pipe sizes for 180 gal?

hadesvanzanik12 · 05/07/2013, 11:44 PM

Hi there,

I am new to the hobby, been doing freshwater with Arowanas and Datnoids, got a bigger house, now treading into new territory with saltwater and reef. I am about purchase a 180 gal tank and will need to drill holes at the bottom for overflow. I have been hearing 1" pipes for outflow and 3/4" for return, but the reef ready 180 gals are normally equipped with two overflow in the corners with those sizes. If I want to have the overflow box in the center, will the 1" and 3/4" be big enough? And what flow rate should I be shooting for, for the sump?

Thanks in advance, excited to joining the "Partee!"

HVZ

Lambert58 · 05/08/2013, 12:01 AM

I would caution you very strongly NOT to try to drill the bottom panel of glass for your standpipes. If you want a bottom draining tank it generally must be bought that way as the bottom panel on all large tanks are tempered glass and will shatter if you try to drill them. You can drill the back panel in most cases as the sides generally are not tempered, but I would check with your manufacturer first. It is an expensive lesson many in this hobby have learned the hard way. There are many companies out there that offer kits to drill the backsand place an overflow box, gl*******s.com is just one of them.

TimeConsumer · 05/08/2013, 12:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lambert58

gl*******s.com is just one of them.

What he meant to say was glass-holes.com. The filter always gets that one.

This can help you with drain sizes: http://reefcentral.com/index.php/dra...flow-size-calc

Lambert58 · 05/08/2013, 12:36 AM

Thanks for the pick up, ha ha!

hadesvanzanik12 · 05/08/2013, 08:39 AM

oops, I forgot to say, it's an acrylic 6x2x2 tank. thx

E Rosewater · 05/08/2013, 09:07 AM

My 200 has 3 x 1" drains and 2 x 3/4" returns.

Lambert58 · 05/08/2013, 02:13 PM

Even better!

Lambert58 · 05/08/2013, 04:39 PM

Drill, baby, drill!

hadesvanzanik12 · 05/08/2013, 06:01 PM

Thanks everyone for responding.

E Rosewater, what is the flow rate for your sump? @5x the volume or less than that? I have been told 3 to 5x of the DT volume would be optimal for filtration purposes. is that right?

E Rosewater · 05/08/2013, 06:16 PM

3 - 5 is typical. I'm getting right around 800gph. Almost all of the flow going through a single siphon, it's a bean animal(ish) set up.

05/07/2013, 11:44 PM	#1
hadesvanzanik12 Registered Member Join Date: May 2013 Posts: 5	pipe sizes for 180 gal? Hi there, I am new to the hobby, been doing freshwater with Arowanas and Datnoids, got a bigger house, now treading into new territory with saltwater and reef. I am about purchase a 180 gal tank and will need to drill holes at the bottom for overflow. I have been hearing 1" pipes for outflow and 3/4" for return, but the reef ready 180 gals are normally equipped with two overflow in the corners with those sizes. If I want to have the overflow box in the center, will the 1" and 3/4" be big enough? And what flow rate should I be shooting for, for the sump? Thanks in advance, excited to joining the "Partee!" HVZ

05/08/2013, 12:01 AM	#2
Lambert58 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 128	I would caution you very strongly NOT to try to drill the bottom panel of glass for your standpipes. If you want a bottom draining tank it generally must be bought that way as the bottom panel on all large tanks are tempered glass and will shatter if you try to drill them. You can drill the back panel in most cases as the sides generally are not tempered, but I would check with your manufacturer first. It is an expensive lesson many in this hobby have learned the hard way. There are many companies out there that offer kits to drill the backsand place an overflow box, gl*******s.com is just one of them.

05/08/2013, 12:36 AM	#4
Lambert58 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 128	Thanks for the pick up, ha ha!

05/08/2013, 08:39 AM	#5
hadesvanzanik12 Registered Member Join Date: May 2013 Posts: 5	oops, I forgot to say, it's an acrylic 6x2x2 tank. thx

05/08/2013, 09:07 AM	#6
E Rosewater Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Posts: 846	My 200 has 3 x 1" drains and 2 x 3/4" returns.

05/08/2013, 02:13 PM	#7
Lambert58 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 128	Even better!

05/08/2013, 04:39 PM	#8
Lambert58 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 128	Drill, baby, drill!

05/08/2013, 06:01 PM	#9
hadesvanzanik12 Registered Member Join Date: May 2013 Posts: 5	Thanks everyone for responding. E Rosewater, what is the flow rate for your sump? @5x the volume or less than that? I have been told 3 to 5x of the DT volume would be optimal for filtration purposes. is that right?

05/08/2013, 06:16 PM	#10
E Rosewater Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Posts: 846	3 - 5 is typical. I'm getting right around 800gph. Almost all of the flow going through a single siphon, it's a bean animal(ish) set up.