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View Full Version : Chiller Plumbing Advice & Question



BigKGlen
Fri, 30th May 2008, 04:39 PM
I bought my Tradewind 1/3 Super Inline Chiller a few weeks ago, and have been pondering different configurations on which way to plumb it in.
I have 2 - 1" bulkheads in my sump and plan to use both in the re-work.
The first will be using a Pan World 150 for pushing water. I plan to feed the Tradewind, then continue into a Coralife 36 watt UV, then return to the tank. This pump will run constantly.
The second will be powered with an Iwaki MD-70. Circulation through the tank and 2 reactors (Tri-Pelletized Carbon and Purigen) will be running on a timer, shut down from PM to AM.
My drains will be re-worked also. The 2-1" Spaflex will meet in the middle of the cabinet, then join together by a 1"X1"X2" Tee. The increased flow of the 2 pumps should be handled by the 2" drain.
Does this sound logical, am I overlooking something, or does it look like a plan?

TIA!

captexas
Fri, 30th May 2008, 05:05 PM
So you have 2 x 1inch drain pipes coming down from the tank? According to the calculater on RC, a 1 inch drain pipe comes out to about 600gph max so your drains could theoretically handle 1200gph max. Right out of the box your Pan World 150 is running 1100gph and the Iwaki another 1500gph. There will be some headloss due to all the plumbing, but you best do some calculation work to make sure you aren't pushing more water into the tank when both pumps are on than what the drains can handle.

BigKGlen
Fri, 30th May 2008, 05:17 PM
Thanks Chris, I thought increasing to a 2" would be ok, but I sees what you mean.
I may have to back out a little and look at the Iwaki during the day, and a smaller pump than the 150 during the night. I'd have to Wye in and Wye out to keep the chiller in a constant loop.

captexas
Fri, 30th May 2008, 05:41 PM
Yeah, a 2 inch pipe will handle more flow than two 1 inch pipes. So the water will flow much easier once it gets into your 2 inch, but its the trip from the overflow to get to that 2 inch pipe that still slows things down. I was actually all set to buy a new bigger pump for my tank until right at the last minute I thought to check what overflow could handle. I'm glad I did as I would have had water all over my living room carpet soon after turning on that new pump! LOL