Novice setting up sump advice, help please!

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PaulVerrall
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Thought I'd start a new thread as I'm sure I'm going to need a lot of help please!
Starting from scratch, brand new tank, brand new sump, I have all the pipework (uncut) and attachments.
Internal Weir with 3 holes-- 2 outlet and 1 inlet.

At this stage I'm just getting it right in my head, then will draw a diagram and then attempt to plumb it.

I'm watching videos etc but most are for marine not freshwater.

A few starter questions.

The one inlet goes inside the Weir (Weir is middle back)so run a pipe from pump up through the weir and then spray water back into the aquarium I'm guessing I'll need to cut the comb at the top of the Weir to fit the spray nozzle pumping water back in as there isn't room to fit above comb and below glass lid

Also is that 1 inlet enough? As I have holes at both ends of the tank so I could split the flow from the return pump to go up the Weir and to both ends, but the other 2 would not be hidden like the one in the weir
Last edited by PaulVerrall on Wed Oct 30, 2024 11:17 am, edited 1 time in total.
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fr499y
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One return will be enough, you might have a T piece in the bag of bits that can be used to split the return to both sides of the tank.

I’m pretty sure ND stick with a 2-1 setup for the weir for simplicity.
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PaulVerrall
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fr499y wrote: Sun Oct 20, 2024 10:51 am One return will be enough, you might have a T piece in the bag of bits that can be used to split the return to both sides of the tank.

I’m pretty sure ND stick with a 2-1 setup for the weir for simplicity.
Yeah I have all sorts of connectors. I only have one small tap on the end of a piece of hose which fits on the thinner pipe for the return though. I'd rather one with just the one as it's nicely hidden. I'd have to cut a couple of the comb strands away to fit the return nozzle through though.
Hopefully my power heads will create enough flow to keep it clean looking in there!

Good point on the putting it together dry first!!! Make sure everything fits. Do you weld the bulkheads as well even though they have a seal both sides and screw up?
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PaulVerrall
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I've found some demo pics from ND showing how to connect their pipework up. Lol the bit I thought was the inlet looks like it's just an air intake for the durst
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fr499y
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Ahh ok they have done it as a durso.

For the bulkheads you’ll solvent the outside but you can just push the intake side in for cleaning etc.

The two wholes make sense with the way the outlet is done so the pipe work goes over the top of the rear brace and back in to each corner. Very neat setup 😁
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PaulVerrall
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What I want to do with my return is instead of running pipe around the top (where the red circle is) Can I cut the comb and just have the inlet blowing water in where the red arrow is? That way it's all hidden as my back and Weir are all painted black
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fr499y
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You could do if you wanted, the other way gives you equal flow across the entire tank which is preferable on a marine setup
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PaulVerrall
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I could use the T connector and have it come out both sides of the Weir. I'm not worried too much about cutting the comb as none of my fish would even fit in the Weir let alone through the comb!
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How necessary is that tap? Is that to stop noise?
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PaulVerrall wrote: Sun Oct 20, 2024 12:30 pm Image

How necessary is that tap? Is that to stop noise?
Being a 'durso' stand pipe it needs a small amount of air flow to work. I had one on my reef aquarium.

So yes that tap is necessary and you'll find a durso stand pipe much quieter than a normal stand pipe ...no bath plug hole noise. :]
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