Need help hardplumbing return

I redid my sump and where my return pump is the vinyl tubing is too short, it already came off once soaking my stand. I was just going to get vinyl tube again but got to thinking that since I'm redoing it all, might as well plumb my return. I'm a little confused so let me see if I can lay it all out:

1. I was going to use a 45 degree elbow to go into the tank but that would look like crap, where can I get something that will fit 1/2" pvc and hopefully has a T for two flatened outputs? I might just cut the one I have now and try to rig it up but I'd like to order something better than what I have now.

2. Are the 45's and hardplumbing (more pipe now) going to slow down my return a lot?

3. Is it a coupler that makes it so I can detach my pump from the plumbing without having to twist the pump to get it out of the threads?

4. Should I put a ball valve on the return?

5. Is a check valve the best way to make sure the siphon doesn't drain downwards? The guy at HD said most won't handle barely any pressure and he wouldn't trust them in his living room.

TIA...I thought this would be easier than building vivs. :

 

1. Are you talking about these? This is the flexible tubing that is threaded onto 1/2" pvc pipe.
http://www.marinedepot.com/aquarium_plumbing_parts_fittings_loc_line_flexible_ball_socket_1.asp

2. Any extra bend in your pipe is going to reduce the output of your pump. 45 degree bends are better than 90 degree bends. Is your return flow too low? One extra 90 or 45 is not always the end of the world unless you were marginal to begin with...

3. It is called a union. A coupling is generally fixed and cannot be taken apart once it is glued.

4. Yes, it allows for isolation and helps with maintenance. During normal operations it does not cause a reduction in flow.

5. I used a check valve. It failed miserably. The best way I know how to avoid an overflow is to use a weep hole and to ensure that your sump is sized to handle the overflow that is generated until your return pipe starts sucking air.


Jim

 

Jim, that's a huge help, thanks!