Is it possible to have too many PVC fittings?

WinnipegDragon · 07/19/2007, 10:54 AM

First off, here is the plumbing diagram I have for my 120g. Red is overflow lines, green is return, black is miscellaneous. Triangles are ball valves:

I'd like to make the plumbing as modular as possible. I was going to go with all flexible PVC, anchoring with thick Velcro ties where necessary to help support the weihgt and to keep the various tubes pointed where they should be.

Is there any reason (besides price) that I can't have every connection hooked up with quick disconnect fittings? The ability to remove any length of PVC and change the entire plumbing system one piece at a time is greatly appealing, but I don't know if too many fittings will cause an issue with water flow, or if it will lead to additional stress or leaking problems.

Has anyone done an all-flex all-modular plumbing job like this?

liquidlunch · 07/19/2007, 11:03 AM

Ideally you would like to have a few as possible. Any sections of conduit(hard or flex) can be supported by plumbing hangers. For flow calcs, you can play around w/ this

http://reefcentral.com/calc/hlc2.php

WinnipegDragon · 07/19/2007, 11:15 AM

I was afraid of that. Is there such a beast as an all-in-one fitting that is both a valve and a quick connect fitting?

Also, boo! The Eheim 1262 is not in that headloss calculator either.

ken6217 · 07/19/2007, 11:17 AM

You try to have as little 45 and 90 degrees as possible as you lose psi. Flexible PVC and electrical sweeps work well. Of course you could go with a higher rated main pump to make up for the additional elbows.
Ken

WinnipegDragon · 07/19/2007, 11:20 AM

I think the 1262 should be plenty powerful. Rated at 900GPH, does better than that on North American power sources. I should still be getting 700-800GPH through my sump which is actually a bit much for a 120g tank.

csb · 07/19/2007, 12:28 PM

Hah... I'm running a 1262 on a 30g tank

WinnipegDragon · 07/19/2007, 12:29 PM

As a closed loop or a return?

07/19/2007, 10:54 AM	#1
WinnipegDragon Canuckian Join Date: May 2007 Location: Winnipeg, MB Posts: 1,276	Is it possible to have too many PVC fittings? First off, here is the plumbing diagram I have for my 120g. Red is overflow lines, green is return, black is miscellaneous. Triangles are ball valves: I'd like to make the plumbing as modular as possible. I was going to go with all flexible PVC, anchoring with thick Velcro ties where necessary to help support the weihgt and to keep the various tubes pointed where they should be. Is there any reason (besides price) that I can't have every connection hooked up with quick disconnect fittings? The ability to remove any length of PVC and change the entire plumbing system one piece at a time is greatly appealing, but I don't know if too many fittings will cause an issue with water flow, or if it will lead to additional stress or leaking problems. Has anyone done an all-flex all-modular plumbing job like this? __________________ Working on a neeew tank! http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?p=25596043

07/19/2007, 11:15 AM	#3
WinnipegDragon Canuckian Join Date: May 2007 Location: Winnipeg, MB Posts: 1,276	I was afraid of that. Is there such a beast as an all-in-one fitting that is both a valve and a quick connect fitting? Also, boo! The Eheim 1262 is not in that headloss calculator either. __________________ Working on a neeew tank! http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?p=25596043

07/19/2007, 11:20 AM	#5
WinnipegDragon Canuckian Join Date: May 2007 Location: Winnipeg, MB Posts: 1,276	I think the 1262 should be plenty powerful. Rated at 900GPH, does better than that on North American power sources. I should still be getting 700-800GPH through my sump which is actually a bit much for a 120g tank. __________________ Working on a neeew tank! http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?p=25596043

07/19/2007, 12:28 PM	#6
csb Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 541	Hah... I'm running a 1262 on a 30g tank __________________ Winter ski bum, summer reef bum. Tank pics at http://picasaweb.google.com/snojrnl Current Tank Info: 30g mixed reef

07/19/2007, 12:29 PM	#7
WinnipegDragon Canuckian Join Date: May 2007 Location: Winnipeg, MB Posts: 1,276	As a closed loop or a return? __________________ Working on a neeew tank! http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?p=25596043

07/19/2007, 11:03 AM	#2
liquidlunch Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Neptune, NJ Posts: 503	Ideally you would like to have a few as possible. Any sections of conduit(hard or flex) can be supported by plumbing hangers. For flow calcs, you can play around w/ this http://reefcentral.com/calc/hlc2.php

07/19/2007, 11:17 AM	#4
ken6217 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: NJ Posts: 2,179	You try to have as little 45 and 90 degrees as possible as you lose psi. Flexible PVC and electrical sweeps work well. Of course you could go with a higher rated main pump to make up for the additional elbows. Ken