Need sand pipe advice

[corbinwaltz]

Im about to drill my tanks sand pipe and return holes and I want to make sure I'm doing this right before I ruin my tank. My initial idea was to have a 1/2" sand pipe with a 1/2" return, is this ok? I've been looking for examples of this, but only have found people with 1" pipes. Anyone think they're too small? My tank is only 35 gal.

 

[ReeferBen]

Never heard of a sand pipe before? Are you trying to set up a sump or some sort of filter?

 

[gilmour01]

the standpipe is generally larger than the return. hopefully someone with more plumbing experience will chime in.

 

[ReeferBen]

If your setting up a sump, decide on the bulkheads you want to use first. Sch 40 or 80. For instance I believe a Sch 40 1" bulkhead needs a 1 3/4" hole. Are you drilling glass or acrylic? Are you going to make or buy an internal overflow box of some sort, like these Barr Aquatic Systems - Custom Sumps - Beckett Protein Skimmers - Kalk (Nilson) Reactors - Calcium Reactors - Waste Collectors - Reef Systems - Salt Water Systems

You might want to not even bother with a hole for the return depending on what your doing, you could use a seaswirl or just a typical return u-tube like these, Return U-Tubes If you want a hole for the return then pick the right bulkhead to hook up whatever your going to return through and go from there. Personally I have drilled many tanks and used anywhere from 1"+ bulkheads for small tanks, depending on how many GPH you plan to send through the sump and need to retrun. Some say a 1" bulkhead is good for 350gph others say up to 600. I think it depends on wether you are using a durso, herbie style w/e on it. A 1/2" hole would be pretty useless though.

This is assuming your planning a sump.