eheim 1262 plumbing

[JDL]

My tank is filling with DI water. Still need to do the plumbing for the return using an eheim 1262 to dual bulkheads.

any suggestions?

 

[sjm817]

Remove the stock barb fitting. Get a sched 80 (sched 40 is too short) 3/4" male thread/slip fitting. Wrap the threads up good with Teflon tape and screw it in. Glue a 1" union over the slip end.

 

[becact]

Search for Sanjay Joshi's article on plumbing. In the article is an excellent excel program that lets you calculate head loss with whatever piping and fittings you are using. It is much more detailed than the typical head loss calculators commonly seen on the net. I was able to get my mag7 from 422gph to 471gph with a simple change of PVC size. Generally, using larger return pipe gets more flow from the pump, and makes it generate less heat due to less frictional loss from the piping. But there is a point of diminishing returns. On my specific setup, that point was about 1.25" PVC. I ended up using 1" thin wall, which is 1.125" ID.

You also need to figure how much velocity you want at the output. It is all detailed in Sanjay's article, if you feel like doing the work. If not, I'd just go with 1.25 or 1.5" pipe, split into two 1" pipes for your returns. If your bulkheads are only 3/4, reduce the 1" pipe at the very end (next to the bulkhead). Remember that the return system should serve the sump, not be a flow device for the display!