Need Some Advice On Pipework Sizes

[@ombomb]

I'm trying to finalise my new tank, but am not sure how to work out the size required for the pipework / drilled holes in the tank.

Here's a basic doodle of the layout of the tank:

The dimensions of the tank will be 48"x24"x24" with a 36"x18"x18" sump, so 113USG for the main tank and 48USG for the sump.

I planning on using an Oceanrunner 3500 to power the return to the main tank and will us hard piping that loops over the top of the tank with no need for drilling. For the overflow I was planning on having 2 durso stand pipes in a single weir just in case the flow to one got restricted. Do you think it's worth it? Can anyone advise me on the required pipework diameter for the over flow(s) to the sump?

 

[SkiFletch]

Absoloutely worth it. I installed dual overflows in one box in my tank. A month or so ago I came home to hear my tank sounding very strange, a way different gurgling sound from the drain. I have mine setup so that one drain is slightlyhigher than the other as an "emergency". Each drain is capable of handling the flowrate of the return pump. Anyways I freaked out, but didn't see any water on the floor. Looked inside the wier and the water level there was higher, but the "emergency" drain was holding. Took a mirror and poked around in the main drain to find one of my freaking Trochus snails had gotten in there somehow and was obviously occluding the drain. So despite my best efforts to keep them out with the weir the little punk still got in there. Had I not had the second drain, well, my sump would be dry, floor wet, pump prolly melted out, leaking copper and magnets into the system and I'd be lucky if the tank survived. Having the second drain saved the tank from a horrible crash. Redundancy is your friend @ombomb

In your case, I'd suggest two 1" bulkheads with 1" piping. 1.5" might be a good idea in case you do ever want to up the flowrate with a tank that large.

 

[@ombomb]

cheers ski will probably go for 2 x 40mm

 

[SkiFletch]

Sounds perfect to me