Plumbing Question

[Tennsquire]

I've been tinkering with my 75 gallon this weekend and had a question or two I thought I'd throw out here. The 75 is plumbed with 1 inch spa flex, with a Mag 7 serving as the return pump. I downsized from a Mag 9.5 a while back, and the efficiency of the skimmer has picked up since the water isn't rushing through the sump as much. I added a 1/4 hp PCI chiller at the beginning of the summer, also fed by another Mag 7 that goes from sump to chiller to sump (not the most ideal).

What I want to do is re-install the Mag 9.5, but route the return through the chiller then into the display. I really like the idea of taking one pump out of the sump.

Any problems jump out with this plan? How much resistence does a chiller add to the return flow? This chiller needs between 600 and 1000 gph I'm thinking I might end up with about the same flow as before by doing this, but with one less pump. Might also make my chiller cycle less often. Also, can the braided clear PVC tubing be glued to standard PVC fittings? If I do this, I plan to cut into my existing return and run lines to and from the chiller.

Any thoughts would be appreciated. I already have the pump, and I can always put it back the way it is now if it doesn work.

[gflat65]

Scott,

I ran my return pump (Hagen 901-not sure of the new model number) through my 1/2hp Aqua Medic chiller and had no issues. It greatly reduced flow on that side, but seemed to work fine. I've also glued braided to regular PVC with success, but only to make an adapter fitting to go from the cheapo AGA bulkheads that come in the plumbing kits to an elbow (ran 1 1/2" elbows with a 1 1/2" to 1 1/4" reducer bushing, then glued 1 1/4" OD braided to 1 1/4" female from the reducer bushing). It was a short run of braided (just 2-3 inches), so not much flex in it. I'm not sure if flex would pop it loose or not. I would think you'd be fine, but don't know for sure from my own experience.