Plumbing/return pump questions

[SpikesReef]

Hey reefers!

I'm installing my first drilled overflow on a 40b. I'll be doing a c2c all glass smooth weir flowing into an external box which will house bean animal 3 bulk head over flow.

My questions are...

Is 3/4 pvc the best option for my size tank? (20L) sump.

What size bulk head do I install for 3/4 pvc? (Or whichever size is recommended)

How do I decide which return pump works best for my system? And would I use the same size PVC for return (single return to bulk head with loc-line)

Thanks in advance and any links to previous threads would be appreciated as well, I have been having a hard time finding answers.

 

[143MPCo]

Hey reefers!

I'm installing my first drilled overflow on a 40b. I'll be doing a c2c all glass smooth weir flowing into an external box which will house bean animal 3 bulk head over flow.

My questions are...

Is 3/4 pvc the best option for my size tank? (20L) sump. I would go with 1"

What size bulk head do I install for 3/4 pvc? (Or whichever size is recommended) 3⁄4” Bulkhead ABS Thread x Thread (BRS)

How do I decide which return pump works best for my system? Depend on the type of system being setup And would I use the same size PVC for return (single return to bulk head with loc-line) 3/4" will work

Thanks in advance and any links to previous threads would be appreciated as well, I have been having a hard time finding answers.

If you have a sec please let us know the type of reef tank you're looking to set up, based on that we can recommend return pump #REEFSQUAD

 

[SpikesReef]

I'm going to keep mostly LPS some softies and may try some SPS in the future. Most of the flow will be provided by either one rw8 or two rw4 power heads.

Just to clarify- 3/4" pvc goes with 3/4" bulk heads (or 1" with 1")?

So whatever size the drain plumbing is, use the same for the return?

What type of bulk head do I use with the loc line? Or do I just use slip fittings and glue the loc line in?

Big question is do I go with 3/4" or 1". And what size holes do I still for corresponding bulkhead?

Thanks so much for your help!

 

[zemuss]

The drain and return don't need to match regarding size. You want to make sure your drain can keep up with the pump. You don't want a 1500gph pump with a 500gph drain. You would be asking for a big problem. However if the drain is rated at 1500 you can use a 500GPH pump.

 

[SpikesReef]

Any suggestions on gph pump I would use if I plumb the drain with one inch

 

[zemuss]

what is the over flow rate at and what does the manufacturer suggest your drain size should be? I personally wouldn't have 1 inch returns on a 40 breeder. 3/4 inch return is a good size.

GPH depends on the Over flow. I could say put a 3000 gph pump on your system however thats bad advice because i don't know what the Overflow is rated at.

 

[zemuss]

Ok so your doing a bean animal design? Three drain pipes correct? I believe that is rated at around 2000 GPH with 1.5 inch drains.. At 1 Inch I would say 1500 gph.

Get advice from others too. But I would say a pump in the 500 to 800 GPH would work. If you want DC go with Jebao else Sicce / Ehiem

 

[143MPCo]

Agree with zemuss thats should work nicely.

 

[SpikesReef]

Thanks to both of you! So basically- as long as my overflow is rated at a higher gph than my return pump I'm good?

 

[afamousjohnson]

Return should always be smaller than drain correct? So a 1" overflow drain with a 3/4" return. I suggest DC from jabao. That way you can dial up and down on power to what you need.

 

[143MPCo]

for the most part yes.

 

[abinder]

If you can afford a DC pump, that would be the way to go since you can turn the pump rate up or down just like was stated earlier.
(I'm actually using 2 DC Tunze pumps for my 2 returns (1 pump for each return for redundancy) on my 100 gallon. It's nice to be able to adjust the flow rate.)

Also, if you can afford it, use a gate valve to adjust your drain rate. The adjustability is awesome.


Allen

 

[FLSharkvictim]

If i were you i would spend a little extra money and get the best PUMP on the market! ECOTECH Vortex M1 or the L1.. I run the M1 on my 120 and my UV sterilizer off of it and I can only turn mine up to 75% on the controller without having a hurricane in my system. These pumps are so quite that the water that trickles down in my Overflow boxes is louder them my Skimz Monzter series protein skimmer pump and my EcoTech M1 pump... FYI - 1" overflow drains & 3/4" on the returns. Sch 40 pipe with 1 3/4'' Gate Valve to control the flow for my UV, 2 Wye 3/4'' Check Valves, 1 1'' Cepex Union ball Valve & 2 3/4'' Cepex Union ball Valves and a ton of Unions.. Remember one thing, you can never have to many Sch 80 Unions.

TANK INFO:
120 Mixed Reef
Ecotech M1 pump
Skimz 163 DC Montzer Series skimmer
Custom sump / Refuge
2 Maxspect Gyre XF130's Pumps
2 AI Hydra TwentySix HD LED Fixtures
Celestial C35W Maxspect Refuge/Spotlight
Aqua UV Ultraviolet Sterilizer 25w
BRS Dual Media reactor
Eshoops IV Master doser
SMART Micro ATO