what size fittings to use? elbow cuts down how many gph?

[infin]

im redoing my return line to my tank, my pump has a 3/4" output.
currently my setup is a 3/4" barb fitting coming off the pump, then goes to 3/4 flexable tubing to another barb fitting that goes into a 3/4" elbow then into another 3/4" elbow then to another 3/4" elbow then finally outputed to a dual output 3/4" loc-line return.

im thinking of changing out the first elbow to two 45's, my question is am i better off going 1" for the elbows and 45's or stick with 3/4"?

How much flow is lost in the elbows?

what will be my best setup for the maximum flow?

 

[BOTR]

Hope this calculator helps you. It saved my butt a few times with my SPS Reef tank plumbing.

http://reefcentral.com/calc/hlc2.php

Chris

 

[BOTR]

You can just pick a pump that is close to what you have. I know it doesn't really answer your question, but without the specs of the pump there isn't a good way to answer your question.

Is the pump a presure rated pump, or only a flow pump?

 

[fishmaven]

How much flow is lost in the elbows?

what will be my best setup for the maximum flow?

I've always heard that a 90 cut down flow by 25%. That'd drop 500 to 375.

I'd use u-tubes instead of elbows. I'd step you 3/4 to 1" inline before the u-tube. Don't forget to put a small hole in the return tube at or just below water level. (prevents backflow if power goes off.