Fittings/hoses for Mag-Drive 7

[Dave]

Hello;

I'm about to set up my first sump ... going on a 55 gal tank using a
Rainbow LifeReef slimline overflow box, with output probably to a SCWD
switching device.

I have a MagDrive 7 pump. This pump has a 1/2" FPT inlet and a 1/2"
MPT outlet. What fittings and hoses should I use?

3/4" hose pushed over outlet?

1/2" MPT x 1/2" barb on inlet? or 3/4" barb?

Thanks ... I'm a total newbie to aquarium plumbing!

- Dave

[Bob Phelps]

I"ve have the same problem. I"ll watch this thred.
"Dave" > wrote in message
om...
> Hello;
>
> I'm about to set up my first sump ... going on a 55 gal tank using a
> Rainbow LifeReef slimline overflow box, with output probably to a SCWD
> switching device.
>
> I have a MagDrive 7 pump. This pump has a 1/2" FPT inlet and a 1/2"
> MPT outlet. What fittings and hoses should I use?
>
> 3/4" hose pushed over outlet?
>
> 1/2" MPT x 1/2" barb on inlet? or 3/4" barb?
>
> Thanks ... I'm a total newbie to aquarium plumbing!
>
> - Dave

[Marc Levenson]

You want to use 1/2" unions to allow yourself the ability to remove the pump for
easy servicing, as you do have to take it apart and clean it from time to time -
or even replace it. Here's what one looks like, although typically white:
http://www.melevsreef.com/plumbing/pvc_union.jpg

This is screwed onto the OUTlet of your pump. Add a 1/2" nipple to it, then
bump up your plumbing to 3/4" or 1" rigid pipe going up. You *can* use flexible
tubing, but it can lose its shape and become oval, which reduces your flow.
Avoid as many elbows and turns as you possibly can.

According to the included instructions with my Mag drives, you need to double
the size of the outlet to get maximum flow. 1" would be ideal, and 1" thinwall
would be even better. It is 7/8" ID. :)

If you go to a SCWD, you'll have to reduce it back down, and use hose barbs for
connections. Here's a page of how I put together a closed loop with a Mag 5 and
a SCWD:
http://www.melevsreef.com/how_to_build.html

Marc



Dave wrote:

> Hello;
>
> I'm about to set up my first sump ... going on a 55 gal tank using a
> Rainbow LifeReef slimline overflow box, with output probably to a SCWD
> switching device.
>
> I have a MagDrive 7 pump. This pump has a 1/2" FPT inlet and a 1/2"
> MPT outlet. What fittings and hoses should I use?
>
> 3/4" hose pushed over outlet?
>
> 1/2" MPT x 1/2" barb on inlet? or 3/4" barb?
>
> Thanks ... I'm a total newbie to aquarium plumbing!
>
> - Dave

--
Personal Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com/oanda/index.html
Business Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com
Marine Hobbyist: http://www.melevsreef.com

[Rbuehler9]

I also recommend using hose barb fittings, but I have simply shoved 3/4 ID
tubing over the threaded output of a mag 7 and secured it with a cable/zip tie.
The tubing has never come off.

[Chris]

But doesn't a thicker water column mean your producing more head? from what
i'm reading your suggestion to potentially double the ouput pipe size. is
the pump has a 1/2 inch output shouldn't you use that all the way up?


"Marc Levenson" > wrote in message
...
> You want to use 1/2" unions to allow yourself the ability to remove the
pump for
> easy servicing, as you do have to take it apart and clean it from time to
time -
> or even replace it. Here's what one looks like, although typically white:
> http://www.melevsreef.com/plumbing/pvc_union.jpg
>
> This is screwed onto the OUTlet of your pump. Add a 1/2" nipple to it,
then
> bump up your plumbing to 3/4" or 1" rigid pipe going up. You *can* use
flexible
> tubing, but it can lose its shape and become oval, which reduces your
flow.
> Avoid as many elbows and turns as you possibly can.
>
> According to the included instructions with my Mag drives, you need to
double
> the size of the outlet to get maximum flow. 1" would be ideal, and 1"
thinwall
> would be even better. It is 7/8" ID. :)
>
> If you go to a SCWD, you'll have to reduce it back down, and use hose
barbs for
> connections. Here's a page of how I put together a closed loop with a Mag
5 and
> a SCWD:
> http://www.melevsreef.com/how_to_build.html
>
> Marc
>
>
>
> Dave wrote:
>
> > Hello;
> >
> > I'm about to set up my first sump ... going on a 55 gal tank using a
> > Rainbow LifeReef slimline overflow box, with output probably to a SCWD
> > switching device.
> >
> > I have a MagDrive 7 pump. This pump has a 1/2" FPT inlet and a 1/2"
> > MPT outlet. What fittings and hoses should I use?
> >
> > 3/4" hose pushed over outlet?
> >
> > 1/2" MPT x 1/2" barb on inlet? or 3/4" barb?
> >
> > Thanks ... I'm a total newbie to aquarium plumbing!
> >
> > - Dave
>
> --
> Personal Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com/oanda/index.html
> Business Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com
> Marine Hobbyist: http://www.melevsreef.com
>
>

[Marc Levenson]

Chris, I followed that same line of thinking with a Mag 5 and 1/2" pipe going up
to the tank, and I had slow flow. I'm no physics-whiz, but I'm betting on the
smaller 1/2" (or 3/4" on the Mag 9.5 and up) inlet and outlet being a way to
really move the water quickly through the pump.

After all, we want good flow, not spa jets.

Marc


Chris wrote:

> But doesn't a thicker water column mean your producing more head? from what
> i'm reading your suggestion to potentially double the ouput pipe size. is
> the pump has a 1/2 inch output shouldn't you use that all the way up?

--
Personal Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com/oanda/index.html
Business Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com
Marine Hobbyist: http://www.melevsreef.com

[Richard Reynolds]

> But doesn't a thicker water column mean your producing more head?

absolugely NOT
often the reverse is true as you get added resistance to the piping.

> from what
> i'm reading your suggestion to potentially double the ouput pipe size. is
> the pump has a 1/2 inch output shouldn't you use that all the way up?

NO it should be at least double that

the amount of water has little to do with calculating resistance, the height of water and
the resistance in plumbing has almost everything to do with it. think of a freeway, with
the same traffic, more lanes == faster cars, fewer lanes == slower cars.

--
Richard Reynolds

[Luca Brazi]

"Richard Reynolds" > wrote in message news:<t78eb.27840$gv5.19639@fed1read05>...
> > But doesn't a thicker water column mean your producing more head?
>
> absolugely NOT
> often the reverse is true as you get added resistance to the piping.
>
> > from what
> > i'm reading your suggestion to potentially double the ouput pipe size. is
> > the pump has a 1/2 inch output shouldn't you use that all the way up?
>
> NO it should be at least double that
>
> the amount of water has little to do with calculating resistance, the height of water and
> the resistance in plumbing has almost everything to do with it. think of a freeway, with
> the same traffic, more lanes == faster cars, fewer lanes == slower cars.

I've had problems with running 3/4" from a Mag 7 up to a SCWD. The
thing generates microbubbles like mad. I'm trying to figure a way now
to resize the input line (U tube w/ 3/4" hose) and the output to see
if that solves the problem (if the culprit is vaporization in the
pump, which needs to be bigger, input or output?)

[Richard Reynolds]

> I've had problems with running 3/4" from a Mag 7 up to a SCWD. The
> thing generates microbubbles like mad. I'm trying to figure a way now
> to resize the input line (U tube w/ 3/4" hose) and the output to see
> if that solves the problem (if the culprit is vaporization in the
> pump, which needs to be bigger, input or output?)

I dont like the theory that the mag is cavitating on its own, you should have enough back
pressure that the input lines are close enough BUT

my first thought is to submerge the entire thing, let it run for a few minutes and see if
it still creats microbubbles, my guess is in reality you have a leak and its sucking air
in, it doesnt mean that you dont have a leak just because when you shut it off no water
drips out. but i wouldnt run anything smaller than 1" on a mag7 and as pvc is cheap i
might even be inclined to run 1.5" input's, though increase the size of your input side
plumbing at least.



--
Richard Reynolds

[Dave]

Marc;

You mention ballvalves in your setup process but I don't see them in the picture?

Marc Levenson > wrote in message >...

>Here's a page of how I put together a closed loop with a Mag 5 and
> a SCWD:
> http://www.melevsreef.com/how_to_build.html
>
> Marc
>
>
>
> Dave wrote:
>
> > Hello;
> >
> > I'm about to set up my first sump ... going on a 55 gal tank using a
> > Rainbow LifeReef slimline overflow box, with output probably to a SCWD
> > switching device.
> >
> > I have a MagDrive 7 pump. This pump has a 1/2" FPT inlet and a 1/2"
> > MPT outlet. What fittings and hoses should I use?
> >
> > 3/4" hose pushed over outlet?
> >
> > 1/2" MPT x 1/2" barb on inlet? or 3/4" barb?
> >
> > Thanks ... I'm a total newbie to aquarium plumbing!
> >
> > - Dave

[Marc Levenson]

Yeah, because I never got around to installing them. I think it is the best option if you
plan to do any maintenance on your setup. I've not done any, and it has been running 9
months non-stop! But if you had a ballvalve on the input and output sides (3 in all), you
could close them all, and remove the SCWD and Mag drive for cleaning.

Marc


Dave wrote:

> Marc;
>
> You mention ballvalves in your setup process but I don't see them in the picture?
>
> Marc Levenson > wrote in message >...
>
> >Here's a page of how I put together a closed loop with a Mag 5 and
> > a SCWD:
> > http://www.melevsreef.com/how_to_build.html
> >
> > Marc
> >
> >
> >
> > Dave wrote:
> >
> > > Hello;
> > >
> > > I'm about to set up my first sump ... going on a 55 gal tank using a
> > > Rainbow LifeReef slimline overflow box, with output probably to a SCWD
> > > switching device.
> > >
> > > I have a MagDrive 7 pump. This pump has a 1/2" FPT inlet and a 1/2"
> > > MPT outlet. What fittings and hoses should I use?
> > >
> > > 3/4" hose pushed over outlet?
> > >
> > > 1/2" MPT x 1/2" barb on inlet? or 3/4" barb?
> > >
> > > Thanks ... I'm a total newbie to aquarium plumbing!
> > >
> > > - Dave

--
Personal Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com/oanda/index.html
Business Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com
Marine Hobbyist: http://www.melevsreef.com