Plumbing Question...

[dtownkennel]

I am starting a new tank and confused about some plumbing layouts. I am doing a beananimal system and read alot over the internet but there isnt really explanations of what is glued or screwed on, or where to use unions. I attached sketches of the drain and return as visuals, I hope it helps a little. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!!!

 

[Heath]

Im not a plumbing Guru, and these links have a ton of helpful info in them. I would avoid the valve in the drain line, and the stand pipe for the overflow doesnt need to be glued.


http://www.reefaddicts.com/content.php/283-Plumbing-Primer-how-to-do-it-correctly
http://www.reefaddicts.com/content.php/284-Plumbing-Primer-How-to-purchase-install-bulkheads

 

[dtownkennel]

awesome thanks for the links...

 

[Guest]

i would use savco union ball valves make sure to exercise them. i do every water change which is every two weeks. I prefer threaded on the dry side of the overflow bulkhead and slip on the wet side of durso so you can just slip in the pipe. I use threaded on the dry side so you can just unscrew it if needed if you need to work with the plumbing.

on the returns i would go threaded/threaded.

 

[Guest]

about half way down on my build page i have a pic of one of my overflows how i did it. i suggest if you do 1" overflow after the 45 go 2" like i did this gets rid of that gurgling sound

below that is a video and you can see there is no sound coming from my plumbing

http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/viewtopic.php?f=100&t=80130&start=40



if you are ever in the flower mound area you are welcome to come by and look at my setup and plumbing

 

[melev]

And I almost always do the opposite. I like threaded on the wet side for a strainer and dry side is for Spaflex plumbing to the pump. Of course in an aquarium drain situation, I prefer slip/slip.

 

[dtownkennel]

Pampee...if the wet side of the bulkhead is slip do you glue it at all or do you just slip it in??

Marc...if you use slip/slip on your aquarium drain how is the durso removed from the external overflow? Also when using spaflex can I plumb it directly to a 90deg barb fitting?

The tank is being made now by david valera its 48"Lx23.5"Wx19"H rimless starphire external overflow, I really need to take pics and start a build thread for more advice.

 

[masharp1126]

From everything I've read and how I set up my system, the beananimal requires one valve on the siphon line. To adjust the level in the overflow. As far as glueing and not glueing, I've been told to glue everthing that is out of water, as it's got to have an airtight seal, and do not glue the places where it is under water. For example in your overflow, the pipe fitting into the slip bulkhead does not need to be glued. It will be under water and will keep your siphon working. But everything above it will probably need glue, especially if it is above the normal water level of your overflow.

 

[Guest]

@dtownkennel wrote:

i just slip it in i did not glue it as i sometimes drain it to clean the detritus and gunk out. one thing i would reccomend is to make a cover for external overflow as algae will grow in there.

david does great work, mine is external overflow also.

 

[dtownkennel]

I stop by lowes yesterday to kill time and found they had union ball valves. I noticed for the 1in one the section with the ball valve the pipe narrows down to 1/2in....is this the same for all ball valves?....just think this would restrict flow too much

 

[coralreefer]

@dtownkennel wrote:

Some do. I got the larger ball valve and put in reducing bushings on both ends.

 

[Guest]

@dtownkennel wrote:

Prob with lowes or home depot ball valves is they are so hard to turn compared to savko ball valves. Just spend the money and get these valves they are so easy to turn my 4 year old daughter can turn them when she helps me do the water changes

 

[dtownkennel]

Ye I think I will get the savko ones, it was hard to turn the lowes one so my next question was do you support the pvc returns with anything? I would think turning the ball valves with no support could crack the external overflow.

Should I go bigger on the savko union ball valves and add a reducing bushing or get the 1" one??

 

[melev]

I would get the size you need. Going bigger and reducing is going to cost more money. It's rare that you need to clamp down on the return line anyway, although I close mine every day when I feed.

 

[dtownkennel]

Thanks Marc I think ill go with the 1" savco union ball valves...if you dont clamp down your returns do you clamp down your drains?

 

[melev]

Neither. I get a pump that is rated at the proper flow to not exceed what the drains can handle. Those links you were given on Reefaddicts were my plumbing documentation. I have five 1.5" drains and use a Dart pump to move the water back up.