Flex Tube for Bean Animal

[rhickman17]

Hey everyone,

I'm going to be building an external overflow with acrylic. Bulkhead support not gluing acrylic to glass. Basically a knock off of the Synergy or Eshopps option.

I just got a whalin' deal on 1" ID food grade plastic tube. I have 7 days to return it if I'd like, but I got 100 ft for a very good price. My question is, would 1" tubing be enough to run a Bean Animal setup with an Jebao DC-4000 with approx 5' of head? If not I'll return the tube, but I'm hoping I can take advantage of the deal.

Also, what sort of clamps should I install on the back of my stand to support to the drain lines? To make sure they don't act as levers against the overflow box on the tank.

 

[mcgyvr]

1" ID tube is more than sufficient for a DC-4000..
and these types of plastic clamps should be just fine too..
https://images.homedepot-static.com...er-electrical-staples-ppc-1600uvb-64_1000.jpg
or these..
https://images.homedepot-static.com...r-bender-electrical-staples-67792-64_1000.jpg

 

[rhickman17]

Thanks for the response. Im going coast to coast on the side (18") panel. For the clamps, I would just slide them around the tubes, hold the overflow box level and then screw the clamps tight to make sure the clamps are propping it up?

Looking forward to using the 1" tube as my drain, sounds nerdy, but I love the flex tube vs the rigid PVC

 

[mcgyvr]

For the clamps, I would just slide them around the tubes, hold the overflow box level and then screw the clamps tight to make sure the clamps are propping it up?

yep.. simple as that.

Many people use "spa flex" or similar flexible tubing vs rigid PVC...
I'm not sure exactly what type of tubing you have but one of the big benefits of "spa flex" tubing is that it uses standard PVC fittings and adhesive..

A downside of many times of tubing is that it requires the use of barb fittings which more often then not are quite a restriction as the 1" ID isn't maintained through the barb fitting..

 

[rhickman17]

Ou.. I didn't realize the barb would reduce that down. Okay, looks like I'm scrapping it then. I want to upgrade that pump to a pump closer to 2000 gph at 0 feet of head sometime, so I'll just stick with the rigid.

Same clamps for the rigid?

 

[mcgyvr]

Same clamps for the rigid?

They can work but really aren't the best for rigid..
I used these (found in the electrical pipe section at Home Depot) and they work great..
https://images.homedepot-static.com...1bd1/svn/conduit-fittings-e978hcr-64_1000.jpg

 

[rhickman17]

Thanks, and same idea as I mentioned for the flex tube (ie - hold box level and screw the clamps down as supporting the box)?

If I do bump that pump up to 2000-2500 gph at 0' of head, should I bump my plumbing up to 1.5". I honestly don't care, I can do either or at this point, but I do want to make sure it will be adequate for my upgrade pump.

 

[mcgyvr]

yes.. same idea..

1" is fine.. no need for anymore..

In general you only need to flow about 3-5 times the display tank size in gallons per hour.. anymore is just a waste of energy..
So a 100G tank only needs to flow 300-500GPH (after head loss) through the sump..