calculate gallons in pvc pipe

[BigDave]

Anyone have the equation for calculating how many gallons a given lenght of PVC pipe would hold? Right now I use a 10 gallon aquarium, but I'm needing that floor space for a bigger skimmer and possible chiller, and I think I can stand up a vertical piece of pipe in the corner of the room to make it all fit.

[Johnnyfishkiller]

Pi times radius squared times length of the pipe, then divide by 231.

A 4 inch pipe that is 10 feet long contains approximately 1507.92 cubic inches of water or 6.53 gallons.

((3.1415 * (2*2)) * 120) / 231

[Herbert T. Kornfeld]

Find the inner pipe diameter...like for a 6" PVC the inside diameter would be 6". Get the radius (divide by 2). Use the equasion>>> radius x radius x 3.14 x height of the pipe...to give you total cubic inches. Then divide by 231 to get gallons.

Remember Pi-R-Squared?

So for a 6" PVC 3' tall, you would have 3"x3"x3.14 (Pi) x 36" tall / 231 = 4.4 gallons. OR, for a simple ratio, 1.46 gallons per foot of 6" pipe.

For 4" PVC, 2"x2"x3.14 (Pi) x 12" tall / 231 = .65 gallons per foot.

[sscherin]

simple formula

1 gallon=231 cubic inches
R= Raidus in inches
H=height in inches
((R*R)*Pi)*H=Cubic inches/231=gallons

a 6" pipe 5' tall will hold 7.3 gallons.
8" pipe at 5' holds 13 gallons
12" pipeat 5' holds 29 gallons
a 5" square PVC fence post 5' tall will hold 6.4 gallons (ever think of a square PVC skimmer?)

use this google search as a calculator.
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&q=%28%28pi+*%283+inches%29+*+%283+inches+%29%29*60+inches%29+to+gallons&btnG=Search

DOH ya got it posted before me!

[BigDave]

Well, at least everyone's answers were the same! You all get A's!

Thanks.

[Herbert T. Kornfeld]

LOL... we all posted at once...!

[Spuds725]

Just remember that the ID may be off sligthly for piping depending on what "shedule" piping it is-- best bet is to measure.

Sched 40 and Sched 80 pipe has the same OD-- but different ID's.

[Herbert T. Kornfeld]

I thought it was the OD that varied...because the diameter name is referring to the ID...???

[kgross]

With PVC pipe the ID changes since schedual 40 and 80 will use all the same fittings, which connect on the outside of the pipe. This is one reason to use the thin wall pipe when you can because it will flow more with the larger ID.

Kim

[Herbert T. Kornfeld]

Thanks!