What size return???

russ13 · 05/10/2019, 10:44 AM

I’m making a 20 gallon refugium to sit next to my sump. I’m going to use a maxijet pump to pump water from my sump into the refugium and then have a bulkhead drilled in the side of the refugium to flow back to the sump.

What size should the bulkhead be???

Vinny Kreyling · 05/10/2019, 11:49 AM

You should have a slow flow, so 1/2" should be fine.
A lot depends on the pump here.

billdogg · 05/10/2019, 02:28 PM

Even though the flow should be fairly slow, I would still go with a 1" drain back to the sump. The last thing you want is for something to clog it up and then cause a flood.

Vinny Kreyling · 05/10/2019, 04:49 PM

I Defer to BILL

russ13 · 05/11/2019, 02:50 AM

1” it is

laverda · 05/11/2019, 12:21 PM

I agree a 1” is needed. I would also add a screen to it to keep algae out of it and protect it from clogging.

Legot · 05/16/2019, 05:40 PM

I have a 1" on my similar setup. It works well, but Ideally It would have two seprate 1" drains. It clogged once when a hunk of macro got sucked in.

05/10/2019, 10:44 AM	#1
russ13 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: lake elsinore Posts: 742	What size return??? I’m making a 20 gallon refugium to sit next to my sump. I’m going to use a maxijet pump to pump water from my sump into the refugium and then have a bulkhead drilled in the side of the refugium to flow back to the sump. What size should the bulkhead be???

05/10/2019, 11:49 AM	#2
Vinny Kreyling Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Miller Place, NY Posts: 7,206	You should have a slow flow, so 1/2" should be fine. A lot depends on the pump here. __________________ 250 gallon mixed reef, 2 Reefbreeder's Photon V 2, Deepwater BLDC 12, DAS EX-3 Skimmer, MTC mini cal, 2-3/4" Sea Swirls, Aquacontroller & 6 Tunze pumps.

05/10/2019, 02:28 PM	#3
billdogg Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Grove City, Ohio Posts: 10,806	Even though the flow should be fairly slow, I would still go with a 1" drain back to the sump. The last thing you want is for something to clog it up and then cause a flood. __________________ I'll try to be nice if you try to be smarter! I can't help that I grow older, but you can't make me grow up! Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef with 40b sump, RO 150 skimmer, AI Sol Blue x 2, and a 60g Frag Tank with 100g rubbermaid sump. 2 x Kessil A360w lights, BM curve 5 skimmer

05/10/2019, 04:49 PM	#4
Vinny Kreyling Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Miller Place, NY Posts: 7,206	I Defer to BILL __________________ 250 gallon mixed reef, 2 Reefbreeder's Photon V 2, Deepwater BLDC 12, DAS EX-3 Skimmer, MTC mini cal, 2-3/4" Sea Swirls, Aquacontroller & 6 Tunze pumps.

05/11/2019, 12:21 PM	#6
laverda Registered Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Anaheim, CA Posts: 6,902	I agree a 1” is needed. I would also add a screen to it to keep algae out of it and protect it from clogging. __________________ 240G mixed reef, 29G SPS/LPS clam tank, 50G mixed reef Current Tank Info: 300g mixed reef, 50g cube

05/11/2019, 02:50 AM	#5
russ13 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: lake elsinore Posts: 742	1” it is

05/16/2019, 05:40 PM	#7
Legot Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Posts: 68	I have a 1" on my similar setup. It works well, but Ideally It would have two seprate 1" drains. It clogged once when a hunk of macro got sucked in. __________________ 33L → 55 Shallow