Thanks for all kind words and support guys! Today saw a little less getting done on the system itself. First, I had promised the wife new furniture for the room as one of the conditions for getting the new tank. So, I spent a good part of today running around with her to get a couple of Barcelona chairs for the room along with a side table so that there will be a nice way to sit there and view the tank. Kind of a Zen location.
Then, I had to do all my usual tank maintenance on my existing system, BRS Group Buy, change out the RO and DI filters, yard work, etc.
But I was able to spend the morning planning out the plumbing and then a good hour and a half at Home Depot finding all the plumbing items I wanted. I also went to Wallyworld and picked up some Krylon Fusion paint so that the Durso drains and returns would be black. They blend in perfectly now and are not visible unless you get close. I also installed the snail guards and glued the elbows and some other pieces down.
I also picked up some bright red Krylon for the return lines and blue Krylon for the drains. Here's what I ended up picking up:
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Had to make a second trip to pick-up a couple more items as I started dry fitting pieces and figuring out what I need. The plumbing plan is as follows:
<u>Drains:</u>
Nothing too special here. Just a couple of unions to make sure I can take it apart and work on it or replace it if needed. 1.5" inner diameter is what I went with although I could have gone up to 2" I can always change it out if needed as the bulkheads are threaded. The PVC drains will terminate in 1/5" barbs. I've decided to go with hard PVC for most of the plumbing but go with flex tubing for the final terminations so I don't have to mess with too many crazy bends and so that I can account for any mistakes in measurements. It should also make servicing things easier and I can always go to hard PVC or flex PVC later if I need to. There will also be a ball valve to cutoff flow close to the bulkhead so that part of the line can be serviced or modified without draining part of the tank.
<u>Return 1:</u>
I will have a total of 3 ball valves in a manifold on a 3/4" ID return. The manifold will have a union at each end so the system can be taken down for service or modification. This will be for adding a GFO Reactor, Carbon Reactor, and BioPellet Reactor should I decide I want to or need to add any of those. Manifolds are terminating in 3/4" barbs for now as well. There will also be another ball valve near the bulkhead to cut off flow if needed so that the line can be serviced or modified.
<u>Return 2:</u>
This will also have a total of 3 ball valves in a manifold on a 3/4" ID return but in a different configuration. The manifold will have a union at each end so the system can be taken down for service or modification. The first two ball valves will be close to the return pump, then a ball valve will be in-line with the return line, and final ball valve will T off after the in-line valve. This line and manifold will be for water changes and connection to the chiller. All T's are currently terminated with a 3/4" barb.
The first T will be for water changes. Pull out the 3/4" flex tube attached, close the appropriate valves, and the pump can drain the sump for a water change. The second T will go to the chiller input and the third T will be the return for the chiller. If I ever need to replace or service the chiller or bypass it for whatever reason all I have to do is open up the in-line ball valve and close off the 3 T-valves.
That's it for now. I guess I have to that place called work tomorrow so we'll see how much I can actually get done tomorrow night . . . hoping that the wife will help with aquascaping now that she has the chairs she wanted.
