Plumbing A Sump/Refugium

I prefer regular old pvc. As long as its glued right no need to worry about leaks or things coming loose. Its cheap, and its easy to cut and repair as needed. I wouldn't use flex pvc unless there was some weird bend or angle you needed to do. I did use a little vinyl tubing to isolate my return pump to reduce vibration noise, and a little to connect my 2 returns (I plumbed them over the top because I used the stock return hole in the oerflow for an emergency overflow) because I had them come up at a weird angle.

 

I forgot, my return pump is internal, so vinyl might not be the best to isolate your return pump, spa flex might work better there.

 

I like going with the rigid piping. I have seen the spa flex pop off too many times for me to be comfortable with it.

I also like the internal pumps, but everyone is different. The main reason for me is that having an external pump is two more places to potentially have a leak. through the bulkhead, and the seal on the pump.

Make sure you use a union and a check valve. The check valve should be in the return of your pump, so if power goes out, it doesnt syphon back through the return line.

Hope that gives you some ideas.

Craig

 

If you use an external pump you will want to put in two, fairly close to the pump.

Inevitably you will need to disconnect the pump at sometime, whether it is for maintenance, cleaning or replacing the impellar, or something like a snail jamming the impellar.

Unions will make it so much easier!