Gill Roy

I am getting all the equipment together to set up my 120 gal. tank.
I have noticed it can get quite expensive when it comes to return head systems.
I felt it is essentially an articulated piece of tubing like that used for coolant dispensing when doing machining, mostly metalwork but however used on many other materials.

I looked online and found a lot of alternatives with these for an aquarium application.
Comes in several materials and seems fairly easy to work with.

I am going to run a Mag Drive 18 for the return @ just over 4' of head with around 1200gph that height.
I will also have the dual 1" outlet overflow box to the sump.


Questions come to mind when considering the whole picture.
What material would be best? (plastic of course, ie; Polypropylene, Nylon, ect)
Should I get a 4 outlet manifold? (all outlets would be close together)
or
Should I get 2 @ 2 outlets? (would be a pair of 2 and could space them more)
or should I consider the modular type manifold?

Some links to the system in question...

http://www.mcmaster.com/#water-manifolds/=37ppxd
http://www.mcmaster.com/#5253k313/=37prn6
http://www.mcmaster.com/#5253k303/=37ps0l
http://www.mcmaster.com/#catalog/115/2160/=37pv5m
http://www.mcmaster.com/#snap-loc-coolant-hose/=37pun2
http://www.use-enco.com/CGI/INPDFF?PMPAGE=857&PMCTLG=00

pepetj

Gil Roy, sorry I missed this post. The question here, as I see your request for feedback, relies on the type of set up you are looking to attain.

If your 120gal is to be heavily planted, with injected CO2, then minimal water agitation (except at night time if running CO2 24/7 -without solenoid) should dictate how to handle the filtration system.

If, on the other hand, you are setting a stream-river tank, the use of manifolds with ball valves and powerful pump(s) seems a great idea.

Pepetj
Santo Domingo