Pluming a fish room
- Thread starter Pharaoh
- Start date
I just crunched some numbers for you. All of your valves can be 1/2 inch. You won't get any improvement by going larger. The cross sectional area of the valves in total is more than the 1 1/2" pipe supplying them.
The bottom and middle horizontal pipes can be one inch, but no smaller (larger is fine but there won't be any improvement).
The top horizontal must be 1 1/2". Smaller will cause a pressure drop progressivley to each tank from the riser to the last tank. (The top pipe needs a minimum cross sectional area of 1.372" but a 1 1/4 inch pipe is only 1.227".)
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If the bottom two rows of tanks are significantly larger than the top rows, you can use 3/4" valves. You will then need to have those two horizontals to also be 1.5".
By the way, what are the tank sizes?
The bottom and middle horizontal pipes can be one inch, but no smaller (larger is fine but there won't be any improvement).
The top horizontal must be 1 1/2". Smaller will cause a pressure drop progressivley to each tank from the riser to the last tank. (The top pipe needs a minimum cross sectional area of 1.372" but a 1 1/4 inch pipe is only 1.227".)
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If the bottom two rows of tanks are significantly larger than the top rows, you can use 3/4" valves. You will then need to have those two horizontals to also be 1.5".
By the way, what are the tank sizes?
Actually from guestimating the sizes of the lower tanks, the top pipe can be 1.25" because the lower tanks will be getting more flow due to their size and since they will have more pressure in the feed line.CHOMPERS;2628037; said:
The top seven tanks are 15G.
That bottom two rows are 30G
So, if I did all of the horizontal pieces in 1.5", then could I get away with having 1" valves going into each tank?
That bottom two rows are 30G
So, if I did all of the horizontal pieces in 1.5", then could I get away with having 1" valves going into each tank?
The valves are going to be the expensive part of the rebuild. A one inch valve costs twice as much as a half inch valve. You won't gain anything using the larger valve. If you use one inch valves, they will have to be closed down to less than the half inch.
Dividing the cross sectional area of the 1.5" feed pipe (available water flow) by the tank gallons shows that you can plumb all the tanks with half inch valves. In other words, if the 30g tanks are to get twice as much water as a 15g tank, half inch valves wide open will give the 30 gallon tanks too much water.
Dividing the cross sectional area of the 1.5" feed pipe (available water flow) by the tank gallons shows that you can plumb all the tanks with half inch valves. In other words, if the 30g tanks are to get twice as much water as a 15g tank, half inch valves wide open will give the 30 gallon tanks too much water.
I have all 1" valves currently. I might be able to get away with those, or I can just order new ones online for a fraction of the cost. Now, I can re-use the 1" if necessary, should I save them or should I got to 1/2". Any way you might draw up a little something for me, just to bring this all home?
Since they are paid for, you should use them. It will save you your sanity if all of the valves on a row are the same. In other words, if there aren't enough for the whole job, buy what you need to complete a row. The bottom six should be larger than the top seven just for looks (if you end up mixing them).
Well, got a new part to add to the mix. I just picked up a 300G today. So I am going to attempt to throw it into the mix as well. This pumps should do it, just have to get it set up right.
Wow, this could only get more complicated! Hmmm... could we have pictures of this whole situation?
I think first off I need to switch over to 1.5" then I'll have to address the flow issues.
That's the thing, it shouldn't really be all that complicated. I think I myself have made it that way trying to work magic. In the end, I ended up defeating the purpose.
That's the thing, it shouldn't really be all that complicated. I think I myself have made it that way trying to work magic. In the end, I ended up defeating the purpose.
