Plumbing Question

[walnuts24]

I am working on plumbing my 40 breeder and I had a couple of questions. I have already installed a gl*******s 700gph overflow and 3/4" return. What is the flexible pipe that I see people using to connect their tanks to their sump? Is this material better or worse than PVC? I am going to Home Depot after work and wanted to get the right stuff. Also I noticed that people have manifolds that come off their return line with some random spouts. What are these used for?


My sump will be a 15g with skimmer section < fuge < return, so I will not need anything else coming off of the return line to the fuge.

If someone could help me out by giving me a material list (including piping, valving, pvc cement, teflon tape, etc...) that they used for their plumbing it would be GREATLY appreciated.

Thanks
Paul

[liquidplumber]

Spaflex is what they use on jacuzzi's which I use in my system before my return pumps to absorb one of the vibration but you can use it pretty much anywhere in your system.
For primer I use the Clear not Purple which makes a mess.
For glue in my reef tanks I use the Rain and Shine which is blue in color.
As for the valves and manifolds on the the outlet side of the return pump, they are used for reactors for media reactors or some times skimmers, also you can put a tee and valve there to do water changes with your return pump as well.
As for the spa flex you can glue them into pvc fittings, just buy the pressure fittings which have a deeper glue joint.
Hope this helps.
Mark

[Eel Freak]

Mark gave all very good advice. I do all the same. I use spa-flex mainly for convenience and to prevent loss of flow. I like to use it on drains because it helps eliminate most elbows...

For valves, I put them before and after my pumps and one on each drain. I've found that over the years it's made things easier having valves in these areas whether it's for maintenance or cleaning or whatever...

Teflon tape I use liberally (not tons, but a good amount) on ALL threaded connections except unions. Unions are nice because if placed before and after a pump, they allow you to remove it for serious cleaning without cutting the PVC.

To be a bit clearer on what Mark said about the manifolds, those lines FEED other things like reactors and refugiums or skimmers.

Hope this helps!

[kaipo13]

Originally Posted by Eel Freak

Mark gave all very good advice. I do all the same. I use spa-flex mainly for convenience and to prevent loss of flow. I like to use it on drains because it helps eliminate most elbows...

For valves, I put them before and after my pumps and one on each drain. I've found that over the years it's made things easier having valves in these areas whether it's for maintenance or cleaning or whatever...

Teflon tape I use liberally (not tons, but a good amount) on ALL threaded connections except unions. Unions are nice because if placed before and after a pump, they allow you to remove it for serious cleaning without cutting the PVC.

To be a bit clearer on what Mark said about the manifolds, those lines FEED other things like reactors and refugiums or skimmers.

Hope this helps!

I wouldn't recommend putting valves on your pump suctions, as thats a good way to burn out a pump. Always restrict centrifugal pumps through discharge valves.

[Eel Freak]

Originally Posted by kaipo13

I wouldn't recommend putting valves on your pump suctions, as thats a good way to burn out a pump. Always restrict centrifugal pumps through discharge valves.

That's very true. I should have specified... The valve on the intake side is to close off water before the pump when doing work on the pump... That way you don't have to drain the sump. Simply turn the valve and undo the union and it's clear!

So yes, ALWAYS restrict centrifugal pumps on a discharge valve.