How much can a 1" drain handle?

[azbigjohn]

I have a new (to me) 210 gallon tank. This is the first tank I've had with a single middle overflow. It is drilled for 2- 1" bulkheads, and was previously set up with a 1" overflow and a 1" return.

Having a single return scares me a little. I'm considering running a durst and an emergency drain, and then running returns over the top, but that defeats the rimless aesthetic of the tank and stand.

If I went to the single drain, the 1" return probably could keep up a full siphon, but how much flow could a non siphon 1" drain handle?

 

[Diesel]

A full siphon true 1" drain can handle 950+ GPH, of course it depends on turns and elbows as 90's and 45's.

 

[Nick92515]

Durso are a proven method, but they cant move much water and have some noise to them. I wouldn't want one on a 220 since you wont get the water volume movement i would want. Can it be drilled for a 3rd hole? Or some how drilled elsewhere?

 

[TheEngineer]

A 1" ID pipe, dropping 36" will give you right around 2000gph with a full siphon. A durso does not create a siphon, so it will be less than that.

 

[hawkinsrgk]

Durso are a proven method, but they cant move much water and have some noise to them. I wouldn't want one on a 220 since you wont get the water volume movement i would want. Can it be drilled for a 3rd hole? Or some how drilled elsewhere?

What I did was drill the back of the glass for an overflow and the regular overflow as an emergency overflow. Will try to find a pic for it in my build thread

 

[puffster]

Drill for a Beans Animal system. Simple, reliable and quiet. Many different variations available online. Good luck! Also check out the Glass holes .com website. They have hole/flow charts I do believe. Also you can drill for a Ghost overflow as well... good luck in your choice.

 

[Nicolas_Brown]

John, with having large tanks and ones that haven't been drilled, I would use the one for an emergency and either run a return over the tank back or have it drilled. But full siphon is a must. You will enjoy the flow rate and ability to control. Can you get chris to drill the back for returns?

 

[hawkinsrgk]

Here is pics from what I did

 

[azbigjohn]

John, with having large tanks and ones that haven't been drilled, I would use the one for an emergency and either run a return over the tank back or have it drilled. But full siphon is a must. You will enjoy the flow rate and ability to control. Can you get chris to drill the back for returns?

The tank is in my house already. Until I picked it up, I assumed it had 2 large and one small hole drilled. Honestly never looked, as it was sitting on the stand. Really don't want to load it back up to take down there. It's a tad bit heavy!

 

[cracker]

Consider a bean drain setup & use the over the back returns. They don't look that bad. Do You have a hood? Never even see them. This way You have 2 drains & no worry's about how much flow ya want.