1 1/2 piping to 3/4...will it help

[Cmajor]

I am moving my 125 gallon reef with 40 gallon sump tank to another room in the house. When i initially set up the tank i used 1 1/2 inch pipe for both the return and drain lines. Im thinking of keeping the drain lines at 1 1/2 but making the return line 3/4 pipe. im wondering if doing this will help with the issue of fluctuation in the return area with water. Its triggers my ato and overfills the sump level when everything returns to normal. I will get water gushing down the drain secondary piping like every 10 minutes. then it fixes it self. I adjust the gate valve which may help for a week then im back to the gushing water again. im not really sure whats going on here. This has been going on now for about 6 months but the tank has been setup for over 4 years and i did not have this problem until recently. I did not use unions so I will have to take the piping out and redo it anyone once i move the tank.

 

[fishface NJ]

What return pump are you using?

 

[UncommonSense]

I am moving my 125 gallon reef with 40 gallon sump tank to another room in the house. When i initially set up the tank i used 1 1/2 inch pipe for both the return and drain lines. Im thinking of keeping the drain lines at 1 1/2 but making the return line 3/4 pipe. im wondering if doing this will help with the issue of fluctuation in the return area with water. Its triggers my ato and overfills the sump level when everything returns to normal. I will get water gushing down the drain secondary piping like every 10 minutes. then it fixes it self. I adjust the gate valve which may help for a week then im back to the gushing water again. im not really sure whats going on here. This has been going on now for about 6 months but the tank has been setup for over 4 years and i did not have this problem until recently. I did not use unions so I will have to take the piping out and redo it anyone once i move the tank.

You might want to use 1” for the return, it just flows way better than 3/4” in a tank that big!

Is your primary drain pipe submerged in the sump?

 

[Cmajor]

What return pump are you using?

Syncra ADV 5.5

 

[Cmajor]

You might want to use 1” for the return, it just flows way better than 3/4” in a tank that big!

Is your primary drain pipe submerged in the sump?

So 1 inch. Is the 1 1/2 just way too much flow?

Yes the primary is about 6 inches submerged

 

[Uncle99]

I am moving my 125 gallon reef with 40 gallon sump tank to another room in the house. When i initially set up the tank i used 1 1/2 inch pipe for both the return and drain lines. Im thinking of keeping the drain lines at 1 1/2 but making the return line 3/4 pipe. im wondering if doing this will help with the issue of fluctuation in the return area with water. Its triggers my ato and overfills the sump level when everything returns to normal. I will get water gushing down the drain secondary piping like every 10 minutes. then it fixes it self. I adjust the gate valve which may help for a week then im back to the gushing water again. im not really sure whats going on here. This has been going on now for about 6 months but the tank has been setup for over 4 years and i did not have this problem until recently. I did not use unions so I will have to take the piping out and redo it anyone once i move the tank.

I think that will work well and will likely fix your flux issue in the sump.

I have two 1” overflows and one 3/4” return

The flux is caused by ever so slightly more water being returned to DT than can come down the overflow.

 

[UncommonSense]

So 1 inch. Is the 1 1/2 just way too much flow?

Yes the primary is about 6 inches submerged

1.5” is indeed excessive for a pressurized return line in a <300g tank!

As far as drain submersion? Try closer to 1” submerged!!

The flux is caused by ever so slightly more water being returned to DT than can come down the overflow.

Did you seriously just suggest that a 1.5” drain plumbing cannot handle <1,500gph???

Sir, if you don’t have experience with larger plumbing; please don’t comment on it!

 

[Uncle99]

1.5” is indeed excessive for a pressurized return line in a <300g tank!

As far as drain submersion? Try closer to 1” submerged!!


Did you seriously just suggest that a 1.5” drain plumbing cannot handle <1,500gph???

Sir, if you don’t have experience with larger plumbing; please don’t comment on it!

I’m not suggesting anything at all.
I stated I have two 1” overflows and 3/4” return.
Total system volume is 300g.

We have some experience in larger systems as well.