Basic plumbing ques.- pipe diam. for return/drain

[boontonbob]

I have two questions to ask everyone to help ensure I don't go the wrong direction.

I am planning on plumbing in a sump tomorrow and bought materials to go with a 1" on the drain and 3/4" on the return. The sump will hold approx. 25-30 galls. After running the calculator's on RC, it looks like 1.25"(drain) and 1" (return)would allow more flow with the MAG 9.5 that I plan to use. Would you guys agree that I should return this stuff and go with these bigger diameter pipes? I know to limit the 90 deg elbows where possible.

I plan on keeping a blend of hardy SPS, Montepora Cap., Hammer, Torch, Galaxia) that I don't beleive require heavy currents. My instinct tells me it probably doesn't matter much as I could always bump up the flow within the tank by a wavemaker set up, which I plan on doing, but then I figured I might as well make the most out of these 9.5s. (With having one overflow on my oceanic tank, I currently reduce the flow by using a ball valve.)

Your thoughts are appreciated!
Thanks

 

[billyr98]

your mag 9.5 will probably have some head distance to the returns right?
i am thinking 4 foot to the top of the returns.. which would make it run at 800gph..
so a 1.25 drain would be perfect for that flow..
but i think the mag 9.5 has a 3/4 out, so i don't see any reason to make it 1"?
but that is only my 2 cents..

 

[boontonbob]

Yeah Billy...you are very close to what I am looking at. The only difference is that I am going off to the side by about 5 or 6 feet adding some horizontal distance. ( I am going through my wall into my newly created fishroom

I hear you on the 9.5 having a 3/4 exit port, so if that defines the limit, there is there the answer to stay with 3/4 piping. If anyone has other thoughts....lmk

Rats...another trip to Lowes in the am to get the 1.25" return pvc stuff.
Thanks!

 

[sinkingbeach]

I'm not quite sure where I read it or what's the purpose but I'm almost positive your suppose to double the size of the pipe leading from the Mag drives. I've increased my mag 3/4 return to 1.25 using this
1 1/4" Slip X 3/4" Female Threaded reducer, then use a 1 1/4 threaded elbow to go upward

When i use this calculator http://www.reefcentral.com/calc/hlc2.php the larger the pipe the more flow you get

 

[JohnS_323]

I would say the sizes you have are fine. The holes in your overflow and designed to handle 1" drain and 3/4" return lines. If you really wanted to, you could step up the feed coming from your Mag pump to 1" or 1.25" and then step it down to 3/4" at the bulkhead but it's probably not necessary. We used a Mag 9.5 (with a Mag 15 impeller) on our 120g with dual overflows using just 3/4" vinyl hose - no stepping up or down - and it worked pretty well.

 

[boontonbob]

Thanks Guys. I expect to use the 3/4" on the return. When I think about this more, I would think the increased pressure through the smaller pipe should be ok. Francis, I hear you on the calculators on RC, I got the same thing which started my thinking this way. I may still go with the 1.25 on the drain, I can't help but think the wider the flow the better. John - is that all that the bulkhead is (3/4"). I hadn't even looked at that yet. Keep in mind I have a single (mega style- I think) overflow - perhaps your 120 had two?
Thanks