determine bulkhead size

dragonfisher33 · Jan 17, 2015

just out of curiosity, what's the typical diameter size of the bulkhead people normally use. how does the size affect the drain rate and the return rate? or does it matter at all?

I don't have a sump and am looking to upgrade my tank to one with a sump. just doing research at the moment

Zacco · Jan 17, 2015

Need more Info. What size tank are you adding this sump to? What type of overflow are you planning on doing? Single pipe/ Herbie Overflow/ Bean Animal?

Flow Velocity Assuming Gravity to Low Flow (Drain): Wide Open Pipe

1/2"= 420 gph
3/4"= 660 gph
1"= 960 gph
1.25"= 1,500 gph
1.5"= 2,100 gph

The first thing that you wanna do is determine what turn over rate you want in your tank. Typically you want 5 times the turn over rate going through your sump. (tank size in gallons x 5 = turn over rate GPH)

dragonfisher33 · Jan 17, 2015

I'm thinking about 40B as my sump since I have a spare one. I'm thinking of bean animal for the overflow. although not 100% fully understood, I've heard many good things about it over the durso method. the display tank will probably be somewhere between 75 gal to 120 gal

Zacco · Jan 18, 2015

Would you be purchasing a bean animal kit or building your own? If purchasing, the kit will determin what size holes you drill. As for return bulkheads, i'd go with 2 3/4" loc line's in the top rear corners.

Reefing Madness · Jan 18, 2015

Typical bulkhead used in overflows would be 1".
Bulkhead Fittings, tank adapters.

Flow rating chart using PVC
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"


1/2"	.50-.60"	.85"
3/4"	.75-.85"	1.06"
1"	1.00-1.03"	1.33"
1.25"	1.25-1.36"	1.67"
1.5"	1.50-1.60"	1.90"
2"	1.95-2.05"	2.38"
2.5"	2.35-2.45"	2.89"
3"	2.90-3.05"	3.50"
4"	3.85-3.95"	4.50"
5"	4.95-5.05"	5.563"
6"	5.85-5.95"	6.61"
8"	7.96"	8.625"

[TD="align: center"]Sch 40 Pipe Size[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]ID
(range)[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]OD[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #80FF80, align: center"] GPM [SIZE=-2]
(with minimal pressure loss & noise)[/SIZE][/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #80FF80, align: center"] GPH [SIZE=-2]
(with minimal pressure loss & noise)[/SIZE][/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #FFFF00, align: center"] GPM [SIZE=-2]
(with minimal pressure loss & noise)[/SIZE][/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #FFFF00, align: center"] GPH [SIZE=-2]
(with minimal pressure loss & noise)[/SIZE][/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #FF4343, align: center"] GPM [SIZE=-2]
(with significant pressure loss & noise)[/SIZE][/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #FF4343, align: center"] GPH [SIZE=-2]
(with significant pressure loss & noise)[/SIZE][/TD]

[TD="bgcolor: #80FF80"]7 gpm[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #80FF80"] 420 gph [/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #FFFF00"]14 gpm[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #FFFF00"]840 gph[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #FF4343"]21 gpm[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #FF4343"]1,260 gph[/TD]

[TD="bgcolor: #80FF80"]11 gpm[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #80FF80"] 660 gph [/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #FFFF00"]23 gpm[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #FFFF00"]1,410 gph[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #FF4343"]36 gpm[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #FF4343"]2,160 gph[/TD]

[TD="bgcolor: #80FF80"]16 gpm[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #80FF80"] 960 gph [/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #FFFF00"]37 gpm[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #FFFF00"]2,220 gph[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #FF4343"]58 gpm[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #FF4343"]3,510 gph[/TD]

[TD="bgcolor: #80FF80"]25 gpm[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #80FF80"] 1,500 gph [/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #FFFF00"]62 gpm[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #FFFF00"]3,750 gph[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #FF4343"]100 gpm[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #FF4343"]5,940 gph[/TD]

[TD="bgcolor: #80FF80"]35 gpm[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #80FF80"] 2100 gph [/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #FFFF00"]81 gpm[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #FFFF00"]4,830 gph[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #FF4343"]126 gpm[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #FF4343"]7,560 gph[/TD]

[TD="bgcolor: #80FF80"]55 gpm[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #80FF80"] 3300 gph [/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #FFFF00"]127 gpm[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #FFFF00"]7,650 gph[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #FF4343"]200 gpm[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #FF4343"]12,000 gph[/TD]

[TD="bgcolor: #80FF80"]80 gpm[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #80FF80"]4800 gph[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #FFFF00"]190 gpm[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #FFFF00"]11,400 gph[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #FF4343"]300 gpm[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #FF4343"]17,550 gph[/TD]

[TD="bgcolor: #80FF80"]140 gpm[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #80FF80"]8400 gph[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #FFFF00"]273 gpm[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #FFFF00"]16,350 gph[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #FF4343"]425 gpm[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #FF4343"]25,650 gph[/TD]

[TD="bgcolor: #80FF80"]240 gpm[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #80FF80"]14,400 gph[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #FFFF00"]480 gpm[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #FFFF00"]28,800 gph[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #FF4343"]700 gpm[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #FF4343"]42,000 gph[/TD]

[TD="bgcolor: #80FF80"]380 gpm[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #80FF80"]22,800 gph[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #FFFF00"]750 gpm[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #FFFF00"]45,000 gph[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #FF4343"]1100 gpm[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #FF4343"]66,000 gph[/TD]

[TD="bgcolor: #80FF80"]550 gpm[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #80FF80"]33,000 gph[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #FFFF00"]1100 gpm[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #FFFF00"]66,000 gph[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #FF4343"]1700 gpm[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #FF4343"]102,000 gph[/TD]

[TD="bgcolor: #80FF80"]950 gpm[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #80FF80"]57,000 gph[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #FFFF00"]1900 gpm[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #FFFF00"]114,000 gph[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #FF4343"]2800 gpm[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #FF4343"]168,000 gph[/TD]