How to plumb, need Help!

[alindell21]

So in my experience in reefing, I have never messed around, researched and have little knowledge in plumbing a tank. The tank I am about to set up is only going to be set up for a year to hold me, until we move and get a new house and set up a red sea reefer xl, but for now I want to set up a 75 gal and get back into the hobby. I have no idea where to start. Ive been buying equipment for the future tank now trying to save money and I have some of important equipment that I think I can use for the 75 and the future tank so two birds with one stone. So what I have now that I think I can use for the 75 gal non reef ready is a sicce syncra return pump 5.0 adjustable flow, SRO 2000 int and what I believe is around 20 gallon tank for sump. I dont know where to begin. I do not want to make this a very expensive set up as this is only suppose to hold me for a year, year and half or until we get a new house which is still very debatable and will be awhile. As far as plumbing I do not know what to do. What do i need to buy to complete the set up, should I get an external overflow, how do I build my sump for the return and skimmer, how do I plumb the tank, what path is best for my goals? If you have any knowledge or tips please share. I really just want to have this 75 gal with the 20 sump running with minimal expense, maintenance and use the equipment I already have for skimming, return part, other necessary parts and buy as necessary for plumbing.

 

[Irishman]

I used this website to help me out with designing a sump (http://gmacreef.com/reef-aquarium-sump-tank-design/). From here on it all depends on what you want to do with the tank as in internal or external overflow. I personally like the internal overflows (http://glass-holes.com/) is a website you can use to purchase kits for internal overflows. Plumbing can be cheap and same as the sump.

 

[SynDen]

Plumbing can be done several different ways. simple flex tube of 3/4-1", with external overflow would work and be the most inexpensive way to go about it, or you can go with hard plumbing, or a combo of the two. Really all you need is a pipe going down, and a pipe going up. The size of the pipe is more or less determined by the overflow for the drain, and by the outlet on the return pump for the return.

Hard plumbing or PVC, looks great and works great, last longer, but costs more. Flex tubing is inexpensive, and flexible, but can be prone to deterioration over many years of use, and can kink or clog from buildup (depending on type of tubing). Over only a few years though, flex tube should do just fine.