central air pipe size question

[RichE]

I have 1/2" pvc now but the room is ruffly 12'x12' and the 1/2" was only covering half of that.

Now I need to run pipe around the hole room, and here are my options.

I am using a gast 1/8 hp blower,I have tanks on all 4 walls, some with a 12" airline drop others will be 6' drops. I will have around 30 tanks when all said and done smallest  tank is 15 gallon and biggest will be 90's

Sponge filters and filter box's are what I will be using for all the tanks.

I have enough 1/2" to do the whole room plus half is already up or I have 1 1/2" predrilled that I could use.

So with the length of the runs the size of the blower and the amount of drops, which size would be best?

Thanks in advance

Rich

[Regalblue]

Sell the blower & get a linear pump

[jimbob]

If you are going to use the blower I would go with the 1 1/2 pipe.

[RichE]

Sell the blower & get a linear pump

isn't it better to have more then less? future add on's etc?

[Regalblue]

Way too much for you - a linear pump is gonna end up being more efficient

[Marty]

If you're going to have at least 20 more tanks, or a lot of deep tanks, then a blower would be a good idea.  Otherwise, I would agree with Blair.

[Regalblue]

I have 35 tanks going , (many of Which have 2 airlines running to them) 73.?? of 1/2" PVC & an Altia AL-60 running it all.

[RichE]

If you're going to have at least 20 more tanks, or a lot of deep tanks, then a blower would be a good idea.  Otherwise, I would agree with Blair.

I have space to add more tanks in the future and on the larger tanks I plan on running 2 sponge filters.

The concern I have is the tanks that are ground level are over 6ft from the pipe so that's why I picked up the blower and got rid of my pump and I have a huge open space in the middle of the room where I could add another 5' high by 5' long by 30" deep rack so there would be the extra tanks.

I know its over kill but it isnt that bad is it?

[four_by_ken]

To late to run the pipe in the middle of the wall... maybe 4' up?

[RichE]

To late to run the pipe in the middle of the wall... maybe 4' up?

the pipe will be ran across the ceiling so that's why it is so high

[four_by_ken]

Away not run it in the middle of the room?  Then no 6' runs that you are worried about.

[RichE]

The pipe is going along the ceiling in a closed loop setup, I have tanks that will be 12" From the air pipe all the way down to over 6ft. The room is ruffly 12'x12" so ruffly 48 ft of pipe and then I will have a piece go across the middle of the room to allow for the middle rack that I plan on building, so its like a big square with a cross bar, plus the pump will be on the ground so it has to push air up to the pipe and then around the system.

[four_by_ken]

The pipe is going along the ceiling in a closed loop setup, I have tanks that will be 12" From the air pipe all the way down to over 6ft. The room is ruffly 12'x12" so ruffly 48 ft of pipe and then I will have a piece go across the middle of the room to allow for the middle rack that I plan on building, so its like a big square with a cross bar, plus the pump will be on the ground so it has to push air up to the pipe and then around the system.

The pump doesnt have to push air up.  Air doesnt flow up and down like water does.  It more fills the pipe evenly.  That is if the pump is sized to provide more volume that needed.

The heights where you would have to be concerned about pumping up are ridiculous to even think about.

Pipe diameter (volume), pressure and orifice size are what you will need to take into consideration.

The pressure at your ceiling vrs at your floor will be the same.  There will no be a difference.  Now trying to push air out in 1" of water vrs 10' of water... there is a difference there.

The size of the pipe will determine the volume of air that you can flow.  This is where too small of a pipe could cause you to run out further away from the source you get.

Just quick thoughts on this before I head home.

[djlamonica]

My alta 60 does 8' drops about 10 times.  No problem.  I use 1/2 but its a linear air pump.

[lilscoots]

The rise/drop outside of water has no effect.  The pressure difference from water height will be your issue.  I have gate valves on all of my lines 40+ and set each line individually.  I use 3/8 flexible hose to go around the room. 1/4 lines to each sponge.