Closed Loop piping sizes.

[Superorb]

Hello, I have a few questions for ya.

First off, I have a 48x12x20 tank, math says its a 50g, lady I bought it from says it's a 55.

If it's not all tempered, I was thinking of running for the closed loop a 1.5" intake for the pump with a 1" or 3/4" effluent from the pump(whichever the outlet size is on the pump) to a Wye, then 3/4" to the 3/4" bulkheads, than a loc-line wye, to 1/2" loc-line segments to direct flow, to 1/2" regular round nozzles. Does this sound about right, or is there anyhting that I should modify?

Thanks for the help,
Ken

[arconom]

I think all 55 glass tanks are tempered. I would check the brand. If it is tempered you can do a over the tank type of CL.

[Gisho]

How many GPH are you planning to run through this closed loop system?

When you say a "1.5" intake", are you referring to bulkhead size, or size of the hole? If you are referring to bulkhead size, then I think 1.5" would be a bit overkill. I think you would be fine with a 1" bulkhead and 1" I.D. pvc piping on the intake side and then 1" I.D. return splitting into two 3/4" returns, etc. should be fine.

[HippieSmell]

I would use 1.5" PVC on everything, or at least 1", so that you get everything out of your pump. For sure use 3/4" loc-line (I don't think they make 1" do they?)

[ReeferJones]

Thats how I did mine, same measurements, however I left the outlets at 3/4 instead of dropping them down to 1/2

[HippieSmell]

Wow, 3 posts at the same time. Talk about service, lol.

[Superorb]

ok, so 1.5" inlet is too large. i was just thinking b/c doubling the inlet size compared to the outlet size.. i didnt want to use 3/4" locline since i will have 2 outputs per bulkhead, i was gonna do 1" from the pump, then split it to two 3/4" lines to the 3/4" bulkheads, than to two 1/2" locline returns per bulkhead. i have 3/4" on the return from the sump and it seems so arge, i dont want that large returns for the closed loop as well.

[Gisho]

You'll be fine. You can go with 1" bulkhead on the inlet side and then on the outlet side 1" ---> 2 X 3/4" ---> 4 X 1/2". On a tank your size this is plenty adequate.

[ReeferJones]

1.5 would be fine too, I'd rather have a too big of an intake, then too small, you can always reduce a larger one.

[Gisho]

Originally posted by ReeferJones
1.5 would be fine too, I'd rather have a too big of an intake, then too small, you can always reduce a larger one.

Agreed. Either would be fine. For aesthetic reasons I would go with the 1" depending on the location of the hole within the tank/aquascape. I have a 1" intake on my closed loop run by an Iwaki RLT70 which pumps about 1250 gph (taking into account headloss) and it keeps up just fine.

[Superorb]

not sure if i am going to use 1" or 1.5" on the intake... i am using a little giant 4-mdqx as the closed loop pump, and it has 1" inlet/outlets on the pump. i heard to double the inlet size to the pump. i'm not sure which size to use, suggestions?