Question about drain size calc

Gordonious · 07/31/2006, 03:31 PM

Calculators->Drain Size Calculator

Using the following input parameters
Gallons per Hour = 490

Drain and Overflow sizes are calculated as
Recommended minimum drain pipe diameter = 0.91 inches
Recommended minimum linear overflow size = 7 inches

Does this mean a single drain pipe of 1" would be able to handle 490gph? Or is it assumed that no soul would ever use one drain pipe and we would be using at least two.

I also need to find out if the larger the pipe the less noise there is.

Konadog · 08/01/2006, 08:31 AM

Gordonious, this post would probably get a better response in the general reef keeping forum, but I will try to help.

It means that the "minimum" size would be 0.91, how ever you add it up. Now I would much rather use one "1 pipe than two "1/2 pipes. Better yet, one "1 1/2 pipe to help with noise. Now with that said, noise is also affected by how many turns (elbows) and other variables, but for the most part, a larger pipe is easier to make quiet.

Gordonious · 08/01/2006, 02:00 PM

There will be lots of turns. Perhaps I will draw demo when I get home.

Nabber86 · 08/01/2006, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Gordonious
Calculators->Drain Size Calculator

Using the following input parameters
Gallons per Hour = 490

Drain and Overflow sizes are calculated as
Recommended minimum drain pipe diameter = 0.91 inches
Recommended minimum linear overflow size = 7 inches

Does this mean a single drain pipe of 1" would be able to handle 490gph? Or is it assumed that no soul would ever use one drain pipe and we would be using at least two.

I also need to find out if the larger the pipe the less noise there is.

490 gallons per hour is only a little over 8 gallons per minute. A single 1-inch diameter pipe could easily handle that much flow.

Gordonious · 08/01/2006, 04:24 PM

I guess my question has been answered then and two 3/4" should be fine. (There is no way I am running a single pipe, feel a lot safer with two. )
Now the next decision would be if it would be worth it to do two 1" pipes to cut down on noise. I am going to take Konadog's advice and post on this question on the General reef keeping forum. When I do so, I will post a link to it here.

RichConley · 08/01/2006, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Gordonious
I guess my question has been answered then and two 3/4" should be fine. (There is no way I am running a single pipe, feel a lot safer with two. )
Now the next decision would be if it would be worth it to do two 1" pipes to cut down on noise. I am going to take Konadog's advice and post on this question on the General reef keeping forum. When I do so, I will post a link to it here.

Two 3/4 pipes is no better than one 1" pipe. If one plugs, you still flood. Run two 1" pipes if you want to be safe

Konadog · 08/01/2006, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Gordonious
I am going to take Konadog's advice and post on this question on the General reef keeping forum. When I do so, I will post a link to it here.

Just so you know, this thread has been moved to the Reef Discussion forum for you

If you go with two pipes, size them both so that any one will handle your drain requirements, or two will be of no use for you when/if the need arises.

Gordonious · 08/02/2006, 10:34 AM

Alright let me ask this. If this 40g ends up being a full reef in the future and I'm running a good size pump in it. How many times an hour would I want to be Turning over the volume of water? I know there is some kind of calc for this as well or just a general rule of thumb. "You should cycle the water volume of your tank X times per hour. " What's X?
I might as well have a large drain size that can handle future upgrades so I don't have to drain, drill, fill, and cycle the tank again.

RichConley · 08/02/2006, 10:48 AM

I like to run 3-5 times turnover from sump to tank, and then make up for the rest of the flow with Maxistreams.

I've got a 58g, have about 250-300gph going tank to sump, and have about 5000gph of in-tank flow.

Gordonious · 08/02/2006, 10:50 AM

36+15 = -18

From the sump the water will be pumped ~18" up to get out of the sump, then 36+24" - 36+36+18" to the left and then up another 43" which is about 61" or a little over 5' tall. At 5' of head my Quietone pump model 300 is rated at ~450 gph.(recommended min 0.88 inches drain pimp) Perhaps I should try the head loss calc to get more specific.

If we ignore that the fact that other tanks will be using the sump and just consider the volume of the 40g + ~15g sump volume, the system is 55gallons. How many times an hours should I turn that over for a fully populated reef tank.

I think I will crunch the numbers out completely tonight and draw up a website with the full plan.

Jon

PS. Yes I know my name is over kill, but I don't keep an animal unless I know it's safe and I hope no one tries to keep me in a tank putting barely enough oxygen in the room for me to survive based on rough calculations.

Gordonious · 08/02/2006, 10:54 AM

I have a zoo-med power head, I think the model is PS-30 I was going to try to install when I got it set up. A friend of mine gave it to me because he said he was hoping it would swing back and forth and it is either broke or just doesn't do it.

Gordonious · 08/03/2006, 01:06 PM

I opened up yet another thread and have finally made my choice.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...hreadid=899335

I am ordering, along with many other things, two 1", two 3/4", and two 1/2" clear Double Threaded bulk heads. The two 1" will be using on the 40g, but I will just be running 3/4" pipe for time being.
I am going to T off the return from the pump returning part of the water directly back to the sump. I'm going go try to get it going a little less then 300gph turning over the water volume in the 40 about 5 times an hour.

3/4" should handle the flow and having two of them should help with noise. If one were to clog then the other would still work just noisily, which would not be a bad thing. If I get a lot of noise I will convert one or both of the pipes to 1", which will not be to hard to do having the 1" bulk heads already installed.

07/31/2006, 03:31 PM	#1
Gordonious Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Newark DE Posts: 3,393	Question about drain size calc Calculators->Drain Size Calculator Using the following input parameters Gallons per Hour = 490 Drain and Overflow sizes are calculated as Recommended minimum drain pipe diameter = 0.91 inches Recommended minimum linear overflow size = 7 inches Does this mean a single drain pipe of 1" would be able to handle 490gph? Or is it assumed that no soul would ever use one drain pipe and we would be using at least two. I also need to find out if the larger the pipe the less noise there is.

08/01/2006, 08:31 AM	#2
Konadog Master of the 16 hour day Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: East Long Beach, So Cal Posts: 13,151 Blog Entries: 4	Gordonious, this post would probably get a better response in the general reef keeping forum, but I will try to help. It means that the "minimum" size would be 0.91, how ever you add it up. Now I would much rather use one "1 pipe than two "1/2 pipes. Better yet, one "1 1/2 pipe to help with noise. Now with that said, noise is also affected by how many turns (elbows) and other variables, but for the most part, a larger pipe is easier to make quiet. __________________ Save the Reefs................................................................Save the world! -Ken Current Tank Info: Currently tankless, and loving it!

08/02/2006, 10:48 AM	#9
RichConley Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Bostonian in Chicago going to DC Posts: 9,908	I like to run 3-5 times turnover from sump to tank, and then make up for the rest of the flow with Maxistreams. I've got a 58g, have about 250-300gph going tank to sump, and have about 5000gph of in-tank flow. __________________ NO TANKS!!!

08/01/2006, 02:00 PM	#3
Gordonious Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Newark DE Posts: 3,393	There will be lots of turns. Perhaps I will draw demo when I get home.

08/01/2006, 04:24 PM	#5
Gordonious Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Newark DE Posts: 3,393	I guess my question has been answered then and two 3/4" should be fine. (There is no way I am running a single pipe, feel a lot safer with two. ) Now the next decision would be if it would be worth it to do two 1" pipes to cut down on noise. I am going to take Konadog's advice and post on this question on the General reef keeping forum. When I do so, I will post a link to it here.

08/02/2006, 10:34 AM	#8
Gordonious Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Newark DE Posts: 3,393	Alright let me ask this. If this 40g ends up being a full reef in the future and I'm running a good size pump in it. How many times an hour would I want to be Turning over the volume of water? I know there is some kind of calc for this as well or just a general rule of thumb. "You should cycle the water volume of your tank X times per hour. " What's X? I might as well have a large drain size that can handle future upgrades so I don't have to drain, drill, fill, and cycle the tank again.

08/02/2006, 10:50 AM	#10
Gordonious Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Newark DE Posts: 3,393	36+15 = -18 From the sump the water will be pumped ~18" up to get out of the sump, then 36+24" - 36+36+18" to the left and then up another 43" which is about 61" or a little over 5' tall. At 5' of head my Quietone pump model 300 is rated at ~450 gph.(recommended min 0.88 inches drain pimp) Perhaps I should try the head loss calc to get more specific. If we ignore that the fact that other tanks will be using the sump and just consider the volume of the 40g + ~15g sump volume, the system is 55gallons. How many times an hours should I turn that over for a fully populated reef tank. I think I will crunch the numbers out completely tonight and draw up a website with the full plan. Jon PS. Yes I know my name is over kill, but I don't keep an animal unless I know it's safe and I hope no one tries to keep me in a tank putting barely enough oxygen in the room for me to survive based on rough calculations.

08/02/2006, 10:54 AM	#11
Gordonious Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Newark DE Posts: 3,393	I have a zoo-med power head, I think the model is PS-30 I was going to try to install when I got it set up. A friend of mine gave it to me because he said he was hoping it would swing back and forth and it is either broke or just doesn't do it.

08/03/2006, 01:06 PM	#12
Gordonious Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Newark DE Posts: 3,393	I opened up yet another thread and have finally made my choice. http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...hreadid=899335 I am ordering, along with many other things, two 1", two 3/4", and two 1/2" clear Double Threaded bulk heads. The two 1" will be using on the 40g, but I will just be running 3/4" pipe for time being. I am going to T off the return from the pump returning part of the water directly back to the sump. I'm going go try to get it going a little less then 300gph turning over the water volume in the 40 about 5 times an hour. 3/4" should handle the flow and having two of them should help with noise. If one were to clog then the other would still work just noisily, which would not be a bad thing. If I get a lot of noise I will convert one or both of the pipes to 1", which will not be to hard to do having the 1" bulk heads already installed.