Built in overflow pump

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Xandict

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Aug 3, 2009
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Pikeville, KY
Been looking for pumps and such for my new 185g and I know I need some help with this. The tank is L-shaped and the overflow is built in the back corner where the L goes together. It has a 1" drain in the bottom of it. If I use the 1" pipe to drain to the tank, can anyone tell me what size pump I need and recommend a good one? When it comes off the return pump I want to split it into a Y so that I'll have a return flow into each end of the L.
 

SubRosa

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Jul 3, 2009
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A 1" bulkhead will flow about 350 gph. And that's when it's new and clean. Flow will only decrease from there.A bit anemic for a 185 imo. Assuming it's an acrylic, and the overflow section is large enough I'd drill at least one more 1.5" hole for another 1" bulkhead. Then get a pump that will flow 500-600 gph at the head height of the tank, taking into account ant elbows, y's, etc. Better yet if there's room drill one 2" and use a 1.5" bulkhead. That will flow more than enough, which is really how a drain should be designed anyway!
 

Sploke

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Oct 20, 2005
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A 1" bulkhead should flow up to about 800gph, draining free. Where are you getting this 350 gph number?
 

SubRosa

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Sploke

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Oct 20, 2005
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Weird. I use a 1" drain for my reef tank, with a Rio 17HF pump, which at 4' of head pressure is ~840gph, and that was with a gurgle buster on the standpipe.
 

Xandict

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Aug 3, 2009
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Pikeville, KY
I plan on hard-piping it in with PVC and use some flow meters to measure what the drain and return are. What would be the best valve to use to control flow? ball, gate, etc...
 

SubRosa

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Ball valves are cheaper and if you don't need precise control will be fine.
 
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