Plumbing question

[cmiller]

I'm setting up a 60 gallon cube and wanting feedback about plumbing. The way the tank is set up now the 1" pvc return plumbing narrows down to a 1/2" bulkhead where it returns to the display (hole drilled just below the baffles on the side of the overflow). My question is if narrowing the flow down to 1/2" is too narrow and won't creat enough overturn for a 60 gal or cause too much back pressure on my Waveline DC 1050 gph pump? I was thinking I could expand the 1/2" return hole using a dremel to a 3/4" hole and use 3/4" loc line to the tank instead of the 1/2" loc line I have now. Thanks for your thoughts.

 

[itche_scratche]

May be should t-off make it 2 1/2 return

 

[mfinn]

I wouldn't worry about back pressure. It's the same as if you had 6' of head instead of 4'. Make sense?
Also for a 60 gallon tank, if it were mine, I would be thinking in the 400 to 500 gph range.

 

[cmiller]

Thanks for both replies. Helpful. Makes sense re loss of pressure due to return height. I was planning to use one of those new maxspect power bars or a vortec for flow in the display so not depending on the return to create adequate flow necessarily. Bought this as a whole setup from Doublebubble and came with the waveline 1040 gph DC pump. I suppose with 4' return plumbing and 1/2" loc line it will end up decreasing flow to about 60gph (??)



QUOTE=mfinn;723380]I wouldn't worry about back pressure. It's the same as if you had 6' of head instead of 4'. Make sense?
Also for a 60 gallon tank, if it were mine, I would be thinking in the 400 to 500 gph range.[/QUOTE]

 

[mfinn]

I'm assuming you meant 600gph.

Aren't the dc pumps controllable?


I would think ( guess?) that you will find a drop off of 25% to 30% at about 4' of head and a couple 90's. Maybe more. I haven't used any of the dc pumps and don't know how fast the pressure drops off.

 

[cmiller]

Oops, yeah, 600 gph. I've never used a DC pump either ,but I understand they are adjustable. I get your point now i think - I could dial it down to 500-600gph.

I'm assuming you meant 600gph.

Aren't the dc pumps controllable?


I would think ( guess?) that you will find a drop off of 25% to 30% at about 4' of head and a couple 90's. Maybe more. I haven't used any of the dc pumps and don't know how fast the pressure drops off.

 

[mfinn]

One very important issue is ,,,, what is the drain size?

That will determine how many gph you run through the tank

 

[cmiller]

Right good question. It's 1" drain. The are three stand pipes in the overflow: a 3/4 " and two 1". I was thinking of plumbing the 3/4" as the return from the sump to the display, one of the 1" to drain back to the sump (using the Herbie method) and the second 1" as a emergency backup draIn.

One very important issue is ,,,, what is the drain size?

That will determine how many gph you run through the tank

 

[mfinn]

Right good question. It's 1" drain. The are three stand pipes in the overflow: a 3/4 " and two 1". I was thinking of plumbing the 3/4" as the return from the sump to the display, one of the 1" to drain back to the sump (using the Herbie method) and the second 1" as a emergency backup draIn.

Sounds like a plan.

 

[tike]

I also have a 60 gallon cube and have a 1-1/2" overflow. i have found that a return of more than 400 gph creates a LOT of noise. Just my few cents!

 

[cmiller]

Thanks. Do you find the noise comes more from the drain or from water returning into the sump? Thinking I would use the Herbie method to cut down on drain noise. Found this site very helpful: http://gmacreef.com/herbie-overflow-reef-tank-plumbing-method-basics/

I also have a 60 gallon cube and have a 1-1/2" overflow. i have found that a return of more than 400 gph creates a LOT of noise. Just my few cents!

 

[mfinn]

Thanks. Do you find the noise comes more from the drain or from water returning into the sump? Thinking I would use the Herbie method to cut down on drain noise. Found this site very helpful: http://gmacreef.com/herbie-overflow-reef-tank-plumbing-method-basics/

I've used durso drains ( love em) and now I'm using a bean animal design. ( 3 hole with durso style drains).
When I used the durso drain in a standard internal overflow box, the more flow I would run through them, more noise was created in the pipe and the water entering the sump.
So among other reasons I've always stayed in the 3x to 5x the tank volume range. Maybe a little higher on smaller tanks.
Right now I have a eheim 1262 as the return pump on my 233.

 

[Pepcrylic]

I am also a fan of the bean animal.
Its a great design

 

[dailydriven911]

I have a 1 1/2" drain and 3/4" return on my 60 cube using a 690 gph pump dialed back just a little. The hum from the return is the loudest part of the tank. I'm actually going to be going with a controllable dc pump (Jeabo dc3000) as well as I hear they're much quieter.

 

[mfinn]

I have a 1 1/2" drain and 3/4" return on my 60 cube using a 690 gph pump dialed back just a little. The hum from the return is the loudest part of the tank. I'm actually going to be going with a controllable dc pump (Jeabo dc3000) as well as I hear they're much quieter.

Another pump that's amazingly quiet is the Sicce Syncra Silent pumps.
They have a #3 that puts out 714gph and a #2 that is 634gph.

 

[michellechristine]

Cmiller thanks for the herbie link!