Warning - severe noobs question inside

Bigmiksears · 01/24/2009, 05:45 PM

I will appologise in advance for this question - but i see it as a "if you dont ask - you dont find out"

I keep looking at the plumbing systems that people have incorporated into their tanks and keep stumbleing across union joins. What exactly does a union join do?

Thank you

Mike

Sk8r · 01/24/2009, 05:51 PM

It's a valve, that you can turn to shut off the water, so that if you have to take a pump out or even just throttle it back a bit, you have some control over the water 'above' or 'downstream' and won't have an 80 gallon flood in your lap.

It's a good idea to have one between any bulkhead/outside pump and the tank as well as between that pump and the tank above, so if the pump dies you don't have to break down the whole sump to get the pump safely disconnected for service. Another use is if you want to stop the downflow for some reason: but a factory-made reef-ready tank already has a safety device to prevent tank drainage---namely a doublewalled downflow box with the intake high enough it will only drain down so far.

But that's what they're for---safety-stops. You can use any PVC ones made for regular plumbing, at Lowe's, for instance. Do not use any metal. Seek the plumbing salesman's help in assembling an adequate connection without any submerged metal.

Bigmiksears · 01/24/2009, 06:01 PM

thank you very much for the reply - i now understand - an it makes sense when you see where they are placed.

May i appologise to all for posting this thread in the wrong section - i have already reported to the mods so hopefully it will get shifted!

Once again thanks Sk8r

elijaher · 01/25/2009, 01:33 AM

Hey I learn that as you did. I was thinking the same question. But never ask.

sanababit · 01/25/2009, 01:40 AM

are you talking about a union joint?, a union is a pvc screw and nut with an oring in the middle, this two parts thread togheter and form a seal between 2 pieces of pipe, the are useful when you need to remove a pump and instead of cutting the pipe, you just unscrew the union....the part that sk8t is talking about is a ball valve...good luck

sana

01/24/2009, 05:45 PM	#1
Bigmiksears Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Great Britain Posts: 11	Warning - severe noobs question inside I will appologise in advance for this question - but i see it as a "if you dont ask - you dont find out" I keep looking at the plumbing systems that people have incorporated into their tanks and keep stumbleing across union joins. What exactly does a union join do? Thank you Mike __________________ "The problem with America is stupidity. Why don't we just take the safety labels off of everything and let the problem solve itself" - Calvin415 PBITAWA - actual lols :P Current Tank Info: Freshwater 180lt - soon to be converted to the darkside

01/24/2009, 05:51 PM	#2
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	It's a valve, that you can turn to shut off the water, so that if you have to take a pump out or even just throttle it back a bit, you have some control over the water 'above' or 'downstream' and won't have an 80 gallon flood in your lap. It's a good idea to have one between any bulkhead/outside pump and the tank as well as between that pump and the tank above, so if the pump dies you don't have to break down the whole sump to get the pump safely disconnected for service. Another use is if you want to stop the downflow for some reason: but a factory-made reef-ready tank already has a safety device to prevent tank drainage---namely a doublewalled downflow box with the intake high enough it will only drain down so far. But that's what they're for---safety-stops. You can use any PVC ones made for regular plumbing, at Lowe's, for instance. Do not use any metal. Seek the plumbing salesman's help in assembling an adequate connection without any submerged metal. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

01/24/2009, 06:01 PM	#3
Bigmiksears Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Great Britain Posts: 11	thank you very much for the reply - i now understand - an it makes sense when you see where they are placed. May i appologise to all for posting this thread in the wrong section - i have already reported to the mods so hopefully it will get shifted! Once again thanks Sk8r __________________ "The problem with America is stupidity. Why don't we just take the safety labels off of everything and let the problem solve itself" - Calvin415 PBITAWA - actual lols :P Current Tank Info: Freshwater 180lt - soon to be converted to the darkside

01/25/2009, 01:40 AM	#5
sanababit Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Uranus Posts: 3,094	are you talking about a union joint?, a union is a pvc screw and nut with an oring in the middle, this two parts thread togheter and form a seal between 2 pieces of pipe, the are useful when you need to remove a pump and instead of cutting the pipe, you just unscrew the union....the part that sk8t is talking about is a ball valve...good luck sana __________________ Senior Member of the "Hardly any Water Changes, Temp Swinging, T5ing, No Qtining, Frag Exchanging for Fish Food Current Tank Info: 90RR inwall, Octopuss Skimmer, 2 MP40 wQD, 1 MP10 WQD, 2 Radions G4 Pro, Apex Doser, Apex Controller, 400w heater, 30 Gal Sump, Biopellets, Carbon, Gfo, Macroalgae

01/25/2009, 01:33 AM	#4
elijaher Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Kansas City,Missouri Posts: 1,188	Hey I learn that as you did. I was thinking the same question. But never ask.