Bulkhead size question

[Roblox84]

I am planning on drilling a 125 gallon tank and want the most water turnover that is needed. Would it be fine if I drilled two holes in the back wall of the tank and use two 1.5 inch bulkheads? I plan on using a horizontal style overflow system. Would the 1.5 inch diameter give me some room in case I want to purchase a more powerful return pump?

[csarkar001]

I am planning on drilling a 125 gallon tank and want the most water turnover that is needed. Would it be fine if I drilled two holes in the back wall of the tank and use two 1.5 inch bulkheads? I plan on using a horizontal style overflow system. Would the 1.5 inch diameter give me some room in case I want to purchase a more powerful return pump?

i just bought a 125 gal tank and have two 1/2" inlets. they provide PLENTY of flow. your 1.5" inlet should give you enough flow (with a powerful enough pump) to do whatever rate you want.

[Roblox84]

i just bought a 125 gal tank and have two 1/2" inlets. they provide PLENTY of flow. your 1.5" inlet should give you enough flow (with a powerful enough pump) to do whatever rate you want.

do you think I should go with 2 1" bulkheads and maybe 1 1/2 inch return line?

[uncleof6]

Flow in 1/2" pipe @ average pressure is ~ 800 gph or so. (average pressure being between 20-100 psi-- pressure in "our" systems is a bit lower than that.) At high pressure > 100psi, it will do ~1200+ but it is going to make a racket. (Pressure = pump output) Really not much use for 1/2" pipe in tanks this size.

Size of the return line is based on the outlet size of the return pump. If it is 1/2", then 1/2" is ok, but better practice is going up one pipe size to 3/4". If the return outlet of the pump is 1.5", then 2" return pipe would be perfectly fine. The one exception to the rule is the danner mag drives 7 and above, in that a 1.5" return line is recommended by DANNER, if you want to get any flow out of it.

A single 1.5" pipe will flow more than two 1"pipes.

Jim

[Roblox84]

Flow in 1/2" pipe @ average pressure is ~ 800 gph or so. (average pressure being between 20-100 psi-- pressure in "our" systems is a bit lower than that.) At high pressure > 100psi, it will do ~1200+ but it is going to make a racket. (Pressure = pump output) Really not much use for 1/2" pipe in tanks this size.

Size of the return line is based on the outlet size of the return pump. If it is 1/2", then 1/2" is ok, but better practice is going up one pipe size to 3/4". If the return outlet of the pump is 1.5", then 2" return pipe would be perfectly fine. The one exception to the rule is the danner mag drives 7 and above, in that a 1.5" return line is recommended by DANNER, if you want to get any flow out of it.

A single 1.5" pipe will flow more than two 1"pipes.

Jim

So basically one 1/2 inch return pipe is good if that's what my pump adapter takes, correct? And in a 6 foot tank, would it be best to do two 1.5 inch bulkhead overflows or just keep it at the two 1 inch ones?

[jeff@zina.com]

Like many other things in life, bigger is better.

Jeff

[Roblox84]

Does it really matter where the bulkheads for the overflow are placed for the calfo style overflow? I have seen a few plans online but i just don't like how people make them almost the whole length of the tank. Would it be better to make one overflow containing the two bulkeads in the middle of the tank, or put 1 bulkead more towards each corner of the back of the tank?

[uncleof6]

None of the above.

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