Need help figuring out Manifold design

[billpa]

I have a 180g FOWLR in the works. I have slowly been accumulating gear so it doesnt seem like it hurts my wallet as much Originally I was going to use a OceansMotions Squirt for my CL powered by a GRI 520 pump. I have both in my possesion already. Now I want to change my design and incorporate Anthony's manifold design. My plan is to sell the GRI and the Squirt and use the money to buy an AmpMaster 3000 and plumb a manifold as Anthony has suggested. The outlet of the AmpMaster is 1.5" and puts out 3600 gph at 0' of head. I figure I will get more like 3200 gph with the pump sitting inside the stand around 4' from the top of the tank. Anthony suggests that each outlet in the manifold is putting out 300gph (i think). So I guess I would want around 10 outlets. Is that right and what would you think the placement should be? (a stand 180g...6'long 2'high 2'deep) Also...I would have to size down the outlet for the manifold and I am wondering what size would be the best? I will also have a 1" Seaswirl in the middle of my tank that will connected to my sump pump shooting out another 1000-1300 gph. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I want to figure this out soon so I can move forward and sell the Squirt and the GRI pump.

Thanks in advance.

Bill

[Anthony Calfo]

Bill... we have several threads on this topic already archived here at RC.

The search tool and archives are a fabulous wealth of information to be tapped. Please do a search of your own to review the info to date, then return with/if you have any more questions.

"Teach a man to fish, and he eats for a lifetime"

kindly,

Anthony

[billpa]

Hey Anthony!

Thanks...I have done some searching and basically narrowed it down to a couple of questions. Ampmaser 3000 on a closed loop will = ~3600 gph. You suggest around 300 gph for each "port". That would give me 12 ports on my 180g tank (FOWLR) that I am using for. I would put two ports on each side and 4 in the front and 4 in the back...spaced apart around a foot each. Ampmasters have 1.5" outlets so I suppose I will have to jump down to a smaller pipe.

What diameter pipe would you suggest for my manifold given the details above?

and

Do you see any problems with my plan?

Thanks in advance Anthony.

Bill

[Anthony Calfo]

The 12 outlets sounds very good (and know that you will want to cap some of them anyway to tweak flow pattern in the tank and improve velocity out of others... that's OK, this is by design... better to have extra outlets to be capped rather than no options at all).

For pipe size, you can come up to the loop with your 1.5", but then reduce that down to at least 3/4".

Again, its somewhat experimental... but having 3/4" is no harm... and if you choose to have 1/2" later... its a mere few dollars in PCV bushings to step down.

do keep us posted

[billpa]

Thanks Anthony...time to go fishing

[salmon alley]

I'm getting ready to plumb a 180 with a manifold run off of an AM 3000 just as Bill describes, so I'm tagging along here..

I've got one question for means of clarification:

Bill &/or Anthony: You are suggesting constructing the entire manifold & tees from 3/4" pvc? (so 1.5" out of the pump and reduced down to 3/4" at the manifold)

Thanks

[billpa]

Thats what my plan is. I gotta go check out some plumbing fittings but I believe they make a 1.5" to (2) 3/4" Tee fitting. I am going to keep it 1.5" until I get up to the top of the tank and then drop it down to 3/4". I plan on having 12 outlets...2 on each side and 4 on both the back and front. I will add 1/2" bushings to each outlet if 3/4" isnt working.

HTH

billpa

[salmon alley]

billpa-

Thanks, that's what I figured. That 1.5" to (2) 3/4" Tee fitting sounds like it might be a tough one to locate. I'll probably just use some combination of reducers to take it down to 3/4 " and then use a garden variety 3/4" tee.

[moumda]

They're called bushings and you should be able to get them anyplace you buy pvc fittings.

[RicoJ]

Any updates.. Most important of all any pictures?

[Anthony Calfo]

pics in this thread of manifold threads now

http://archive.reefcentral.com/forum...hreadid=520145