Chiller setup advice needed

Avi · 06/06/2006, 07:48 AM

I'll be connecting my 1/3 HP chiller to my 120-gallon reef this weekend. I was just wondering about which size of PVC to use for this. The intake of the water-pump (Eheim 1262) will be plumbed to my pre-drilled sump, which has a bulk-head of 1-inch diameter, so should I just use 1-inch (I.D.) PVC for the whole intallation or can I step the whole thing down to 3/4-inch PVC? I suppose that would be a less obtrusive setup but otherwise would there be any difference which dimension PVC I use? Thanks.

Bojan · 06/06/2006, 07:52 AM

Where chiller will be located ?

futrtrubl · 06/06/2006, 08:31 AM

I am usually stepping up my piping not down ;']
Restance in a pipe increases exponentialy as you reduce the diameter so the 3/4" pipe will have roughly double the resistance of the 1" pipe. May not matter if resistance is high inside the chiller though.

PS. To those that think 2x 1" pipe is the same as 1x 2" pipe, not even the cross sectional areas match. And even if you had the same CSA as the larger pipe you would still have more resistance.

Edward

Avi · 06/06/2006, 09:36 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bojan
Where chiller will be located ?

The pump will be placed on the â€œfloorâ€ of the tank-stand, next to the sump and in very close proximity to the bulkhead in the bottom of the side of the right-hand side of the sump. The chiller will be places on the right-hand side of the tank-stand, on the outside of the tank-stand, with holes drilled through the side of the tank-stand for the input to and output from the chiller.

Quote:

Originally posted by futrtrubl
I am usually stepping up my piping not down ;']
Resistance in a pipe increases exponentially as you reduce the diameter so the 3/4" pipe will have roughly double the resistance of the 1" pipe. May not matter if resistance is high inside the chiller though.Edward

Edward, thanks for your answer, but is there any reason why resistance would be high inside a chiller? I was thinking that itâ€™s just a matter of the water passing through the chiller to be chilled and not that it would be slowed down in there while thatâ€™s happening.

06/06/2006, 07:48 AM	#1
Avi Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Westchester County, NY Posts: 7,327	Chiller setup advice needed I'll be connecting my 1/3 HP chiller to my 120-gallon reef this weekend. I was just wondering about which size of PVC to use for this. The intake of the water-pump (Eheim 1262) will be plumbed to my pre-drilled sump, which has a bulk-head of 1-inch diameter, so should I just use 1-inch (I.D.) PVC for the whole intallation or can I step the whole thing down to 3/4-inch PVC? I suppose that would be a less obtrusive setup but otherwise would there be any difference which dimension PVC I use? Thanks. __________________ I'd keep the whole ocean if my den were big enough Current Tank Info: 120 gallon reef with 210 lbs. of live rock, Aqua-C EV180 Skimmer, Aquactinic double 250W MH with blue plus t5 support; 58 gallon freshwater planted tank using CO2 and T5s; 30-gallon cube with a few fancy goldfish; and a 110 gallon FOWLR

06/06/2006, 08:31 AM	#3
futrtrubl Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Jamaica Posts: 154	I am usually stepping up my piping not down ;'] Restance in a pipe increases exponentialy as you reduce the diameter so the 3/4" pipe will have roughly double the resistance of the 1" pipe. May not matter if resistance is high inside the chiller though. PS. To those that think 2x 1" pipe is the same as 1x 2" pipe, not even the cross sectional areas match. And even if you had the same CSA as the larger pipe you would still have more resistance. Edward __________________ how U mine for fish?!! Current Tank Info: Looking after the labs 250g and 2x 100g tanks

06/06/2006, 07:52 AM	#2
Bojan Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Slovenia Posts: 969	Where chiller will be located ?