Plumbing Size

[Oroborous]

Hi,

I been trying to search find an answer for this. I did not wanted to drill the tank so i got an Overflow Prefilter Box from Life Reef and i assume plumbing from there will go down to the sump something like a drain, So Water going into the sump from there, then it gets pumped back in, i got the plumbing for it done and i used 3/4 pvc and a J-Tube as a nozzle. My question is the plumbing from the prefilter box should be same size as returning plumbing or bigger? Or is the plumbing for return should be bigger? Please advise.

 

[saintsreturn]

I am not familiar with that brand, but i did 1" drain with a 3/4" return.

 

[Oroborous]

I see, Thank you. So bigger drain is what would be suggested. This is very helpful. It's 38 gallon aquarium so something monstrous would probably not be required.

 

[Brew12]

Hi,

I been trying to search find an answer for this. I did not wanted to drill the tank so i got an Overflow Prefilter Box from Life Reef and i assume plumbing from there will go down to the sump something like a drain, So Water going into the sump from there, then it gets pumped back in, i got the plumbing for it done and i used 3/4 pvc and a J-Tube as a nozzle. My question is the plumbing from the prefilter box should be same size as returning plumbing or bigger? Or is the plumbing for return should be bigger? Please advise.

Not familiar with that unit, but typically the drain will be the same size or larger than the return. As long as both can handle the desired flow, it doesn't make a big difference.

 

[Oroborous]

The instructions stated that the overflow box unit will handle the flow. I also added gate valve to the return so i can control that, don't have a gate valve on the drain since i don't think it make sense for me to.

 

[Brew12]

The instructions stated that the overflow box unit will handle the flow. I also added gate valve to the return so i can control that, don't have a gate valve on the drain since i don't think it make sense for me to.

I have a gate valve on my drain, not my return. I run a bean animal drain. If you run a bean animal or herbie then a gate valve on the return is almost a requirement.

 

[Nick30G]

Standard overflow pipe size in the hobby is 1" generally you should keep the return size below the drain size but it's not a big deal. Just dont use a return pump that pumps more then the overflow is rated for. I run a Herbie overflow on my 37g with both 1" pipe for the main drain and emergency. I use 3/4 pipe for my return.

 

[Dr. Phil]

Double post.

 

[Dr. Phil]

Do you have the single or double prefilter box? If your box only has one drain going to the sump I would be very wary of using a valve on the drain.

 

[Oroborous]

one drain.

 

[Brew12]

one drain.

Yup, definitely don't want a valve on it then.

 

[Dr. Phil]

Yup, definitely don't want a valve on it then.

^^ Asking for a flood.

 

[Jr'sReef]

How many towels do you have?

 

[Instigate]

The rule of thumb is you want your drain to be twice or more the size of your return.

 

[Nick30G]

I wouldn't run one drain. If that drain get plugged up you will have a big flood. I would look getting into a Herbie or bean animal somehow

 

[Dr. Phil]

Maybe you could get a second Prefilter box and set it slightly higher than the main one as an emergency drain?

 

[KStatefan]

I think that a system should be designed so that plugged return does not create a flood.

 

[Dr. Phil]

My system would run out of water before it overflowed but the ato would slowly add more. If I am gone for a day or two that could become an issue. I like to have multiple ways to prevent disasters. [emoji23]

 

[Jr'sReef]

Single drains were common in the old days because most wet dry filters had very little water in terms of gallons compared to the DT. It wouldn’t overflow the DT and it wouldn’t flood the wet dry if the drain was positioned correctly. Today we have gotten away from it and use way bigger systems as a sump or fuge to the point that our DT can’t handle the gallons and vise versa. It’s almost a DT as our sumps lol

Using single drain will no doubt cause a flood at some point or another. Install an emergency drain.

 

[Dr. Phil]

Single drains were common in the old days because most wet dry filters had very little water in terms of gallons compared to the DT. It wouldn’t overflow the DT and it wouldn’t flood the wet dry if the drain was positioned correctly. Today we have gotten away from it and use way bigger systems as a sump or fuge to the point that our DT can’t handle the gallons and vise versa. It’s almost a DT as our sumps lol

Using single drain will no doubt cause a flood at some point or another. Install an emergency drain.

I agree.