New home build = new tank...please help out with advice!

[dave.m]

Smaller pipes require stronger pumps the longer the run is which means more money and higher operating costs. Have you chosen your pumps yet? What size pipes are they fitted for? How easy is it for you to get 1" versus 1.5" pipes and fittings? Just some things to consider.

Dave.M

 

[alaskan84]

Thanks for the reply Dave. I have yet to determine which pump i will be getting, but there are plenty of local plumbing shops & resources for PVC pipes in all sizes since we are a fishing community. There will just be one pump since i am now going to place the sump directly underneath the tank in the crawlspace. For my previous 120 gallon i just placed an order online for a bunch of bulk pvc fittings in the right size and the specific bulkheads i wanted but the bulkheads will come with the tank this time. I'm thinking there shouldn't be much more than a 10-15 foot rise from the sump to the display tank.

I guess my main concern would be if i went against their recommendation and had both the returns and drain at 1.5" bulkheads and then ran into problems with flow or the drain not flowing as much as the return... Unless you can convince me that i'd be better off matching the drains/returns i'll probably stick with their recomendation of 1.5" drains and 1" returns.....then if i run into issues i can go back to them and be like ***?


Thanks for the insight....its making me think that i got pretty lucky with picking out a pump and plumbing my 120 gallon from the seat of my pants as i had no issues with drainage nor flow and i really have no plumbing experience.

 

[dave.m]

Draw out your set-up and figure your plumbing out now. From the top page of RC you will see that they have some calculators. One of them is for measuring head, i.e. gravity and surface resistance against which your return pump will have to push. Do the calculations for both 1" and 1.5". There are similar calculators on many aquarium sites. Just Google.

Start comparing costs for return pumps that can handle that amount of head, both 1" and 1.5". Consider things like in-sump or out for heat exchange. Consider noise (DC is quieter but not all models are as strong or as durable).

There's lots of options and things to consider. Take your time. Review other threads here on RC to see what choices others have made with similar sized tanks to yours and what, if any, problems they have run into.

Dave.M