plumbing for frag tank

[reefgoby30]

okay starting a frag tank and its 8 gallons made custom with external overflow. Im using a 1 inch bulk head and it wont be closed loop. The return pump is a mag 7 and will be placed in a sump/refugium.

So my question is can I do pvc pipe and have it fall to the sump and using gravity and nothing sucking it like a external pump ? and using 3/4 tubing coming from the mag back into display ?

 

or should I just use 1 inch rubber pond tubing and have it fall into the sump ?

[evilc66]

PVC will work fine, and you ABSOLUTELY DO NOT WANT A PUMP SUCKING WATER TO THE SUMP!!! Spells flood right there. Let gravity do the work. It's good at it.

[reefgoby30]

all thanks but what if its isnt going straight down and has 90* angles will it still work ?

[evilc66]

Like I said, gravity is your friend. As long as your display/frag tank is higher than the sump, all is good.

[reefgoby30]

okay evil does it matter how much higher it is, because its only like a 20 inch higher and its going to have 2 90* degress in order to reach the sump

[BKtomodachi]

Thats fine. Just make sure the bulkhead you are using can handle the gallons per hour of flow you need.

 

I use this:

 

http://www.reefcentral.com/calc/drain.php

 

edit: spelling