It was a good day for my tank

List of tasks for the day:

1)Addded a second U tube to my overflow
2)Cut the PVC from my overflow to my sump and replaced it with 1 bend instead of 3, and 1" instead of like 3 different diameters... (that was just me being lazy believe it or not)
3) added one of those algea free things to my mj1200. which turned that from a modest stream to a freakin jetski. I think its too much in some areas but ill adjust it...
4) Bought an ALK test... 12dkh
5) got three bottles of the Redsea Ca stuff that has some other elements in it for $9.50 on clearance at petco

Results: Alot more flow and evenly throughout the entire tank

My mag 9.5 return is barely throttled down now instead of more than 70% throttled because of my ludacris assinine plumbing the first time

Im smiling.

 

sounds good to me wkbrdr1661
some pictures of the improved plumbing would have been cool

Steve

 

Be careful with the second U tube. If you don't have enough flow you'll trap bubbles in there. Since you upped your flow you may be fine. Just keep an eye on it.

 

Ask and you shall recieve....

The pipe that is leaning up againt the plywood used to connect where you see the cut on the other picure of the pipe going down from the tank. Its 1/2 and 3/4 in various places.

In the pic that you can see the skimmer you will see the two ball valves... most of the increased flow comes out of the bottom pipe and doesnt go to the skimmer (its a recirc) The other side of my sump has carbon, chaeto, red mangroves and about 30lbs of LR and alot of pods before going back up throught the 9.5

 

Just to make sure we are on the same page...

Be carful in case it was to lose siphon and then not get enough water to the sump and the pump would overflow the tank slowly?

...That made me think i need to test that. I went down and pulled one of them out to see what would happen. The second u tube doesnt really make a difference in getting more water to the sump.

My original thought in doing so was to have 2 u tubes in case one of them did lose siphon...atleast i would have a backup to keep things going until i discovered it....

 

The main reason U tubes lose siphon is due to air bubbles getting trapped at the top and accumulating there until flow id reduced to the point your DT overflows. If you have two U tubes you ave half the flow in each allowing bubbles to accumulate in both. If you have only one tube you'll have so much flow that all bubbles get swept out and won't get a chance to accumulate.

 

....no bubbles in either one