Closed loop plumbing

I'm getting all the plumbing supplies together for the closed loop on my 75g. Should I use 3/4" or 1" PVC / bulkheads for the returns? Should I have the pump intake slightly larger than the return? In other words, if the return is 3/4" should I have the intake 1"

Also, what would be a good location for the intake - I want to hide the intake the best I can without having it in an area where it can pull sand, and since it's going to be running around 2,600 gph I don't want any livestock going into the pump. What would be the best strainer that will be able to feed the pump yet prevent any livestock from getting stuck?

 

if you use larger pipe1" for return it will not creat such a suction in tank and if you use 3/4 for the return you will make the pump work harder to put the water pulled by the 1" supply. FRom all the plumbing I have seen all the piping to and from pump is the same size.

 

Kind of what I thought, but the pump has a 2" intake and 1.5" return - both of which need scaled down, but why would it have a larger intake than return?

 

Why not plumb it to the size of the pump then it would not give as much back pressure if you did not reduce it that is a big pump 2600gph. You might need a bigger supply as 1" may be small for that much flow.

 

1.5" intake, 1" return maybe?

 

What pump are you putting on this 75g? Is it a Dolphin??? Larger intake will not matter anything but smaller will restrict the pump and probably cause it to overheat. I would take the return and run it to a manifold and use it to run reactors and extra equipment instead of just dialing it down 1/2".

 

Why such a big pump for a 75 g? do you have it also if so you could use a manifold and use it to to feed all your other stuff reactor,refugium,skimmer, ect.

 

Reeflo Dart, 3600 GPH. It is more flow than what is needed, but will use a ball valve to slow the flow down to about 2600GPH. It will be only used for the 4 way closed loop. I will be using no internal powerheads, just the 4 way closed loop (1 return per corner with diffusers) and 600 gph sump return for flow accelerator.

Becuase I will be using no powerheads and want to use a closed loop for flow. I dislike cords and powerheads inside the tank, plus they can increase water temp, even if slightly.

2600gph, 4 returns, about 650gph per return. Plus 600GPH from sump return = 42.6x turnover for tank. With the larger pump I can increase flow to all 4 corners as needed to increase flow if needed.

 

You talking a Ocean Motion valve or something you are creating?? I would run 1.5" to a manifold then add all the ports from there with valves on each.
This is what I done with my HammerHead to get use out of all the gph it has. That manifold is a 2" in and 6 x 1" out

 

No ocean motions. I figure splitting the flow 4 ways will be about the same as 4 powerheads (which, is what I would use if I wasn't doing this, and would have cords hanging in the tank which just annoy me).

What would you recommend for a manifold? Any links? What I could do is have the return come out as 1.5 inch then reduce each return down to 1"?

Just saw the image, sorry - Where did you get the PVC that split 6 ways? Saw nothing like that at Lowes. I would just need 4 way.