Plumbing

[Iseayu]

Any benefits to increasing the size of my plumbing. Currently running 1" drains and 3/4 returns. If I increased drains to 1.5 and returns to 1 would this benefit at all. I'm just considering all options for my tanks as it becomes a full blown reef now. I want to add more valves and unions to it any way for maintenance so was just wondering on plumbing size.

 

[tosiek]

It mostly depends on the output on your pump. Having a larger return wont make your pump push anymore water unless you have an undersized return on your pump currently. If anything, adding a larger return onto a pump will lower your head pressure at your return nozzle if its larger than what the pump was specced at. IE if the pump was made for a 3/4 return and you bumped it to 1" you would lose head pressure.

 

[House of Laughter]

I,

I am not a plumbing expert (I'll leave that to Deepwater) but my understanding of your question leaves me to believe in your application, more flow could be good - there are other ways to achieve this as well (internal flow).

I reduced my tank turn over into my sump by 30% and added internal flow via tunze's and a vortech. Needless to say, I saved 30% on electric.

Hope that helps,

House

 

[Wes]

It mostly depends on the output on your pump. Having a larger return wont make your pump push anymore water unless you have an undersized return on your pump currently. If anything, adding a larger return onto a pump will lower your head pressure at your return nozzle if its larger than what the pump was specced at. IE if the pump was made for a 3/4 return and you bumped it to 1" you would lose head pressure.

forgive me for being argumentative but i don't know if i agree.

yes you will reduce head pressure, but that usually results in better output...more head = less flow no?