Newbie advise needed... Diary of a new tank junkie

[reefwars]

Originally Posted by ensquire

Thanks and now the next series of questions. LOL
Drain is a 1" bulkhead with a 3/4" straight pipe and the drain has 3/4" pipe with 2 elbows draining into sump. Return is a 320 GPH pump hooked to a short piece of hose into a 1/2" run about 3' long with 2 elbows attached to a 1/2" bulkhead with a 1/2" pipe into a Locline nozzle. I don't like the open drain, and have experimented with several types of drains, but whenever I change from the straight open end I have to throttle back my pump. I would like and need more than 320 GPH flow, which brings me to
My questions about my options.
Is there any effect on the drainage if I make the pipes bigger before and after the bulkhead? It is still a 1" opening.
I see several options but would like to get some opinions and feedback on them.
My first thought was to order some glass bits and bore out the openings inside the overflow box but my concerns are about how close the boles will be and the space underneath would be tight but might be an option.
Option 2) Use both lines in overflow box az drains (Herbie, or other).Increase pipe to 1 1 1/2 before bulkhead and 1" after. Run an exterior line up the back thAt would tee off into 2 returns drilled thru back of the tank and use nozzles to have some flow behind the reef. in the tank. If this is best option, should the return be a single line or double and should it be 1/2, 3/4, or 1" based on the size of the drain?
Option 2) use 1' bulkhead in overflow box as 1' return line and use second pipe as emergency overflow. Then build either an interior or an exterior overflow box on the back of the tank?

I would like to increase my pump to a Quiet One pushing 800 GPH if I can work out this plumbing problem, and I am really stuck here. My tank has been running for a month now with only the liverock in it and I am dying to start stocking it, but I feel that this will be a mistake until I address this plumbing/flow situation.

Thanks.

Mike


Or option 3) I am overreacting and I should be happy with present situation?

hey mike so with a return pump only rated at 320gph and having a tank of 80g leaves you 4x turnover when you would usually want minimum 5x or as much as can be delivered. so id say a upgrade in pumps is a good start and then if it were my tank i would use the two holes i have and run my lines directly over the back as in your idea.

i dont think using bigger pipes going to a smaller bulkhead hole is gonna increase gph but im not sure and it probably could im sure theres some logic behind it but in the end a hole will only fit so much water.i guess it would depend on the overflow method you choose.

it sounds like your not afraid to drill holes and are prepared to do so , so why not make them bigger or add one?? if you do just make sure to know the bulheads you are going to use or at least how much space to leave in between each hole


fwiw i hate 3/4" plumbing and even more so 1/2" i think 1" is great for your tank and imo i like to have my drain hole size bigger than my return hole size cheers sounds like your on the right track