plumbing information

[Bergy]

I saw a thread where Jake was mentioning the use of Unions and builkhead...

I had a discussion a while ago about this....

I have actually changed my thoughts on plumbing aquariums from using all HARD PIPE to soft tubing/vinyl tubing


I see a lot of folks want hard pipe to make it look professional, and they use uniions to make it so you can disconnect equipment and or change things around..

but actually what ends up happeinging is that an in ordinant amount of time is spent designing, and an uber amount of money is spent on parts/unions/valves, and ultimately is is used ONE TIME and thrown away...

Bulkheads should be threaded all the time... if you want to make things easy for your drain line/standpipe then you can use a slip bulkhead inside the overflow, or you can get a threaded to slip bushing, so you can just yank out the standpipe if you want...

But threaded bulkheads will let you take things apart easily and to reuse expensive parts over again...

I also suggest soft / vinyl tubing, with barb fittings...  Make sure you get the tubing installed all the way up on the baarbs and use clamps whenever possible, but typically all our plumbing needs are low pressure and dont need to be isntalled per building code requirements for houses or irrigation...

[Just_Greg]

+ 1 bazillion...

hard plumbing also transmits vibration more readily, and as Bill mentioned, any adjustments or changes in the setup basically require major gyrations.

i must say that i do use true union valves so i can isolate/remove equipment for maintenance or in case of failure, but soft plumbing is a nice way to go.  once you get used to working with it, you'll wonder why you never used the stuff.

[RandyFolds]

I agree that vinyl is much easier to work with, but there are situations in which is just isn't the right choice. Vinyl can't support the weight or make the tight turns that PVC can, and sometimes that is just necessary. In any sort of small tank, maybe less than 100g, I would say flex all the way, but once you start scaling up, it just won't cut it.

I hear you on the single use parts...I just had to throw away all the bulkheads from this 125g because the guy had them glued AND siliconed. Friggin' ridiculous...

[Just_Greg]

IMHO, your plumbing shouldn't support weight at all.  there should be brackets and hangers for that.  as for tight turns, all it takes is a 90* barb.  however, i've also plumbed "hybrid" systems, using part flex and part rigid in the spots that require it.

that being said, i agree that for large, "permanent" setups, like a fish room with many tanx running off of a central system, that rigid may be a better choice.

just like everything else in the hobby, there are several ways to "git-r-dun"...  :)

[Bergy]

absolutely lanny,

for more intermediate or commercial use, then hard pipe for areas that need it...

(but like greg said, support is not for the pipes to do)

And for 90s and bends, i like the abs wide sweep bends... less restriction/head loss


there is also a difference between vinyl and flex pvc

both have a 'natrual' bend in the tubing and it is good to use that when possible, but it is also possible to straighten it out when needed...

 but be carefule when using that stuff from the end of teh roll, those ends have some nasty warped areas that are difficult to deal with and kink pretty easily...

[psykokid]

as i said on REEFNAZI i prefer to use threaded bulkheads when ever possible, even if you are using hard pipe it makes it where you dont have to remove the bulkhead and worry about leaks and such.. Use whatever piping is suitable to your situation.

I know on my tank the only rigid PVC that is plumbed in is the Durso stand pipe and the U bubble trap on my drian lines.

[Bergy]

i have hard pipe on my drain...

it is sometimes difficult to find and use 1"+ tubing/flex

and with my drain system and with most drain systems, it is just a short distance, and i lke being able to take it apart or move it to one side... although once i have a permanent sump, i doubt i will be moving or taking the drain pipe apart

and  yes, with my drain system being just 'dry fit' i get a lot of salt creep and a potential for stalagtite/mites and if something should bump or move the pipes it could b e fatal...

so, in other words, do as i say, not as i do... :)