So the fish house is 14' x 20'. There is a room inside on the back left that is about 5' x 13'. You can see that in the thread on the fish house. The main area has 14 tanks on the rack in the other picture and more tanks on the opposite wall. Can you do straight runs or is a loop best?
It generally thought that a loop is best for even air distribution and wear & tear on your pump.
Dennis
Dennis what is the reasoning behind that? No. For once I am not being smart. I want to know. I've not done a central pump before. I've also never had so many tanks (and filters) running :) My max was 20 back in a 3 room apartment.
The primary benefit of a loop is that air pressure is maintained evenly in a system that does not have any dead ends. With even pressure through out the loop, adjustments to one valve will not affect all the others.
You might also want to install a pressure gauge and a bleed-off valve in your loop. If you bleed off any excess air, lowering the total system pressure, your pump will be much happier and live a longer life with less maintenance needed.
Dennis
A loop is recomemded but I don't use a loop and have no complaints.
Mine's not looped either....but it is "T"d in the middle where my pump is at....
Mine's like yours, Mug.
Makes sense Dennis. Now to figure out how to get a loop in that room. Well that and buy the pump.
I've ran a loop before and now I have a straight shot. Only difference I notice between the two is like Dennis said if you adjust one valve you'll see a difference on another which only happened once to me. Other than that one instance I feel like there's no difference. I've always heard a loop is better for all the reasons Dennis mentioned but mine works like a charm
A loop will allow your air system to supply air to a valve from two directions.
This makes less of a pressure difference at the valve, if you change other valves (within limits).
You could probably get a very similar effect by using a larger supply valve.
The larger pipe size will reduce the pipe's resistance to air flow .
This will reduce the pressure drops from valve to valve.
You could also run a loop by having both sides of the loop running parallel to each other and have them join at the end.
Quote from: BillT on March 05, 2015, 01:47:18 PM
A loop will allow your air system to supply air to a valve from two directions.
This makes less of a pressure difference at the valve, if you change other valves (within limits).
You could probably get a very similar effect by using a larger supply valve.
The larger pipe size will reduce the pipe's resistance to air flow .
This will reduce the pressure drops from valve to valve.
You could also run a loop by having both sides of the loop running parallel to each other and have them join at the end.
That was along the lines I was thinking. A loop doesn't always have to be round.
Quote from: GraphicGr8s on March 05, 2015, 03:16:06 PM
A loop doesn't always have to be round.
Ain't that the truth..... You should see mine, it goes down one end of the racks across and then back up the other and off to the next rack to repeat the process. LOL But, if you straighten it all out, it's a continuous loop.
Dennis
So last night I pulled the trigger on the AP100. Question now is what size pipe? 1/2 or 3/4 pvc?
I think that you'll find that most use at least 3/4" , with some using even 1"......I don't use PVC...I'm sure others will chime in....
I use 3/4 in the whole fish room. The pump has a 3/4 outlet.....
(http://ballaquatics.com/ba-wp/wp-content/uploads/danner_ap-100.jpg)
Dennis
Jhemco recommends 1" because the larger the pipe the less friction. But I already had my 3/4 set up and they said that it was OK.
Quote from: Mugwump on March 14, 2015, 05:45:00 AM
I think that you'll find that most use at least 3/4" , with some using even 1"......I don't use PVC...I'm sure others will chime in....
All galvanized?
Quote from: GraphicGr8s on March 14, 2015, 12:20:05 PM
Quote from: Mugwump on March 14, 2015, 05:45:00 AM
I think that you'll find that most use at least 3/4" , with some using even 1"......I don't use PVC...I'm sure others will chime in....
All galvanized?
No, I run 3/4" clear tube off a 'T' , no closed loop....for outlets I use gang logs....
So I got the pump today. This thing is gigantic compared to what I am used to.
What do you use as a check valve on this kind of setup? I've got to keep the pump on the floor so I would venture it's a necessity.
I use a PVC one.
So where do you all get your valves from? Jehmco? And which ones? They have like 3 different platings. Get the cheapest so long as it's not plastic?
I use the brass ones. I wish I could remember where I found a good price on them but I can't. It was several years ago. I think most folks use the small steel ones.
Quote from: GraphicGr8s on March 23, 2015, 09:36:12 AM
So where do you all get your valves from?
I use these from Ken's
(http://www.kensfish.com/media/aquarium/airsupplies/valves/ss_size2/levervalve.jpg)
They have an extra outlet that I can use for a temporary drop if needed..... I think they are around $1.40 each
Dennis
That's what i use too. I really like the extra outet. It comes in handy.
Ken's was out of those. I wound up getting some valves from Jehmco.
Got the pipe drilled and valves fitted Sunday night and mocked up a run last night. Nothing is glued yet but it is putting air into the tanks. I am going to try getting the other room mocked up tonight. I am wondering if I really need to glue this together though. But i probably will.
Now to find some Lees economy corner filters cheap. Need another 10 or so.
Quote from: GraphicGr8s on March 31, 2015, 09:41:57 AM
Ken's was out of those. I wound up getting some valves from Jehmco.
Got the pipe drilled and valves fitted Sunday night and mocked up a run last night. Nothing is glued yet but it is putting air into the tanks. I am going to try getting the other room mocked up tonight. I am wondering if I really need to glue this together though. But i probably will.
Now to find some Lees economy corner filters cheap. Need another 10 or so.
you can make those out of plastic pop bottles too.....
Quote from: Mugwump on March 31, 2015, 10:09:41 AM
Quote from: GraphicGr8s on March 31, 2015, 09:41:57 AM
Ken's was out of those. I wound up getting some valves from Jehmco.
Got the pipe drilled and valves fitted Sunday night and mocked up a run last night. Nothing is glued yet but it is putting air into the tanks. I am going to try getting the other room mocked up tonight. I am wondering if I really need to glue this together though. But i probably will.
Now to find some Lees economy corner filters cheap. Need another 10 or so.
you can make those out of plastic pop bottles too.....
Hadn't thought about that. Would be pretty easy. If I drank soda, pop, whatever but I don't. But hmmmmm....
Idea light bulb went on.
I don't care what the others say about you Jon. You're a pretty fart smella. Even a pretty smart fellow.
Quote from: GraphicGr8s on March 31, 2015, 10:55:41 AM
Quote from: Mugwump on March 31, 2015, 10:09:41 AM
Quote from: GraphicGr8s on March 31, 2015, 09:41:57 AMYou're a pretty fart smella....
When I was 13 I was screwing around with switching word beginnings around like that while riding in the back seat with Mom and Dad in the front seat, and a fire truck went by. They didn't like it at all when I switched that one around! :-\ It just came out! Oops! :(
Quote from: Ron Sower on March 31, 2015, 11:12:19 AM
Quote from: GraphicGr8s on March 31, 2015, 10:55:41 AM
Quote from: Mugwump on March 31, 2015, 10:09:41 AM
Quote from: GraphicGr8s on March 31, 2015, 09:41:57 AMYou're a pretty fart smella....
When I was 13 I was screwing around with switching word beginnings around like that while riding in the back seat with Mom and Dad in the front seat, and a fire truck went by. They didn't like it at all when I switched that one around! :-\ It just came out! Oops! :(
;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D :o :) :) :) :) :) :)
Quote from: GraphicGr8s on March 31, 2015, 09:41:57 AM
I am wondering if I really need to glue this together though. But i probably will.
I don't glue mine..... for what it's worth.
Dennis
I glue mine. The PVC heats up and gets bigger and if not glued the connections will blow apart.
Quote from: BallAquatics on March 31, 2015, 06:00:21 PM
Quote from: GraphicGr8s on March 31, 2015, 09:41:57 AM
I am wondering if I really need to glue this together though. But i probably will.
I don't glue mine..... for what it's worth.
Dennis
Most the folks that I know don't either.....it's not much pressure...but if you think it's a big air lose, put a light coat of caulk around the seams...but if snugged up good, I'd leave it too...if you do any modifications later, it'd be a lot easier...
Quote from: Mugwump on March 31, 2015, 06:30:35 PM
.....it's not much pressure...
That's the key. Less pressure greatly extends the life of your pump. Bleed off any extra air to keep the pressure as low as possible while still delivering air to the tanks.
Dennis
Quote from: BallAquatics on April 01, 2015, 06:59:43 AM
Quote from: Mugwump on March 31, 2015, 06:30:35 PM
.....it's not much pressure...
That's the key. Less pressure greatly extends the life of your pump. Bleed off any extra air to keep the pressure as low as possible while still delivering air to the tanks.
Dennis
+1.....yup
Sometimes for low pressure I will glue PVC with silicon.
It holds things together better than no glue, but you can still take things apart easily when you want to change things.