Hi guys. I thought I would share this build and hopefully get some advice along the way. I have been looking at a few different styles of tanks and came across SC Aquarium. They have some package deals that were in my my price range. I was looking at their 66 gallon when I found an 80 gallon on Craigslist. It came with the tank (3 sides starfire glass),the stand, the sump, skimmer and return pump.
Eric's 80 gallon build
- Thread starter edolan
- Start date
On to my first question. The tank comes predrilled with three 1 3/4" holes and I am planning to setup a herbie style drain. So I thought I would get abs bulkheads which will allow me to run 1" siphon and emergency drains. On the return I am not sure if I should run 1" or 3/4" pipe. Not sure if there is a benefit one way or the other. Either way it will have to step down to two 1/2" locline nozzles.
I would also like to put one or two t's on the return to run a gfo and carbon reactor. I like the idea of fewer pumps to reduce noise and power consumption.
Any advice or thoughts on what I have planned?
I would also like to put one or two t's on the return to run a gfo and carbon reactor. I like the idea of fewer pumps to reduce noise and power consumption.
Any advice or thoughts on what I have planned?
andrepeixoto
Member
I don't think the return size would make a difference if your exit is 1/2".
I would add a separate pump for the reactors in the sump, I prefer to have a cleaner flow line between the display and the sump.
I would add a separate pump for the reactors in the sump, I prefer to have a cleaner flow line between the display and the sump.
Good question. I didn't think of that. The tank came supplied with 1/2" loc-line. The predrilled hole is 7/8". I could possibly make it bigger to accomodate 3/4". Thanks Sean
If I got the loc-line up to 3/4" would you run run 1" return pipe up to it and step down to 3/4" or just run 3/4" the whole way? Or am I over thinking this?
If I got the loc-line up to 3/4" would you run run 1" return pipe up to it and step down to 3/4" or just run 3/4" the whole way? Or am I over thinking this?
swk
New member
Eric's 80 gallon build
Bigger as long as possible is always advantageous imo. Go with 1" if you plan on ripping flow through your sump.
Personally, for an 80 gal tank, I wouldn't go over 3-5x a hour for turnover, and 3/4" pipe would Accommodate that more that well enough, so maybe just match the pumps outlet for the sake of simplicity? Lots of ways to look at things.
Bigger as long as possible is always advantageous imo. Go with 1" if you plan on ripping flow through your sump.
Personally, for an 80 gal tank, I wouldn't go over 3-5x a hour for turnover, and 3/4" pipe would Accommodate that more that well enough, so maybe just match the pumps outlet for the sake of simplicity? Lots of ways to look at things.
Reef Bass
colors and textures
On my tank I run 1" out of the tank and 3/4" return line. My GFO and Carbon reactor uses 1/2" plumbing.
I would use the largest diameter outflow from the tank that the drain hole will allow. I hear you are dropping to 1/2" locline on the return. A wider diameter pipe will return flow at a lower pressure than the same output from a thinner pipe. On the return you might run 3/4" to the T fitting and run 1/2" to each the locline and reactor.
Let's check whether 3/4" pipe can deliver full flow for 2 1/2" pipes. The area of a circle = pi * radius squared. Using 3.14 for pi.
1/2" pipe has radius 1/4". 1/4 squared * pi = 0.19625.
3/4" pipe has radius 3/8". 3/8 squared * pi = 0.4415625.
0.19625 * 2 = 0.3925, which is less than 0.4415625. 3/4" pipe can provide full flow for 2 1/2" pipes based on the area provided by each.
I would use the largest diameter outflow from the tank that the drain hole will allow. I hear you are dropping to 1/2" locline on the return. A wider diameter pipe will return flow at a lower pressure than the same output from a thinner pipe. On the return you might run 3/4" to the T fitting and run 1/2" to each the locline and reactor.
Let's check whether 3/4" pipe can deliver full flow for 2 1/2" pipes. The area of a circle = pi * radius squared. Using 3.14 for pi.
1/2" pipe has radius 1/4". 1/4 squared * pi = 0.19625.
3/4" pipe has radius 3/8". 3/8 squared * pi = 0.4415625.
0.19625 * 2 = 0.3925, which is less than 0.4415625. 3/4" pipe can provide full flow for 2 1/2" pipes based on the area provided by each.
1kwksvt
Member
nerd! Lol
Rarend99
Active member
Thanks Ken. I follow you on the area of the opening. I believe I read that a smaller diameter pipe itself will offer resistance to the water flow before it even got to the loc-line . Maybe it is not a factor at all since the loc-line is a smaller diameter. Definitely not something I ever learned hanging drywall.
Anyway my plan at the moment is to run with 1" pipe all the way and then drop it to 3/4" with a bushing for the loc-line. I will have to carefully enlarge the holes in the overflow box. I am thinking I can do it with a grinding stone on a drill bit.
Anyway my plan at the moment is to run with 1" pipe all the way and then drop it to 3/4" with a bushing for the loc-line. I will have to carefully enlarge the holes in the overflow box. I am thinking I can do it with a grinding stone on a drill bit.
swk
New member
Any gate valve will work. The spears are nice as they have the unions to clean and lube the gate.
That said - do I have one on my herbie standpipe, nope...
So I have slowly been making progress on my tank. I finally have an rodi setup. So nice not to have to go get water. I am on to plumbing. I think I have it all figured out but I would like to see if anyone sees anything I may have missed. Main siphon on the left, emergency in the middle and return with a tee for a reactor on the right. Thanks
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