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Plumbing question

Discussion in 'General Discussion' started by tje22, Mar 5, 2013.

  1. tje22 Well-Known ReefKeeper

    351
    Greene county
    Ratings:
    +22 / 0 / -0
    Hello everybody, I am getting ready to plum my overflow and was wondering how I should do it. should I plum it with slip fittings, which would make it so that I would have to cut it out if I ever wanted to move my refugium or something? or should I use threaded fittings, which would allow me to disassemble it in the future as necessary? Thank you in advance for the help!
     
  2. Jamie

    Jamie Well-Known ReefKeeper Vendor

    591
    Ratings:
    +24 / 0 / -0
    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:)
     
  3. PotRoast

    PotRoast Well-Known ReefKeeper

    999
    Ratings:
    +24 / 0 / -0
    Look into union fittings.

     
  4. tje22 Well-Known ReefKeeper

    351
    Greene county
    Ratings:
    +22 / 0 / -0
    Thanks everyone, im going to look into union fittings
     
  5. Fultsreef

    Fultsreef Inactive User

    151
    Ratings:
    +1 / 0 / -0
    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.
     
  6. Big John

    Big John Inactive User

    966
    Ratings:
    +0 / 0 / -0
    Union fittings, PotRoast hit the nail on the head.
     
  7. tje22 Well-Known ReefKeeper

    351
    Greene county
    Ratings:
    +22 / 0 / -0
    Thanks everybody!
     
  8. MXC207 Well-Known ReefKeeper

    634
    Cedar Rapids
    Ratings:
    +7 / 0 / -0
    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.
     
  9. nickbuol Here fishy, fishy, fishy...

    718
    Marion, IA
    Ratings:
    +17 / 0 / -0
    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.
     
  10. tje22 Well-Known ReefKeeper

    351
    Greene county
    Ratings:
    +22 / 0 / -0
    Thanks a lot everybody! I'm going up to the hardware store tomorrow morning to buy some PVC and see if they have Union fittings and all of the angle fitting that I need.
    I am just going with flexible vinyl tubing for my returns, with a scwd 2 alternate the currents.
     
  11. Bud Loves Bacon Website Team Board of Directors Leadership Team GIRS Member Vendor

    West Des Moines, IA
    Ratings:
    +1,821 / 14 / -0
    FWIW my 2c is threaded bulkheads, then weld threaded adapters to your pipes to screw into those, and make sure you use TFE paste NOT teflon tape, and use unions and 45s like previously mentioned. Dual union ball valves from Lowe's are great and not too expensive either.

    Teflon tape is for metal threaded fittings not PVC. You should use TFE paste whenever possible. Reduces crack-out. Remember not to over-tighten anything.
     
  12. tje22 Well-Known ReefKeeper

    351
    Greene county
    Ratings:
    +22 / 0 / -0
    Thanks, I just got it done. I'm getting ready to post pics in my photo thread!
     

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