Plumbing sizes and drainage

gregzz4 · #1 12-24-2013, 03:54 AM

And your's is giving you adequate flow I assume ?

Thanks

I'm going to step up my plumbing after the holiday hubbub dies down

BlueTang<3 · #2 12-24-2013, 04:05 AM

I actually tried something different with my tank, matched the return pump to skimmer size and added more power heads.i had more sump to display flow on my 180 than my 360. So far and is not old enough to notice anything. But to answer the is the plumbing working its yes. I also only have 1 inch bulkheads for returns just bushing to 1.5 immediately and drains are 1.5 bushing to 2 inch and 2 inch standpipe. Talking with a plumber he said dont go less than 3 inch for drain. So I cheaper out and went 2 inch my gate for the herbie is only slightly opened. So I have lots left, dam plumbing and valves and what not was probably 600 bucks

kacairns · #3 12-24-2013, 06:11 AM

1" pvc pipe should be able to handle upwards of roughly 900-1000gph of water gravity fed, adding in angles and wyes, valves and so on reduces that amount. Considering your eheim pump has a return of approximately 900gph at 0h I'd suggest you have something other then the actual drain size restricting the flow.

mark · #4 12-24-2013, 07:38 AM

Really makes a difference on how things laid out. Guessing my 1" drain on my fuge maxes out at 200-300gpm.

For drain size take a look at BeanAnimals calculator in his write up as takes in amount of head and type of discharge.

For teeth on a weir like the excel spreadsheet from RDO download section Overflow Capacity Calculator

gregzz4 · #5 12-24-2013, 08:32 PM

Thanks for the thoughts and links everyone

It has to be the 1" drain plumbing

The emerg kicks in if I crank it up, so it's not the teeth

I'll change it to 1-1/2"

spit.fire · #6 12-24-2013, 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gregzz4

Thanks for the thoughts and links everyone

It has to be the 1" drain plumbing

The emerg kicks in if I crank it up, so it's not the teeth

I'll change it to 1-1/2"

where in the pipe is your valve? the lower the valve the better your flow will be initially as anything below the valve wont act as a siphon until the bubbles are all cleared out

gregzz4 · #7 12-24-2013, 09:08 PM

The bubbles clear out within less than 1 minute, but to answer your question, the valve is inline within 12" of the bulkhead
And the valve is wide open

I can leave the pump running fulltime for weeks on end and nothing changes, so it's def not trapped air. And I don't have to dial it in after a restart