newbie plumbing question.

[rtague]

Hi all ,recently bought a perfecto rr 75g tank.I has 2x 1.5'' holes drilled on the bottom with 2 x 1.5'' bulkheads.My return pump will be an eheim 1260 which has a 1'' barb fitting,so I guess my return line would be 1'' vinyl tubing(I won't be hard plumbing)with a 1'' ball valve attached to the return bulkhead?,please help.

[bnumair]

u can use a reducer on both sides of the bulkhead, from 1.5 to 1". easily available at lowes or home depot. then build a drain on the overflow side and on the underside of the bulkhead after the reducer i can use pvc adaptor to go from slip to thread and then thread in a 1" nipple. beyond that u can use flex tubing. u can add the ball valve wither in the flex tubing or hard plumb it in pvc after the reducer.

[rtague]

Thanks Doc,so I cn leave the drain at 1.5'' and the return at 1''?

[bnumair]

ur return pump is rated for 635gph at 0 head loss. i am assuming from where it will sit inside the sump to at top of tank where it will return from probably is 4-5ft. at at distance it will slow down to 450'ish gph.
for a 75 gal tank and with that pump u dont need 1.5" drain.
1.5" can drain gravity fed 2100gph
1" can drain 960 gph
drain size is dependent on return pump so if u only pushing 450gph i would reduce the drain from 1.5 to 1 as well as it will still be good for twice as much of a pump.

[rtague]

Thanks Doc,thats great info,makes perfect sence,so with the ehim 1260 on a 75g a 1'' drain and a 1'' return should be good?

[bnumair]

yes 1" return and 1" return will be just fine for ur setup. if in future u decide to use a different pump then u may need to do something different but for this pump its good.


Note: 1" return can handle 3510 gph (pump fed) so i doubt u will ever change. 1" can drain (gravity fed) 960 gph. so if u ever change ur pump which can deliver more than 900 gph at 4ft after head loss then u will need to change drain only.
here is a chart that can help u in future if drain needs to change. remember drain needs to be 1.5 times the return pumps capabilities after head loss.

1" drains 960 gph
1.25" 1500gph
1.5" 2100gph

[rtague]

Doc,thanks again,great info,I had no idea there were so many things to consider,feel more confident going forward.

[bnumair]

ur welcome good luck.

[DrawnToBeaches]

I'd make the drain larger and just cut it back with a valve personally

[bnumair]

Originally Posted by DrawnToBeaches

I'd make the drain larger and just cut it back with a valve personally

i personally dont restrict the drain in anyway. reason:
things grow in pvc pipes in saltwater setups. feather duster tube worms etc.
which in turn start to collect debris thus restricting the water and causing pack pressure. sometimes fish and snails make it down the overflow and get stuck at the valve causing a water backup disaster.
so for many reasons i dont restrict drain. let it flow freely. just my opinion