overflow box would've been really tight or would've had to been made bigger to put my return line in it. The return line is to the right of the AC110.

 

[jaws7777]

What would you have done differently ? In the pics i posted (and the new tank) the return doesnt come out and up the back of the tank

Being that I rushed my order with my first drilled tank, I ended up running my return up the back of the tank then used 90's to go back in the tank. Used 1" pvc and painted it black to blend in better. The top bracing and the glass lids were a factor for me in where I was able to run it back into the tank. My overflow box would've been really tight or would've had to been made bigger to put my return line in it. The return line is to the right of the AC110.
View attachment 1224009

 

[slippery slimecoat]

What would you have done differently ?

I am content with how the return line is run. If I was to do it again though, I'd possibly look into having a hole drilled toward the top opposite end of the overflow for the return line. But as someone else said, I'd have to think about the back siphon when the pumps went off because it would sit lower than I have it now.

 

[pacu mom]

On our big tank, the LocLine return holes are on the other side of the overflow boxes. So the return line will
come up in the overflow boxes, but not come up and out back in through the top of the tank.

Here's a pic of the top of our 300 gallon tank. On the bottom left is the return pipe coming up through the overflow box and returning through the top of the tank. The other holes on the top of the tank are for poop sucker pipes and for FX-5 uptake and return.

 

[DN328]

I think you may have seen mine from a prior thread. My tank is a peninsula style and used to section. I decided to run returns up through the overflow to hide as much plumbing as possible.

Here are shots of inside the overflow with drains and return plumbing, loc-lines coming out of weir.

The loc-lines are high enough for alot of surface agitation, and won't back siphon given the return height. I also have a check valve that is in the overflow. Hope this helps give some more visuals and considerations for you.

 

[jaws7777]

I think you may have seen mine from a prior thread. My tank is a peninsula style and used to section. I decided to run returns up through the overflow to hide as much plumbing as possible.

Here are shots of inside the overflow with drains and return plumbing, loc-lines coming out of weir.

The loc-lines are high enough for alot of surface agitation, and won't back siphon given the return height. I also have a check valve that is in the overflow. Hope this helps give some more visuals and considerations for you.

View attachment 1224128

View attachment 1224129

View attachment 1224130

That is exactly what i was talking about. Your loc lines run up and through your overflow. I just went with what i knew based on the two sump designs im copying. Basically the return run up the over flow out of the top of the tank and then back into the tank near the side panels. Is there a negative to this set up vs how yours is (drilled through the over flow) ?

What alawys confused me about having the returm go through the overflow is how does the crud on the bottom of the tank make it into the overflow if clean water from the return is essentially blocking its path ?