Bulkheads & Pipe sizing

Reefer Reboot · Sep 20, 2020

Yes indeed there are some valid points here. Admittedly, I did not think of this from an aesthetic point of view, but there are easy work arounds for some of these. Without more specifics from @hellsangelbx it's hard to go any further with this. I do appreciate the opinions though.

hellsangelbx · Sep 20, 2020

@Reefer Reboot what would the pressure drastically change if I were to take the 1.5" and split it to two 1.5" on the tank. Or what would happen if from the abyzz 1.5" outlet convert it to a 2" and then split it to two 1.5" into the tanks return? I also wanted to connect uv to the return output of the Abyzz as well.

Reefer Reboot · Sep 20, 2020

I'm not exactly sure what you're asking on the first sentence. Could you please rephrase that? If you keep the plumbing at the same size as the pump outlet (1.5" in this case) and don't reduce it, it will not have a substantial increase to the vertical head pressure other than the tare loss from the tee fitting. Tare loss from a 1.5" tee will be much less than reducing down to two 1" pipes. Running a 2" pipe up from the basement would help a tiny little amount, but as just a straight pipe, it would not be by any appreciable amount. As for the UV, you can always tee off the main return line then go through a gate valve to control flow rate to the UV. Naturally this takes away from the overall turnover rate, especially if it is returned right back to the sump. I hope this helps. Do you know what kind of bulkheads you will be using, i.e., internally threaded on both ends?

hellsangelbx · Sep 21, 2020

@Reefer Reboot yeah I meant to say if I were to tee off the return line io the two return outlets to the tank what would be the best option would it be going 1.5" up to the tee and keep the consistency in the two pipes off the tee 1.5" to the bulkheads? Or should I go 2" up to the tee and stick to 1.5" off the split of the tee going to the bulkheads? or lastly going should I go 2" up to the tee and off the tee stick too 2" to the bulkheads?

Also, the uv I wanted to know if I could plumb it off the return line going up to my tank before the tee that splits to the tank. Put another tee before all that and create a manifold with gate valves to the uv and meets back to the return line that goes directly back in the tank. Since I would have excess flow I thought I can take it from the return line and dial it in to the specific flow. @Reefer Reboot thank you for helping me understand this topic better is im not no plumber but know how to at least DIY on these matters.

Reefer Reboot · Sep 21, 2020

You're very welcome. If you are able to run the return line straight up without any elbows before the tee then I would just stay with the 1.5" pipe, tee and bulkhead. On the other hand, if you will need to put a few elbows in to get up to the tee, then it would help to eliminate some of the fitting tare loss by going with 2" pipe. Is it enough to really make that much of a difference? Well that's kind of debatable as there are a few factors that come into play here, such as sharp edges within the fittings and even the surface finish of the i.d. of the pipe itself. Personally, I don't think it would be something I would bother doing. Granted, if you really want the best possible option then yes, go 2" all the way including bulkheads.
As for the UV, as you were envisioning, tee off the main return line, through gate valve, to the UV, but then go directly to the tank where you can measure the flow. You may even need a gate valve after the UV tee to create some back pressure to ensure enough flow through the UV. Do not tee back into the main return line after the UV because you will have equal pressures on both the inlet and outlet ports of the UV and have no flow through it.
Feel free with any questions.

Paulie069 · Oct 17, 2020

Reefer Reboot said:
Just FYI, if you are going to run a 1.5” return pipe from the pump and put a tee before the tank and then reduce each side to a 1” pipe, you will still be reducing your flow some.

Depending on whether you use Sch 40 or Sch 80 pipe;

Sch 40 1.5” pipe has an ID of 1.59” which gives a cross sectional area of 1.985 square inches. Sch 40 1” pipe has an ID of 1.029” which gives a cross sectional area of .831 square inches. So, two 1” pipes of .831 square inch area x 2 = 1.662 square inch area. A single 1.5” pipe still has a larger cross-sectional area of 1.985 square inches. (A net loss of 16%)

Sch 80 1.5” pipe has an ID of 1.476” which gives a cross sectional area of 1.711 square inches. Sch 80 1” pipe has an ID of .936” which gives a cross sectional area of .688 square inches. So, two 1” pipes of .688 square inch area x 2 = 1.376 square inches. A single 1.5” pipe still has a larger cross-sectional area of 1.476 square inch area. (A net loss of 20%)

This is just something to keep in mind. But on the other hand, you only have 18 feet of vertical head pressure plus a little more for friction and directional fitting loss. So rough “guesstimate”, call it around 20 feet total head pressure. According to the flow chart from Abyzz, that should net you an approximate flow rate of 2,500 GPH (@23’), which would give you a 12.5 x turnover rate for a 200 gallon if you don’t reduce the line.

A two line (Herbie style) drain setup should work just fine.
IMO this should work out great for you!

No that was a technical post my head is spinning with information thank you

Paulie069 · Oct 17, 2020

hellsangelbx said:
@Reefer Reboot yeah I meant to say if I were to tee off the return line io the two return outlets to the tank what would be the best option would it be going 1.5" up to the tee and keep the consistency in the two pipes off the tee 1.5" to the bulkheads? Or should I go 2" up to the tee and stick to 1.5" off the split of the tee going to the bulkheads? or lastly going should I go 2" up to the tee and off the tee stick too 2" to the bulkheads?

Also, the uv I wanted to know if I could plumb it off the return line going up to my tank before the tee that splits to the tank. Put another tee before all that and create a manifold with gate valves to the uv and meets back to the return line that goes directly back in the tank. Since I would have excess flow I thought I can take it from the return line and dial it in to the specific flow. @Reefer Reboot thank you for helping me understand this topic better is im not no plumber but know how to at least DIY on these matters.

I’m not sure about having your UV light plumbed off return pump,, but I run my UV return through my chiller/heater so I don’t have to use separate pump for chiller then the return of the chiller runs into my Algae scrubber. So one pump serves 3 different purposes and saves energy, sump space, and lower temperature due to not having 3 pumps in sump. Just how I did it without knowing it was good to do I’m just cheap and didn’t wanna buy 3 pumps

hellsangelbx · Oct 17, 2020

That’s a good idea as well thanks for that idea

hellsangelbx · Oct 17, 2020

Now another question to follow is should I go 1.5” from the the overflow drain into the sump? Or go 2” or vice Versace go down to 1”. I was originally thinking three 2” drain pipes but for a long run that’s 4 pipes (3 being drain and 1 being return) or do I go with 2 pipes as @Reefer Reboot mentioned which is more practical?

Paulie069 · Oct 17, 2020

hellsangelbx said:
Now another question to follow is should I go 1.5” from the the overflow drain into the sump? Or go 2” or vice Versace go down to 1”. I was originally thinking three 2” drain pipes but for a long run that’s 4 pipes (3 being drain and 1 being return) or do I go with 2 pipes as @Reefer Reboot mentioned which is more practical?

Have no idea my sump tank is under main tank so no real distance to worry about

hellsangelbx · Dec 30, 2020

Ok so haven’t responded to my thread in some time. So I just purchased all the plumbing all schedule 80. I’m going 2” beananimal overflow with 3 outpipes. To the sump all 2”.
I have 2x Abyzz A400 IPU. That will be my return pumps. I will go 1.5” Sch80 all the way up till the tank and split it to 1”. The tank will have 1” bulkheads and 1” locline with VCA.

let me know your thoughts for R2R. I want to give a thanks to @Reefer Reboot @fishguy242 @JoshH @Paulie069 . It only takes a couple of guys to be involved and all 3 of you were very helpful and because of all the info you gave me I was able to come up with this mock-up at this point. Thank you!