ATB FlowStar 1500 for a 270g enough?

[scaryperson27]

I think It is a good idea to use one of your 1 1/2" drains as a return.

Here is how I would plumb it. make the 3/4" overflow a little bit shorter. Maybe like a couple of inches. Put a valve on it to reduce the flow going through it so that the water level raises and then goes into the 1 1/2" drain. You can tune it so that less or more water enters the 1 1/2" overflow so that you can cancel out the noise.

Normally, a 3/4" pipe can handle around 700GPH at full siphon meaning there is no air, just water entering the tube. A 1 1/2" pipe can handle around 700GPH when not at full siphon while not making much noise.

 

[isseym328]

Thanks for the suggestions scaryperson. I'm glad I thought of using the other drain as my return. This way I just have to purchase a new return pump and rework some of the plumbing, and not have to drill wider holes. Much less work.

 

[scaryperson27]

Why would you have to purchase a new return pump?

 

[isseym328]

ATB flowstar 1200 is not enough imo for the strong flow that I want to achieve from the return. Even by using the 1 1/2", and with all the head loss from plumbing the water is just going to be coming out at a regular speed. I want powerhead action!

 

[scaryperson27]

Then you need a penductor with a high pressure pump.

 

[isseym328]

thanks scaryperson. I got the plumbing done over the weekend, and have a 'T' that goes into the main tank. I might add the penductors to the end of the T to get more flow into the tank. As for the return pump I upgraded to a Laguna max flo 4200.

 

[isseym328]

I just did some research on the Penguin educators. It doesn't look like they come in 1 1/2"?