Intake for a Closed Loop

[Modo]

I ran into my first glitch with this 90 I'm setting up. I asked that the holes for the closed loop be drilled for a 1.5" ID bulkhead. Well, they drilled a 1.5" hole! 8O My fault I guess, I should have been more specific.

So, that reduces my intake to a 3/4" pipe. The suction from that bad boy is going to be like a black hole. So, I'm thinking that if I use an expansion coupling to a 1" and use a 1" strainer that I should still be okay. Well, at least not sucking snails out of their shells or anything.

What do you guys think about this? I don't think I can really go larger than 1" without having a huge amount of plumbing coming out into the tank.

What size are your closed loop intakes and strainers? Any other ideas out there?

 

[Anonymous]

I really think the size of your plumbing on the intake side of the pump should be the exact same size or bigger than the fitting on the intake side of the pump.

in other words, if the intake fitting on your pump is 1", don't go smaller than that

HTH

Bryan

 

[esmithiii]

You could do a "T" and have dual strainers, or a cross and three strainers. This would make it much safer (greater surface area = Lower suction = lower chances of a fish, anemone, etc from getting stuck).

Ernie

 

[Lostmind]

You could do a "T" and have dual strainers, or a cross and three strainers. This would make it much safer (greater surface area = Lower suction = lower chances of a fish, anemone, etc from getting stuck).

Ernie

exactly what I was going to say!

Although, what I did in mine was use a coupler and turn my 1.25" pipe into a 2" pipe and used a 2" basket on the intake. The pump pulls about 1100gph (aprrox) and I cant feel any suction on that baby

 

[Modo]

Good idea guys on the Tee. I could do a 1" tee that reduce down to the 3/4" bulkhead.

Knucklehead,
There is really no choice on my 3/4" intake. These are the only size bulkheads that fit a 1.5" hole. I've searched everywhere! So, I'm stuck reducing the pipe to 3/4 no matter at the tank wall. But, more than likely i will plumb everything else 1" it will just reduce and expand on either side of the BH.

 

[Anonymous]

just out of curiosity, what size is the intake fitting on the pump??

Bryan

 

[wedfr]

i agree on teh intake size of the pump being at least equal to the size of the plumbing yoru goign to use.

either get it redrilled bigger or if that not possible then drill more holes and have them tie into one bigger line outside the tank.

Dont use 1 inch plumbing and just stick a 1" tee inside yroutank your just cheating yrou pump

 

[Modo]

I actually just picked up a Blueline 1100 from a guy here locally. It has 3/4" intake and output so I think I might be alright. I'm going to expand the tank side to a 1" and attach a 1" strainer on a 90 to try and reduce suction.

If this is still too much suction in the tank I will change the 90 out to a tee and use double 1" strainers on each side of the tee. Hopefully that will work. I'm using threaded fittings so switching out shouldn't be a problem.

What do you guys think?

Oh, Knucklehead to answer you question, I originaly was going to go with an Iwaki with 1" input. But, I got a great deal on this Blueline.

 

[Anonymous]

I think you did a good thing, having the inlet restricted leads to problems such as cavitation. You should be fine, I would put it together, and not glue the t on the inside of the tank, that way if it is too much suction, it can be taken out again. I made the mistake of glueing the stuff on the inside of my tank on, and now I am stuck with it.

Bryan

 

[Anonymous]

Is it an option to have the hole redrilled?