Plumbing Capacity

[navajo]

Hey there all! I have been lurking here for a few months. Just soaking up the knowledge! :D

I am in the process of planning my first Marine tank and need some help...

I am going to have a 125 or 135 gallon tank on the first floor with the 55 gal
sump in the basement. The drains will be 2 X 2" and the returns will be 2 X
1.5". Now on to the quandry. Where I have to put the sump/refugium in the
basement, there will be approximately a 9' horizontal run with about 8' vertical
run. My question is, is there a formula for figuring out how much water the
pipes will be holding all together?

I have the formulas for figuring gallons for tanks, head pressure, etc, but am
just wondering if I split my 55 into 2 parts to incorporate a refugium, will
there be enough water volumn in the other half for the pumps/skimmer, or by the
time I pump enough water to fill all the pipes, will my refugium run empty?

Thank you for your time! You guys/gals are the best!

Tom (The Tool Man)

[drjrose]

Are you using 1.5" and 2" pipe to match these bulkheads?

Idea - Take a 1 foot section of pipe and cap off one end. Fill it with water and measure the volume by pouring it into your favorite measuring cup or graduated container. Multiply the distance times the volume per foot and there is your answer.

Do this with both the 1.5" and 2" pipes. They will be quite different.

[der Riff-Konig]

I know that 12" of 1" pipe = 8 ozs. So 16' of 1" pipe holds 1 gallon.

[navajo]

Ahhh, sounds llike I don't have anything to worry about then.

Thanks guys!

Tom