Drain Size
You're kinda looking at it backwards. The drain is a gravity drain and it requires the return pump to overflow tank water into it to even function. The pump feeds the drain and dictates the flow rate. Your drain flow rating (much like the pump's rating) is nominal – if your pump actually matched that flow, you would have either the loudest drain on the block, or a flood.
So, a 1" drain is nominally rated for 600 GPH, but the ideal performance level is more like 300 GPH or less....keeping roughly to this flow limit lets you avoid all noise issues and most bubble issues.
So this gives you a comfortable 900 GPH of drain flow rate.
I don't know what size tank yours is, so just to have an example:
Plumbing Size
- 200 gallons of tank would need anywhere between 2x and 4x that in GPH for return flow.
- ...or between 400 GPH and 800 GPH.
- Three 1" drains is enough to handle the biggest manufactured tanks
Plumbing size is dependent on how far, how fast, and in what direction you have to pump the water to get it returned to the tank. It is not related to drain size.
In general, you do not want to restrict a pump....the need for restriction could be interpreted as a need for a smaller pump – and we can pretty closely estimate the correct pump size for you.
In fact, a manufacturer's flow curve like this one from Sicce is all you need if you just have a simple return from the sump to the top of the tank.
If you had our 200 gallon example tank and wanted 400-800 GPH (2x-4x) of actual water flow, and we assume your tank is 6' high......(that's 1500-3000 LPH and 1.8 meters high).....the chart says you'd want anything from a Syncra 3.0 on up, but a 5.0 would really be overkill. A Syncra 2.5 would almost get it.
However, if you're planning any long runs or an otherwise more sophisticated return, then it might be wise to use a friction loss calculator like this to see if your plumbing will be a significant factor in your design. (In general, at lower flow rates, it's less of a factor and vis versa.)
I can help you work through your case if you post a detailed breakdown of what you have planned for your return, including the number and type of all fittings you can think of, as well as your actual tank size, height, etc.
May I ask for your assistance?Drain Size
You're kinda looking at it backwards. The drain is a gravity drain and it requires the return pump to overflow tank water into it to even function. The pump feeds the drain and dictates the flow rate. Your drain flow rating (much like the pump's rating) is nominal – if your pump actually matched that flow, you would have either the loudest drain on the block, or a flood.
So, a 1" drain is nominally rated for 600 GPH, but the ideal performance level is more like 300 GPH or less....keeping roughly to this flow limit lets you avoid all noise issues and most bubble issues.
So this gives you a comfortable 900 GPH of drain flow rate.
I don't know what size tank yours is, so just to have an example:
Plumbing Size
- 200 gallons of tank would need anywhere between 2x and 4x that in GPH for return flow.
- ...or between 400 GPH and 800 GPH.
- Three 1" drains is enough to handle the biggest manufactured tanks
Plumbing size is dependent on how far, how fast, and in what direction you have to pump the water to get it returned to the tank. It is not related to drain size.
In general, you do not want to restrict a pump....the need for restriction could be interpreted as a need for a smaller pump – and we can pretty closely estimate the correct pump size for you.
In fact, a manufacturer's flow curve like this one from Sicce is all you need if you just have a simple return from the sump to the top of the tank.
If you had our 200 gallon example tank and wanted 400-800 GPH (2x-4x) of actual water flow, and we assume your tank is 6' high......(that's 1500-3000 LPH and 1.8 meters high).....the chart says you'd want anything from a Syncra 3.0 on up, but a 5.0 would really be overkill. A Syncra 2.5 would almost get it.
However, if you're planning any long runs or an otherwise more sophisticated return, then it might be wise to use a friction loss calculator like this to see if your plumbing will be a significant factor in your design. (In general, at lower flow rates, it's less of a factor and vis versa.)
I can help you work through your case if you post a detailed breakdown of what you have planned for your return, including the number and type of all fittings you can think of, as well as your actual tank size, height, etc.
@mcarroll I recently acquired a 180 dual corner overflow, it only has 2 hole drilled a 1 ¹/² and a 3/4. I am guessing they used to only run a durso type well I have enough room to drill 2 more 1" bulkheads. I am just wondering if I can have a bean animal style with two 1" emergency drains and the main would be 1 ¹/² with a 3/4 return??Drain Size
You're kinda looking at it backwards. The drain is a gravity drain and it requires the return pump to overflow tank water into it to even function. The pump feeds the drain and dictates the flow rate. Your drain flow rating (much like the pump's rating) is nominal – if your pump actually matched that flow, you would have either the loudest drain on the block, or a flood.
So, a 1" drain is nominally rated for 600 GPH, but the ideal performance level is more like 300 GPH or less....keeping roughly to this flow limit lets you avoid all noise issues and most bubble issues.
So this gives you a comfortable 900 GPH of drain flow rate.
I don't know what size tank yours is, so just to have an example:
Plumbing Size
- 200 gallons of tank would need anywhere between 2x and 4x that in GPH for return flow.
- ...or between 400 GPH and 800 GPH.
- Three 1" drains is enough to handle the biggest manufactured tanks
Plumbing size is dependent on how far, how fast, and in what direction you have to pump the water to get it returned to the tank. It is not related to drain size.
In general, you do not want to restrict a pump....the need for restriction could be interpreted as a need for a smaller pump – and we can pretty closely estimate the correct pump size for you.
In fact, a manufacturer's flow curve like this one from Sicce is all you need if you just have a simple return from the sump to the top of the tank.
If you had our 200 gallon example tank and wanted 400-800 GPH (2x-4x) of actual water flow, and we assume your tank is 6' high......(that's 1500-3000 LPH and 1.8 meters high).....the chart says you'd want anything from a Syncra 3.0 on up, but a 5.0 would really be overkill. A Syncra 2.5 would almost get it.
However, if you're planning any long runs or an otherwise more sophisticated return, then it might be wise to use a friction loss calculator like this to see if your plumbing will be a significant factor in your design. (In general, at lower flow rates, it's less of a factor and vis versa.)
I can help you work through your case if you post a detailed breakdown of what you have planned for your return, including the number and type of all fittings you can think of, as well as your actual tank size, height, etc.
