80gallon drain choice

75gal · 02/17/2015, 08:19 AM

i have a pre drilled 80 gallon with a 1" and a 1/2" holes drilled. im wondering if i should use both as drains or just the 1" and keep the half for my return pump? I have a 55 gallon sump so i dont know how much flow i should have in such a big sump. any advice would be greatly appreciated. thanks
Tom

FraggledRock · 02/17/2015, 09:05 AM

where are the holes located?

FraggledRock · 02/17/2015, 09:06 AM

I would consider doing a triple drain like the bean animal. the 1" drain and half inch return will not suffice the flow you would need for 80 gallons DT + 55 gallons sump.

visit www.beananimal.com

plus the single 1" drain will not be a reliable failsafe...

you might be looking at atleast 3/4 inch return and 1 1/2" drains.

whosurcaddie · 02/17/2015, 09:08 AM

Use the one inch as drain line. For your return pump you want 5-6x turnover of your display after head loss.

75gal · 02/17/2015, 09:18 AM

center of tank in overflow box

75gal · 02/17/2015, 09:21 AM

so should i use a seperate line for the return and plug the .5" bulkhead? i dont really want to drill more holes in the overflow i have plenty powerful of a return i just dont know if the single 1" is gonna flow enough. i would supliment tank flow with powerheads...

FraggledRock · 02/17/2015, 09:24 AM

a single 1" drain is kind of not that safe (in regards to keeping water in the tank and not your floor). it is too high a potential for blockage and overflowing the DT.

i would at least turn the 1" AND the 1/2" into drains. and then just make the return line do a little hang over the back into the DT for the return water line.

FraggledRock · 02/17/2015, 09:26 AM

like this:

dkeller_nc · 02/17/2015, 09:43 AM

I'm assuming you've a Deep Blue tank. This is a quibble I have with this company - their overflows have only two holes, and their intent is for you to use one of them as a drain, and the smaller one for the return. That doesn't leave you with an emergency overflow in case of a blockage, which isn't good.

As FraggledRock suggests, I'd use the 1" line for your primary drain, and the 1/2" hole for an emergency standpipe that doesn't have any water draining down it unless the primary drain becomes blocked. His picture is one way to make a DIY return, but you can also purchase somewhat more elegant returns that are intended for canister filter returns (Eheim is one company selling these as separate pieces).

For your 80 gallon tank, I'd suggest the Sicce 1.5 Synchra Silent if you're going to use it as the return-only, or the Sicce 2.0 Synchra Silent if you're going to be tee-ing off a reactor feed.

75gal · 02/17/2015, 09:47 AM

its an SCA tank but same deal. i was thinking herbie with the .5" as saftey if thats my best and safest option than that will be the plan i guess. i have a jebao 6000 for my return

FraggledRock · 02/17/2015, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 75gal

its an SCA tank but same deal. i was thinking herbie with the .5" as saftey if thats my best and safest option than that will be the plan i guess. i have a jebao 6000 for my return

you need to change your username to 80gal now =P

75gal · 02/17/2015, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FraggledRock

you need to change your username to 80gal now =P

yes...yes i do

02/17/2015, 08:19 AM	#1
75gal Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Connecticut Posts: 141	80gallon drain choice i have a pre drilled 80 gallon with a 1" and a 1/2" holes drilled. im wondering if i should use both as drains or just the 1" and keep the half for my return pump? I have a 55 gallon sump so i dont know how much flow i should have in such a big sump. any advice would be greatly appreciated. thanks Tom

02/17/2015, 09:05 AM	#2
FraggledRock Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: New York, New York Posts: 2,185	where are the holes located? __________________ “For most of history, man has had to fight nature to survive; in this century he is beginning to realize that, in order to survive, he must protect it.”― Jacques-Yves Cousteau MarineBio.org Current Tank Info: 40 Gallon Breeder w/ Bean Animal Overflow 20G Sump, Mixed Reef.

02/17/2015, 09:06 AM	#3
FraggledRock Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: New York, New York Posts: 2,185	I would consider doing a triple drain like the bean animal. the 1" drain and half inch return will not suffice the flow you would need for 80 gallons DT + 55 gallons sump. visit www.beananimal.com plus the single 1" drain will not be a reliable failsafe... you might be looking at atleast 3/4 inch return and 1 1/2" drains. __________________ “For most of history, man has had to fight nature to survive; in this century he is beginning to realize that, in order to survive, he must protect it.”― Jacques-Yves Cousteau MarineBio.org Current Tank Info: 40 Gallon Breeder w/ Bean Animal Overflow 20G Sump, Mixed Reef.

02/17/2015, 09:24 AM	#7
FraggledRock Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: New York, New York Posts: 2,185	a single 1" drain is kind of not that safe (in regards to keeping water in the tank and not your floor). it is too high a potential for blockage and overflowing the DT. i would at least turn the 1" AND the 1/2" into drains. and then just make the return line do a little hang over the back into the DT for the return water line. __________________ “For most of history, man has had to fight nature to survive; in this century he is beginning to realize that, in order to survive, he must protect it.”― Jacques-Yves Cousteau MarineBio.org Current Tank Info: 40 Gallon Breeder w/ Bean Animal Overflow 20G Sump, Mixed Reef.

02/17/2015, 09:26 AM	#8
FraggledRock Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: New York, New York Posts: 2,185	like this: __________________ “For most of history, man has had to fight nature to survive; in this century he is beginning to realize that, in order to survive, he must protect it.”― Jacques-Yves Cousteau MarineBio.org Current Tank Info: 40 Gallon Breeder w/ Bean Animal Overflow 20G Sump, Mixed Reef.

02/17/2015, 09:08 AM	#4
whosurcaddie Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 2,354	Use the one inch as drain line. For your return pump you want 5-6x turnover of your display after head loss.

02/17/2015, 09:18 AM	#5
75gal Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Connecticut Posts: 141	center of tank in overflow box

02/17/2015, 09:21 AM	#6
75gal Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Connecticut Posts: 141	so should i use a seperate line for the return and plug the .5" bulkhead? i dont really want to drill more holes in the overflow i have plenty powerful of a return i just dont know if the single 1" is gonna flow enough. i would supliment tank flow with powerheads...

02/17/2015, 09:43 AM	#9
dkeller_nc Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Central NC Posts: 5,062	I'm assuming you've a Deep Blue tank. This is a quibble I have with this company - their overflows have only two holes, and their intent is for you to use one of them as a drain, and the smaller one for the return. That doesn't leave you with an emergency overflow in case of a blockage, which isn't good. As FraggledRock suggests, I'd use the 1" line for your primary drain, and the 1/2" hole for an emergency standpipe that doesn't have any water draining down it unless the primary drain becomes blocked. His picture is one way to make a DIY return, but you can also purchase somewhat more elegant returns that are intended for canister filter returns (Eheim is one company selling these as separate pieces). For your 80 gallon tank, I'd suggest the Sicce 1.5 Synchra Silent if you're going to use it as the return-only, or the Sicce 2.0 Synchra Silent if you're going to be tee-ing off a reactor feed.

02/17/2015, 09:47 AM	#10
75gal Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Connecticut Posts: 141	its an SCA tank but same deal. i was thinking herbie with the .5" as saftey if thats my best and safest option than that will be the plan i guess. i have a jebao 6000 for my return