Manifold ideas.

I built a new plumbing system that I thought was going to distribute water from my Reeflo Dart to my return, skimmer and reactors. It didn't distribute the water evenly. Most would just go to the return and not enough for the skimmer. (another line I kept closed was to be for the reactors). The first design I used one of these:

Except it split 3 ways. The water just doesn't flow like I though it would. It mainly just goes in the straight part. I was thinking it would go three ways and all would be happy... wrong. So back to square one and another expensive time consuming ordeal.


I bought one of these:

This should force the water to go into each hole(i will have three).
Any other ideas or place to buy a manifold that would work?
Ideas appreciated.

 

This is the only things i can think of, there are some manifolds and distributors as well as all kinds of pvc fittings.Maybe you can do something with one of these. HTH

Product Listing - PVC-Manifolds-Distributors

Here are some manifold wyes,they'll give you more even flow than a regular wye.

Product Listing - PVC-Wyes_ManifoldType

True wyes.

Product Listing - PVC-Wyes_TrueWye

 

After each T or y fitting, you will need to place a ball valve on the straight to create back pressure. Water will flow in the way to attain the least amount of resistance. Also, I dont know if a single Dart will put out what you need to drive everything, you may need to go dual.
Any chance on a pic of what you built?

 

Water, like electricity, will follow the path of least resistance.

I think you will need a choke on each output leg of your manifold to properly balance your flows.

Of course a gate valve will probably work best for this.

 

true wyes will give you equal distribution...
Assuming you want your output split 4 ways, that should so the trick.

 

Yeah .. I got one like the one in the top photo ordered.

 

Here's a pic of the first try:

I have ball valves on all of the 3 arms. You just can't see them all in the pic. The one that goes straight up goes to the tank return.
Problem is... even with the valve fully closed on that straight up return it won't flow that much into the "Y" arms. Cuz it's not a "pressure" pump. And water just won't flow well like that.

All of those parts that Geoff posted in the links are what I need. As you can see the ones he posted forces the water to split. The 3 way "Y" that I originally used will allow the water to got straight up mostly.. and some may trickle out into the 45 degree arms. Which is what happened.
Live and learn I guess. hehe

 

You got it. I wish I had known.. But then It makes sense now just looking at the thing.

 

Hey, we are all learning new things all the time. I've learned more about plumbing getting into this hobby then I had ever learned the rest of my life combined.

Love the "drip bowl" you appear to have in your photo too, lol.

Good luck av8!

 

Lol those drips were a whole nuther frustration.