Advice on plumbing acrylic 240

[pangea]

I keep flip/flopping. It has 2 drains w/ 1" BH in each (these could be made larger or add another set). 4- 3/4" returns across the back. I'd like to drill them to 1 1/2 but do not think there is enough room on the top edge to fit the new BH.

Drains-
Should I use the 4 returns as Calfo style drains or try slots with external overflow(might get better drain flow with standpipes?). I worry about structural integrity with slots-plus holes for returns.

How would you large tank people attack this tank?


I'm using a large Seq 22 and guestimate around 4000gph flow.

Confused...

 

[ReeferMac]

I have 2x 2 inch drains and an Iwaki55 for the return, and like them quite a bit. They can handle some serious flow, and I've yet to find a Turbo that can plug 'em.

- Mac

 

[pangea]

Mac,
Thanks for the reply. 2 inch would be great if they will fit in the overflow, may have to be 1 1/2. 4000gph is more flow than most drains can handle.

What would you all do?
Still debating the A. Calfo style drains, with the 4 3/4 inch returns across the back, or slots with external overflow (worry about structural, because of more return holes as well).

Any more comments on other's setups would be helpful.

Jim

 

[ReeferMac]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7066783#post7066783 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by pangea
Still debating the A. Calfo style drains

What are those?
If you're going to push 4000 gph, that's more than 4x 3/4" diameter tubing can handle... IIRC (and it's foggy, at best!), 1" would handle something slightly more than 1000 gph. The reduction/increase when going up/down 1/4" is logarithmic, not linear, so it's a bigger drop than you'd expect. W/ 3/4" returns, I think you'll find the water 'squirts' from the returns, rather than flows/pushes.... Another good reason to upsize is the structural concerns you have..

- Mac

 

[pangea]

Mac,
check this thread quick-
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=473152&highlight=calfo

The 4x 3/4 would supplement the 2x 1 inch overflows. I don't know if this would handle 4000gph.

When you say upsize, do you mean the existing 1 inch overflows? To what, 2x 1 1/2 or 4x 1 inch? 4x 1 inch overflow drains w/ standpipes would be easy solution.

 

[ReeferMac]

Hehhee, you haven't seen that sequence running yet, have you?
Go big man, go big.... I'd recommend 2" drains, and 1" returns. I've got a pump that's a fraction of yours, and it's handling things. You don't want to find out the hard way your drains can't handle the return...

- Mac

 

[pangea]

No I haven't. Is 4000gph from under the tank an understatement? 2x 2inch drain and was planning on 6x 1 1/2 returns.
Problem is the 4x 3/4 across the top back wall are very close to top edge and cannot be drilled out to 1 1/2 too easily. Which is why I'm debating using them as Calfo style drains (which I do not like the look of), keeping the 2x 1 inch overflows (which could be made larger or add another) and drilling 4-6 more returns.

or

use the 4x 3/4 returns, use external overflow box w/ slots and drill 4 extra returns.

Confused on what kind of flow from drain and return sizes with this pump!!

 

[ReeferMac]

Well, I'm a big believer in over-doing things of this nature, as a "failure" of something here would suck a large set of testes (beware the wandering Turbo...). But 'fer instance...

Marine Depot's website tells me that an Iwaki55 w/ jap. motor (mine) pushes 1080 gph @ 4' head... AT BEST, you're going to get 4' of head (fittings, etc., all add head pressure), so lets make the math easy and say 1000 gph? I have 2x2" drains (surface area= Pi*Diameter, or (3.14*(2*2+4)=12.56....something inches I think?)), and a single 1" SS that I return through. I have holes punched in the back of the tank and a 90-ell turned north (I don't think Anthony invented that method, but yes, it's the same idea).... I get a pretty solid flow through both of 'em... I could push more, I've used an Iwaki70 (1500gph)... tried it out when setting up the tank new, that was pushing things (was backing up the drains, but they were handling it). If something were to impede the flow of water through one, of the 2 tubes significantly, running my return on an Iwaki70@1500gph, my tank would flood (I know this, I've tested it).

Your pump is capable of 4000 gph ya say? :fun1:

- Mac