Drain size....is there such a thing as to much flow

Lonelyreef · Jan 10, 2015

I just ordered a new custom tank. I keep thinking I want bigger bulkheads for more flow. It's not a big tank only 30x30x18 deep. Right now it's specked to have 2 one inch drains. Thing is one inch drains only push 300gph and to gives me 600 gph. I'm thinking of going to 1 1/2 drains then I'd have 1500 gph or at least I'd have the capability to push more water through if I neede to. I'm not sure if I'm looking at this wrong or not. My return are only gunna be 3/4 and there will be 2 one on each side of the overflow.

I'm just not sure if I'm thinking of going over board with flow but in the past my problem was always not enough flow. I figure the more turnover I get the more of a chance the water gets to go through the skimmer to get cleaned. Also just because it can do 1500 gph doesn't mean it has to either it just has the capability too. If I go with 1 inch drains then I can't go anything more than 1 inch. Also the bigger drains make it much harder for things to get stuck in the drains. The back glass will be tempered so there will be no changing this. I can always have bigger bulk head and then use pipe reducers to slow flow down ir even gate valves but I will never be able to get these holes bigger once they are drilled.

Would love some input on this subject please. Thanks guys.

maroun.c · Jan 11, 2015

Larger drains are a plus. You can always restrict them to match your flow. Keep in mind that you need some more flow to to fill up a wider drain and larger drains are a bit difficult to tune unless u have decent flow through them. On the other hand flow through them will be slower so better to handle bubbles and noise.
I run 2 1.5 inches drain which drop around 15 ft to basement. Dursos created too much bubbles that caused splashing and noise in the sump so I switched to full drain and emergency.
My flow is 2700 gph (effective) and a single 1.5 inch drain open around 25% handles it. In my case maybe the water drop is creating suction that adds to water drain.
One more thing to watch out for is the length of ur overflow and screen width will allow for the flow u have in mind.

Lonelyreef · Jan 11, 2015

I agree but if it's bad I can always put a reducer on it and go to a smaller pip to slow down flow

yarddoctor123 · Jan 11, 2015

There's your answer. Go for the failsafe.

Lonelyreef · Jan 11, 2015

Yea just hope they haven't drilled my tank yet . I really don't think they have but will see

mfinn · Jan 11, 2015

I always go for the largest drain bulkheads I can get.
Really helps reduce the possibility of one getting plugged up.

Lonelyreef · Jan 11, 2015

Agree that's why one inch seems dumb for me I can always slow it down

Lonelyreef · Jan 11, 2015

If anyone else has any ideas feel free to let me know please

Thunderfan · Jan 11, 2015

Add another 1"drain and do a bean animal. You could run 1200 or so through that. If you did 1" bulkheads and 1 1/2" plumbing you could run all you would ever want.

Lonelyreef · Jan 11, 2015

So 3 1inch bulk heads would give me all I ever needed. Why not just do 2 1 1/2

Thunderfan · Jan 11, 2015

Depends on the type of drain you are doing. I'm my opinion the bean animal is the safest drain and is absolutely silent. To do it you need 3 drains. 1-full syphon, 1-open channel, 1-dry emergency. I have a 75 with 3-1" drains and have ran over 1000 through it with no problem during testing, could have ran more if I had a bigger pump.