refugium questions

[bluedevils38]

okay so i have a question on a refugium that im setting up! i have a 55 gallon salt aquarium that i have a overflow system on it and i was wondering on a question on my return pump! i am using 1 inch pvc pipe to do all the plumping im going to use all hard plumbing and was wondering about how much gph 1 inch pvc would make and what size return pump i should get!i was thinking about getting a big one and just putting a ball valve on it! and suggestions!?

 

[Ron Reefman]

This website has a chart with gravity flow rates for various sizes of pvc pipe. 1" pipe is just under 1000gph, but with a durso or other system to quiet the intake it will be reduced. So a 1000gph pump with a ball valve or gate valve on the output side of the pump should work fine. Also consider an emergency overflow just in case your primary drain develops a blockage. I won't build a new system with out one.

GPM/GPH Flow based on PVC Pipe Size, ie, How much water can flow through Sch 40 Pvc Pipe Size 1/2" 3/4" 1" 1.5" 2" 2.5" 3" 4" 6"