Question about 1.5 plumbing drain & return.

[Nano1908]

After roughly 3 years I think I'm ready to start my tank.

I have a modular marine overflow with the 1.5 bean animal drains. What size should I make the return. I'm hoping to make 2 returns going into the tank but I'm not sure what size to drill the tank.


Should I make a 1" return that splits into 2 half inch returns? What size bulkheads?

I see 1/2" & 3/4 " lock lines, should I buy 2- 3/4" or 2- 1/2" lock line return nozzles?

Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[sbash]

First, check your pump's recommendations for piping. For example, the pumps on my 220 say to use piping twice the size of the outlet, the outlet is 3/4" so I used 1.5" piping. However, my split system (90 and 70 gallon on one sump) uses a Jeabo pump and it doesn't specify, so I just used 1" piping.

Base your bulkheads off your pipe size, there is no point in using 1/5" pipe with 1" bulkheads. The smaller hole, literally creates a bottleneck for the water so this also applies to the lock line nozzles (which is why I don't use them often).

That said, given the low flow we put through the pipes, it may not even matter...

 

[Sod Buster]

What is your plan? Are you running a slow flow sump so the skimmer has time to work? Will you use the loc line aimed any where or put on VSA nozzles for in tank flow, or use multiple powerheads. Everybody needs more details before a decision to give advice can be made. Most common is two 1/2" fed with a 3/4" off the pump. If your display is 250 gallons, you can go either way.

 

[Nano1908]

What is your plan? Are you running a slow flow sump so the skimmer has time to work? Will you use the loc line aimed any where or put on VSA nozzles for in tank flow, or use multiple powerheads. Everybody needs more details before a decision to give advice can be made. Most common is two 1/2" fed with a 3/4" off the pump. If your display is 250 gallons, you can go either way.

Going to try to keep it short & sweet. Lol

I have a 155 gallon bowfront which I'm going to drill. I'm going to have the 1.5 drain size bean animal overflow going to a basement sump. Also attached to the sump I'm going to have a 75 gallon refugium with live rock (want that water volume) I have a Reef Regal 300INT skimmer I am going to use. Return pump is a reeflo Hammerhead (I may have over exaggerated on the pump) which is going to be roughly 12-16 feet away from the DT. As for wave pumps, i have 2- XF250 Gyres, 1 MP40QD, 1- (I believe) XF150.
I want to have a manifold from the return pump to distribute flow to my UV light, reactors & chiller.

Hope this is enough info. :)

 

[Sod Buster]

I would go one inch through the manifold so you have the volume of water to feed them. Up to the display with 3/4", then tee off with 3/4" or 1/2" to the loclines. 3/4 loclines are pretty big and hard to hide if you care about seeing them.

 

[MaiReef]

I would go one inch through the manifold so you have the volume of water to feed them. Up to the display with 3/4", then tee off with 3/4" or 1/2" to the loclines. 3/4 loclines are pretty big and hard to hide if you care about seeing them.

+1

 

[nonstopfish]

You will be wasting a lot of flow from the hammerhead using 3/4" and or 1/2" return line. I would run 1.5" up as far as you can to limit loss, preferably to wherever you split your returns for the locline and use 3/4" locline. No point in having 1.5" bean animal overflow if you aren't putting any flow in the tank.

 

[Nano1908]

I would go one inch through the manifold so you have the volume of water to feed them. Up to the display with 3/4", then tee off with 3/4" or 1/2" to the loclines. 3/4 loclines are pretty big and hard to hide if you care about seeing them.

Thank you!

 

[Nano1908]

You will be wasting a lot of flow from the hammerhead using 3/4" and or 1/2" return line. I would run 1.5" up as far as you can to limit loss, preferably to wherever you split your returns for the locline and use 3/4" locline. No point in having 1.5" bean animal overflow if you aren't putting any flow in the tank.

Thank you!