Hey guys, I'm sure some of you have seen a couple other threads by me and kind of understand the new project I'm going to be doing here within the next couple months. Anyways let me start of by explaining what I am building. I'm building a 8' long by 4' wide by 4' tall plywood aquarium. The way I set it up though I will not have more than 900 gallons of water inside the tank.
On the back wall I will have 4 bulkheads used as free flow gravity overflow tubes leading to a 55 gallon drum with lid that will be used as a non pressurized canister filter. At the bottom I will have a couple pvc pipes going out leading to another 55 gallon drum with only a submersible pump in it that will need to have less of a flow rate than the pipes from the tank when combined together. This drum will also have a lid on it as well. The submersible pump must remain submerged at all times. When I fill the tank I will have a ball valve right after the first 55 gallon drum in the shut position and I will fill the aquarium only enough to make the first 55 gallon drum half full. If at any time I lose power I will only be able to fill both drums about 1/4 the way up when combined thus preventing flooding or sever loss of water.
My questions here guys is of the following.
1. For the bulkheads and pvc pipes for the overflow system what size would I need to get a flow rate of 8000gph?
2. What size pipe or pipes going from 55 gallon drum A on the bottom should I use to maintain the flow rate of 8000gph?
On the back wall I will have 4 bulkheads used as free flow gravity overflow tubes leading to a 55 gallon drum with lid that will be used as a non pressurized canister filter. At the bottom I will have a couple pvc pipes going out leading to another 55 gallon drum with only a submersible pump in it that will need to have less of a flow rate than the pipes from the tank when combined together. This drum will also have a lid on it as well. The submersible pump must remain submerged at all times. When I fill the tank I will have a ball valve right after the first 55 gallon drum in the shut position and I will fill the aquarium only enough to make the first 55 gallon drum half full. If at any time I lose power I will only be able to fill both drums about 1/4 the way up when combined thus preventing flooding or sever loss of water.
My questions here guys is of the following.
1. For the bulkheads and pvc pipes for the overflow system what size would I need to get a flow rate of 8000gph?
2. What size pipe or pipes going from 55 gallon drum A on the bottom should I use to maintain the flow rate of 8000gph?
