What size gate valve for 1 inch drains

[eddiegunks]

hey all,

my newest setup is a 180 glass tank with corner 1 inch drains and 3/4 returns. (i know i know.....no emergency drain. i will just keep my two drains clean. i will add a clean out. i know i could run the returns over the side......). if i went with returns over the sides, please link to my options.

i want to flip it 10x per hour. i have a jebao 10,000 so i should have "plenty" of pump (5 foot of head).

anyhow, J jaws7777 , ragin_cajun and a few others have been running a system that i want to try.

i will be using 1 inch drains (pre-drilled reef tank). the accepted build is to run both drains through 1 gate valve for ease of adjusting. a 1 inch drain flows "X" amount. 2 separate drains will flow 2*X. my worry is if you hook them together into a 1 inch line (two 1 inch lines into a 1 inch T) then both lines will only flow "X" i want 2*X. even if i do not need or can't use that much flow i want my options.

i understand that the gate will be significantly closed......but again, i would like to keep my options open. SO, what size gate valve? what size line from the gate to the sump? (ie: 3 inch gate into 1.5 or 2 inch lines? 2 inch gate into 1.5 lines? 3 inch gate into 3 inch lines)? i would rather reduce the flow than have it reduced by pipes size, leaving no option.

thx

eddie

 

[ragin_cajun]

well, if you just have to have 2X flow, then you'd take both 1 inch drain lines, run them into a 2 inch PVC T with 1"-2" PVC reducing bushings on the two 1 inch drain lines. The third line will be a 2 inch PVC nipple to a 2 inch Slice gate valve.

Then you come out of the 2 inch slice gate valve to another 2 inch T, and tee out 2 1 inch drain lines out of that to your filter socks in your sump.

Here's a video showing the plumbing over my sump. Look at 1:48, and you can clearly see that's exactly how my drains are plumbed to my slice gate.

I can tell you now, 2x 1-inch drain lines, set up to run full siphon with a slice gate like this...will drain WAY more than 1800 GPH. So, you could PROBABLY, PROBABLY, just as easily do a T with both 1 inch drains lines into a single 1 inch slice gate, and then back out to a pair of 1 inch lines to 2 filter socks.

That'd be half of what i have on a 540 gallon tank.

 

[jaws7777]

Eddie and i were talking off line about this and i felt he doesnt need a 3 inch gate. Im running 1.5 inch lines tee'd into a 3 inch gate my gate is barely opened. I suggested he start this thread just incase theres something im missing in my opinion = I feel he can use a 1, 1.5, or 2 inch gate and be fine. I feel like my 3 inch gate isnt needed and oversized. Obviously he would have to open the smaller gate a little more but i think that could be more beneficial since he doesnt have E drains keeping the smaller gate opened a little more than a larger gate would help a little in terms of something getting clogged, be cheaper, and easier to install (smaller tee's and plumbing)

 

[DN328]

For what it's worth, I'm running only a 1" gate valve on a full siphon 1" drain (along with trickle, and dry e-drain). I would say that I could open up the valve more and it could easily handle another 1" full siphon drain. I would not go any larger than 1.5" gate valve.

Whatever you decide, don't forget to add the strainer to the drains - nothing is guaranteed, but it does mitigate chances of large debris/plants/larger snails ever falling in.

 

[eddiegunks]

Thx guys.

If i wanted go go with over the side returns, what would you recommend? I will have glass tops (custom cut if needed) so what attachment system would be best?

Oh! What about sock holders? Which do you prefer?

Thx again

 

[jaws7777]

Thx guys.

If i wanted go go with over the side returns, what would you recommend? I will have glass tops (custom cut if needed) so what attachment system would be best?

Oh! What about sock holders? Which do you prefer?

Thx again

Sock holders can be diy...nothing fancy needed. Eggcrate or pvc. Can post a pic later of mine.

For the returns i just ran them over and into the tank cutting out a notch on the plastic trim of the lid. Can use elbows as a return or even attach loc line nozzles.

Use lots of unions where ever u can

 

[ragin_cajun]

What I'd do different if I were doing it today.......see if you can find a slice gate valve that has a threaded adjustment for adjusting how open/closed the gate is. I wish I had that. That rod I push in and out sucks. I'd like a very fine adjustment.

Sock holders....whatever you use, try to devise a way to hang the filter sock a little bit BELOW the top lip of the sump. So if your socks clog up, water going into them overflows the sock and falls in the sump. If the sock is even with, or above, the lip of the sump, and the sock overflows, that water will probably end up on your floor -- catastrophic.

Now....the next thing we should discuss......what exactly are the overflows going to be in this tank? Style? What flow rate will those overflows accommodate? Is there a weir? Is the weir solid enough that you can cut a few teeth out of it if you have to?

 

[eddiegunks]

Now....the next thing we should discuss......what exactly are the overflows going to be in this tank? Style? What flow rate will those overflows accommodate? Is there a weir? Is the weir solid enough that you can cut a few teeth out of it if you have to?

i think a threaded slice gate would be great.

i have corner overflows. standard bulk store reef ready set up. yes, i could cut some teeth off the weir.