Plumbing question

Slip fittings would be much easier to work with IMO If your using PVC you will still have to use slip fittings as well as the thread adapters. PVC pipe does not come threaded at least I haven't seen it. PVC is cheap to redo if you have to cut something apart.....compared to anything else in this hobby anyway

 

Look into union fittings.

 

I used threaded unions...my philosophy on using them was for maintenance and cleaning inside of plumbing and to replace the sump or other parts if necessary. I'm glad i chose to use them. Maybe add ball valves before the unions and anywhere else that would be necessary to prevent excessive water leakage during repairs or maintenance.

 

Union fittings, PotRoast hit the nail on the head.

 

I prefer all hard plumbing. But yes unions are king and union style ball valves are the best. Cost alot...but oh man they make life easier. Pvc is all i use.

 

I learned how "inflexible" the flex tubing is. The previous owner of my tank used spa tubing, which is considered a good option, and while I did use some of it, about 90% of all of my plumbing on my 120 is hard PVC plumbing with unions and valves so that I can take it apart if need be, or shut off water to individual downpipes and/or returns.

It does take time to mess around with unless you have a chop saw near by (my saw was in my garage, and the tank in the basement, so every cut was a run up and down the stairs). Also, I recommend buying all sorts of elbows and more pipe than you need. There is nothing like having to stop mid-way through the plumbing because you want to use two 45 degree bends instead of a 90 degree bend because you need to go around something else or whatever.

I think that I returned about as many elbows and connectors as I actually used, but it meant that I could go from start to finish in one shot.