Here are some points and advice in designing and setting up the plumbing for a reef aquarium system. 

• Make a diagram of what is wanted to be achieved.  Start out with a rough sketch, then develop it as things evolve to include every single fitting and piece of piping that is going to be required.
• From the diagram make a list of the parts required.  That will ensure that everything is on hand when assembling.  Be prepared to do some running back to the plumbing store though, some how always turns out that something is missed.
• Always measure twice, glue once with PVC piping and fittings.  Once the glue sets for the PVC, which is within a couple of sections, very little that can be done.  It can be a very costly mistake, as the fittings and piping cannot really be reused.  Loose fit the entire thing together, or at least in sections, before gluing.  However, if the blue solvent is used, then gentle heating of the joing can allow it to be pulled apart.
• Avoid using 90 degree elbows as much as possible, they increase the water flow resistance.  For bending sections can use flexible PVC (which is rather expensive, but very neat to use), vinyl tubing or use 2 x 45/135 degree elbows (two of those has less pressure drop compared to one 90 degree bend).
• With vinyl tubing and barb fittings, ensure that also use hose clamps to ensure that the tubing does not come off.
• Any clear vinyl exposed to light will grow algae on the inner surface, so best if it is shaded from the light.
• Use unions throughout the plumbing as much as possible so that things can be very easily pulled apart for changing the layout or maintenence.  Important sections for this are pumps and sumps.
• Use ball valves so that sections of the plumbing can be isolated as required, or to allow the flowrate to various sections of the plumbing to be adjusted to some degree.  These should be used in conjunction with the unions, as the valve is simply closed then the union undone to remove the section of interest.  Means that will be able to remove a section of the plumbing without having to go through the hassle of draining something or getting water every where.
• Keep it simple.  Complex plumbing does not necessarily equate to better plumbing.  Keep the entire thing as simple as possible, including the number of fittings that are used.
  

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