Drains size for 540 Gallon?

With 6 bulkheads (4 drains and 2 returns) in 2 Overflows on a 540 Gallon tank, I want a Herbie style overflow, with the pumps/flowrates given....do I use 1.5 or 2 inch drain lines? I should design for 2 of the 4 drains stopping completely? So two drains need to be able to drain the entire output of the pumps. 1.5 inch drain lines will do that? 2 inch? And where do I get REAL flow capacity of drains on a tank? There MUST be some definitive answer out there. I've looked and all I've found is contradictory answers. For example, I've read a 1 inch drain will handle 1200 GPH, 300 GPH, 600 GPH. Which is it?!

Arrrghhhhh!!!!! Ok. How about this. Will a pair of 2 inch drains, each vertical with a single 45 degree bend and perhaps a ball valve, handle the flow of my pumps in this tank?

Ya'll are making my point...or one of my points. Joe, your post says a a 1 inch line will drain 960 gph. DB, your post says a 1 inch line will drain 600 gph. This link I read last night says that a 1 inch line will only really safely drain 300 gph. http://www.wetwebmedia.com/SystemPIX/PlumbingPix/Oneinchart.htm I need to know what 1.5 inch and 2 inch lines will drain so I can order a tank. So, will a 2 inch line drain 1300 gph, 3300 gph, or 2400 gph? Will a 1.5 inch line drain 1350 gph, 2100 gph, or 3300 gph. Let's assume my drains lines will be straight with no 45's--I'll put my sump directly below the bulkheads.

I'm gonna flow 3592 GPH through the sump with 2 Max-Flow 2400's. So 1.5 inch drains would work, but that'd be at the high end of their capacity. 2 inch drains would be the way to go, then..

DIDYSIS said:

How much flow are you actually going to put through the tank? I have standard stand pipes and they are 2 inch(2-2inch drains) and I run a reeflo barracuda on my 600 gallon tank with no problems. I always like going bigger than smaller on the drains. A 1.5 standard drain is good for about 1500-1800 gph with the higher end being really close to max. I had a mag 18 returning through a 1.5 and it was just enough to keep up with it, but what head and what else was making the flow a little less is not completely known.





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