Bulkhead sizing

Lukemitchell

Gambusia
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Feb 7, 2017
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hi everyone
I have a 2" hole which I want to put a bulkhead in for a 1" pipe or a 1.5" if you can get them and I have a 1.5" hole but can I run a 1" return from that or is it only 3/4" that will fit ?
Sorry if you can't understand that il explain if not.
Thanks
 

Bigfishnut

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A 1.5" bulkhead requires a 2.5" hole. 3/4" bulkhead requires 1.75" or so. I'd guess your 2" hole would work for a 1" bulkhead.
 

Bigfishnut

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Just so you know, you can drill over an existing hole. I've done it many times. Even if you're only going slightly larger...still works like a charm! Ebay has great deals on diamond hole saws. I bought a 14 pc. Set for like $10! Works great. Ordered from china, had it in a week. Really a must have. Don't get stuck trying to make someone else's bad idea work for you!
 
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Lukemitchell

Gambusia
MFK Member
Feb 7, 2017
188
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Tamworth
Just so you know, you can drill over an existing hole. I've done it many times. Even if you're only going slightly larger...still works like a charm! Ebay has great deals on diamond hole saws. I bought a 14 pc. Set for like $10! Works great. Ordered from china, had it in a week. Really a must have. Don't get stuck trying to make someone else's bad idea work for you!
Thanks for the advice
Think I will keep the 2" hole and use it for a 1" return instead of a 3/4" and then drill the 1.5" hole to a 2.5" for the 1.5" drain.
 

Lukemitchell

Gambusia
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Feb 7, 2017
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How many gph are you planning to be pushing through that 1.5" drain?
Well the tank and sump will give me 255 gallons and I'm aiming for 6 times turnover which is 1530 gallons and I have 2 x 5000gph pumps, what gph can a single 1.5" gravity fed pipe do? As il be running 2
 

Bigfishnut

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You better go with 2 1.5" drains. You never want to max out your drain or you'll end up with a flood at some point guaranteed
 
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Lukemitchell

Gambusia
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Feb 7, 2017
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You better go with 2 1.5" drains. You never want to max out your drain or you'll end up with a flood at some point guaranteed
So you reckon I should go with both 1.5" drains then the others returns then?
Also does it matter that each side of the tank has a overflow box with 2 holes like what I'm trying to say is that they will a drain and return on each side of the tank and not one end is drains and other returns ? Does that matter?
And there's like a glass box around each set of holes, do they need to be there or can I take them out ?
 

Bigfishnut

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It would work either way. The last tank I set up was return at one end drains at the opposite end. I've set up tanks with returns and drains at same end. Both work. Circulation is dictated by your powerheads or wave makers anyway.
 

Lukemitchell

Gambusia
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Feb 7, 2017
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It would work either way. The last tank I set up was return at one end drains at the opposite end. I've set up tanks with returns and drains at same end. Both work. Circulation is dictated by your powerheads or wave makers anyway.
Ok so il go with that then also could I get rid of the glass box around the pipes and run one of these on each drains so it will open up abit more space in the tank?

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