Hooking up RIO 3100 as return pump**HELP**

[sweetjesus]

OK Guys, I have purchased a RIO 3100 as a return pump. I notice that 3/4" PVC tubing fits over the outlet quite snugly. How have you guys hooked yours up? Do I use PVC glue and glue the outlet in? I am bringing the PVC up out of the sump, putting a T on and a ball valve to go off to the refugium that is just a walled off 1/4 of the sump so It returns by a water fall overflow. Also, I am bringing a 1" overflow tube down into the sump. I assume, i can place the outlet below water level and the gravity will keep the flow up? To cut down on noise. Thirdly, I am DIY the over flow in the corner of the pre-drilled 90 gallon, Do you suggest I put some filter floss in there and that will cut down on noise? What not? I got a sterilite container from the local super center for the sump. Hints and IDEAS please! On how to hook this all up the right way! I have a ton of 1" and 3/4" PVC and connectors and adaptors. because I noticed in a lot of pics on here, that you guys all plumb with PVC. So please help me out!

 

[jimi]

Dont glue the tubing on to the pump, just use stainless steel screw clamps. You should definately have floss or some type of sponge prefilter in the overflow and sometype of finer filter material or sock in the sump.

 

[johnnysalt]

SweetJesus,
I emailed you this already, so this is for others to read....Stainless steel clamps will still stain under water....the ones from Home Depot and Lowe's do anyway. Only took mine a week or two to stain!
With an overflow, a prefilter might not help your noise problem - it didn't with mine either.
1. I tried waiting a week after I set my overflow up to "let the air make its way out through the tubing"....didn't work.
2. I tried "running the airline hose down the entire length of the overflow tube to find the air pocket so it could come out through the top of the airhose"....didn't work.
3. Tried wiggling the overflow hose to dislodge air....didn't work.
4. Tried lifting the end of the overflow hose above the water level in the sump....and back in again....didn't work.
5. Tried pouring ALOT of water in the overflow box to 'force' the air out....didn't work.
THEN, at a cost of $3.83, I made a Durso Standpipe....I actually used clear vinyl tubing instead of pvc because my overflow box is too small...the other required pvc fittings (one T, 1 elbow, an endcap, etc.) would not have fit at all. I will post a pic if others are interested.
And THIS my friends STOPPED the Niagara Falls/Waterfall sounds forever! I can't post a link, but you can search for durso standpipe and you will find a few good links to try. Also, here is some of the info I followed: Durso standpipe. In the pic, I have vinyl tubing where you see the white pvc with red print.
It is AMAZING how quiet it is now....stopped the slurping/gurgling INSTANTLY! Email me if you want to try it!
With the refugium I used a ball valve off of a T on the return line also....works GREAT! This way I can adjust the gph in just the refugium alone....and then it waterfalls back into the return area of the sump. I put a small piece of filter media where the refugium water overflows to the return to kill any bubbles that form.my refugium diagramToo bad it wasn't my idea!

 

[rickt4du]

Johhnysalt....GREAT INFO MAN!!!!!! I just picked up a new 90gal with overflow and was wondering how to do it up right. AWESOME.