How much flow thru 1" pipe?

[impur]

Here is my plumbing problem. I have 5 1" bulkheads in my tank. I plan to use an external pump, thru an OM super squirt ver 3, and into the tank. 4 1" outputs, 1 1" intake. I want 2500gph or as close as i can get. Can this even be done with a 1" intake?

Most pumps i look at are 1.5" or 2" intakes. Specifically a Dart which has 2" intake. Reducing that to 1" is going to choke out a lot of water that would normally flow into the pump.

Now if i cutout the 1" intake in my tank and increase it to 2", can i get 2500gph thru the SS? Is that the best solution?

Next, i will have 3/4" loclines on the 4 outputs, so i will have to reduce the 1" bulkheads to 3/4". Again, will this pose a problem and significantly lower the flow?

 

[impur]

For a better idea here is a pic. The closed loop external pump will sit on that shelf above the 10gal in the stand and will pull from that bottom bulkhead in the tank

 

[xtrstangx]

A 1" input a Dart is going to cavitate the pump like CRAZY. I would see if you can redrill the input to 2", or atleast 1.5". The outputs are probably fine as 1", but I'd run 1.5" pipe (or atleast 1.25") all the way to the bulkhead, then reduce at the last possible moment.

By running the largest pipe you can, you are maximizing the flow/volume. Reducing at the end isn't a big deal (as long as it is reasonable).. you will loose some volume, but you will gain a lot of velocity from the outputs.

 

[impur]

Ok thanks. Drilling a larger intake bulkhead is the direction i'm leaning. I do plan on running 1.5" pipe to the bottom of the OM super squirt.

 

[silverwolf72]

If your thinking of drilling it you should do 2 bulkheads either 1 1/2 or 2". This does 2 things, 1 decreases the suction created by 1 intake( less likly to suck up a fish) and 2 keeps the pump from being starved if 1 of the intakes gets cloged. I have 2 1 1/2 feeding my dart. The out goes out as a 1 1/2 to a Y that I have a ball valve attached to that feeds in to the tank so that I can bypass part of the flow going to the SS. The other leg has a 1" reducer that supplies the SS. I run 1" to 4 corners of the tank and have 2 45 dry fitted so I can point the flow in any direction I need.

 

[impur]

Hmmm point taken. I might have to rethink how much flow i'm doing thru the closed loop.

 

[impur]

How much flow could the 1" intake provide for a pump?

 

[xtrstangx]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8329079#post8329079 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by impur
How much flow could the 1" intake provide for a pump?

It depends on the water pressure above it as well as how much the pump is sucking.

There is no way you can run above 2000 GPH through a 1" bulkhead without any cavitation, IMO.

 

[impur]

So i might be better off going with a 1500gph pump and adding a MJmod or Seio to the display. Dang.

 

[xtrstangx]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8329119#post8329119 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by impur
So i might be better off going with a 1500gph pump and adding a MJmod or Seio to the display. Dang.

That or redrill the hole. Drilling isn't hard, I did a few holes on my 180g setup and all you need is a good drill and a $8 bit from eBay (just don't use it more than 2 times)

 

[impur]

Well i have the drill bit and i'm not worried about drilling. I just don't really want to put yet another hole and have to carve out the existing one.

I think a 2" hole sucking 2500gph is gonna wreak havoc on fish casually swimming by. Especially my 2" clown.

 

[silverwolf72]

Just curious what you plan on going with the other 3 bulk heads

 

[silverwolf72]

Your going to want strainers on your bulk heads. I would advise just haveing them wide open.

 

[impur]

All 4 of the top bulkheads are the return from my OM super squirt.

I plan on having strainers for the intakes, locline with nozzles for the outputs.

Do you think 1 2" bulkhead sucking ~2500gph is gonna be a problem for fish?

 

[silverwolf72]

maybe think of something like this and use the 4 1" to feed the dart.
http://www.oceansmotions.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=274

 

[impur]

Well thats kind of why i drilled, i wanted to avoid over the back plumbing. I'll just go with a smaller pump and add a Seio to the tank.

Thanks for your guys help, I really appreciate it!!!