What Sized Drain Pipe For 500-600 GPH?

[mudbuttjones]

Okay, sounds good. I'll make the red lines 2" all the way through unless there is a benefit to making it go from 1.5" to 2" after the top tank. Is there any other benefit except a slight cost savings?

How big should the blue pipes be? I'm thinking 1" should be good, can someone tell me if that would be okay?

No benefit on performance from switching sizes. In theory it would work better with 2" all the way down, but I think you're sizing your drains appropriately ao it shouldn't matter either way.

Return plumbing is dependent on the pumps you choose. Some pumps like Eheims function exceptionally well with smaller tubing/pipe. Other pumps like the magdrives require 1.5" plumbing to maintain good flowrates at height. I'm no engineer but I suspect it's an issue of pressure generated by the pump.

I'd go 1" at a minimum based on the flowrates you posted. Upsizing plumbing has the benefit of reducing headloss in elbows and threaded fittings or ballvalves or whatever

Is your return going to be hard plumbed or are you using a flexible vinyl tubing?

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[need2ball]

At first I was thinking hard plumbing but now that you mention it, flexible vinyl tubing might be easier. What do you suggest and why?

 

[mudbuttjones]

Spaflex works ok but is really expensive or is where I live, like $4 per foot.

I like flexible vinyl tubing. The braided reinforced stuff is good, its almost useless at sizes bigger than 1.25" it's just about as flexible as a steel I-beam lol.

I saw in another post you were contemplating using a magdrive pump. Don't expect exceptional results with magdrives unless you use 1.5" plumbing. I love my magdrives but they just don't flow well through small plumbing.

I'd take a 1.5" piece of pvc and branch off some returns with either tees or wyes and pipe it to the tanks with flexible tubing. You just need a main artery large enough to supply all the tanks.


Here's a terrible picture I drew on my phone

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[need2ball]

Thanks for the illustration but I don't think there is a magdrive pump that can handle that amount of water which is why I split it up into two pumps.

I was reconsidering my options and was wondering, if I went down to 400 GPH per tank, would I be able to safely go with smaller PVC pipes for the outlet and/or the red pipes in my diagram? If so, what size?

 

[need2ball]

Okay so I'm definitely going 400 GPH instead now. So can I get away with doing 1.5" drain pipes from the bulkheads in the tank all the way down into the wet/dry (including the red pipes)?