Return Pump question?

Here's my tank, sump and overflow, I got my Reef Octopus 150 Needle wheel skimmer today, and my eshopps PF-1000 a few days ago.

IS PVC setup expensive, I feel like it gets pretty expensive after buying all the right sized pipes and connectors?

 

Nice looking tank! I don't really think the PVC is all that expensive. I'm sure more experienced, technical oriented folks will be answering your questions. Good luck to ya!

 

The downside of rigid PVC is it transmits vibration and noise and does not allow for any stress relief if things don't line up perfectly.
The advantage or flexible tubing is it has few restrictions as far as bends and fittings but on the downside it does not look as professional as PVC.
Thats why I use the combination of both. I oversize my flex tubing so the barbed nipples do not cause restrictions, if the PVC plumbing is 3/4" I use 1" tubing and barbed nipples to maintain flow, if its 1", I use 1.25" etc.
By using a short piece of reinforced clear tubing(its the stuff with the braided threads inside the clear plastic) I get some flexibility if things don't excatly line up and I break up any vibration from the pump. I also have a nice spot to break the pump and piping apart for maintenance. It can be held on with a hose clamp if its above water and with a nylon clam if its submerged, usually though the fit is snug enough no clamp is needed, you even have to use hot water to expand the tubing for installation in most cases.

 

Don't forget they make flexible PVC too. Sold at Lowes. Not as flexible as the other flexible hoses but glues like normal PVC.

 

If I could get some pics of your half pvc half tubing that would be really helpful so I can see exactly what your talking about, I get the jist of it but i'm a little confused about how your different tubing/PVC's are connected?

 

Flex PVC is still pretty rigid and shouls stil be used with a short piece of clear tubing. The reinforced tubing is best since it is kink resistant.

These should give you some idea, the configuration ahs been changed a little bu tthe principle is still the same.


The 1/2" PVC line feeds my refugium from the overflow so I can regulat flow there.

The 1" clear tubing is the overflow to the sump and the 3/4" tubing is from the OR 3500 return pump back up through the overflow and into the Loc Line seen here:



Here are a few more misc. pics, the return tubing looks strange because at the time the pump went to a chiler then up to the display, since then the chiller has been eliminated by fans and an ATO and it feeds directly from the pump to the return:



Like so when it started out 6 years ago:

 

I = want to get a loc line- where can you get them. Do they sell them at normal stores or fish stores? or should I order online? Also is that PVC that is holding up the loc line though the overflow?

 

Most better LFS have LocLine in stock. If not the master distributor is www.modularhose.com and I usually get mine at www.customaquatic.com . Yes the return has two 1" holes up through the bottom of the tank. One is for the Stockman standpipe and the other is for the PVC return. Both bulkheads are 1" and the return riser is 1" bushed down to 3/4" for the LocLine and below the Bulkhead since the pump is only 3/4".