Need Advice on drain and return size

[qchau]

Hello Everyone,

Thinking about building a 36x24x20 tank....comes out to approximately 70 gallons. Not sure if I should go with 1inch drain with 3/4 return (which will be tee'd into (2) 3/4inch outlets coming out of overflow. Or should I go with the bigger 1.5inch drain with 1inch return (which will be tee'd into (2) 1inch outlets coming out of overflow.

Any advice would be great. Back in the day I had a 180 gallon with 1.5 inch drain and 1inch return. That seemed adequate so doing the same for a 70 seems excessive.

 

[sklywag]

Isn't it documented that a 1 inch drain maxes out to 600 gph, unless done Herbie style with siphon then it's whatever you can draw through it?

 

[Emac909]

I'd still go with a 1.5" drain or 2 one inch drains. Can never to much drainage.

 

[Justin]

I have a tank with the exact same dimensions. I have a 3/4ths return and a 1.5" drain.

 

[Kimle]

1 inch return lines hold a lot of water and hence a lot of drain into the sump when the power cuts out. Assuming no check valves.

Herbie method is cool b/c you really have 2x 1" drain lines at the worst case.

I have a 60 gal tank and doing about 600 gph through my sump. Some can argue that too much flow isn't good though.

 

[dorkymk3]

on my 50g cube i have 1.5" drain and 3/4" return.

 

[ryanroehl]

If you can fit it, I would do a 3/4" or 1" Return, a 1" herbie overflow, and a 1 1/4" or 1 1/2" emergency.

 

[qchau]

Consensus seems to be a 1.5inch drain....should I do 3/4inch or 1inch return.

Thanks