Help me plumb 180 AGA overflow to basement?

[MarineGirl411]

I was wondering if any of you could help my plumb my 180 AGA overflow into my basement? What I need help with is the proper piping to use coming off the overflow and then the return. What size do I use? Should I use flexible tubing? Should I use PVC? I don't know how it would fit over the bulkhead. Sorry everyone. I looked this up and it seems a lot of people have problems doing this, so I wanted to ask here. Thank you.

[MarineGirl411]

Anyone?

[stan zemanek]

I just used spa flex on drain and returns for 2 reasons
1. spa flex does not let light in like clear tubing, thus redusing the amount of algae that will grow in the lines.
2. spa flex works great for the return lines as you do not have to have any hard bends in the line like you would with pvc piping, thus reducing head loss from the return pump.
heres a crappy pic of my setup hope it helps.

[MarineGirl411]

How do you have it connected to the bulkheads underneath the stand though?

[stan zemanek]

On the outgoing side of the bulkheads, it should be a slip fit meaning you could glue and slip a piece of pvc pipe inside it. (I put a peice of pvc pipe in mine about 2" long.)
Then you would need to get the appropriate adapters from either a plumbing supply or home depot or even your lfs. My tank is a AGA 150 and my return is a 3/4" and my drain is 1"
The spa flex I use slid right over those 2 sizes of pipe.
another way to do it is once your have you your pvc pipe fitted into the bottom of the bulkhead just get the adapters necessary so that you can use nipple fittings.

[stan zemanek]

I just thought of something.........Are you using the standard bulkheads that come with the overflow kits from AGA? If i remember correctly they have the bulkhead and the nipple made as one solid piece. If so get rid of them and buy yourself some good bulkheads with slip fittings on both sides.

[MarineGirl411]

Do you have a picture of what you mean? They have that long end coming off the bulkhead.

[MarineGirl411]

[stan zemanek]

thats what i thought was your problem. I don't think you will be able to find tubing that will fit over that nipple. I trashed mine and got good bulkheads from my lfs. A good bulkhead should look like this.

If you get these style of bulkheads you can slide a piece of pvc tubing up inside and then get adapters, nipples and hose clamps.

[MarineGirl411]

Where can you get the pvc fittings to screw on the outside of those bulkheads? I am going to need something like that for the 3/4 inch bulkheads and also the drain line then. Or should I get threaded bulkheads that are threaded on the inside?

[stan zemanek]

The bulkheads you are looking at on my tank are 1 1/2. threaded on the outside but slip on the inside.
Its hard to find nipples that thread on the outside of the bulkheads but I have seen them. Personaly I wouldn't use them because you would have to use teflon tape to make a water tight seal. I think slip fit with glue is a much safer way to do it.
Your best bet is to get bulkheads that are slip fit on the inside. This way you can slide a 2" piece of pipe up inside and then put your fittings onto that.

[stan zemanek]

I know I have seen 3/4" threaded nipples at Home Depot and Lowes, In case your wondering a plumbing nipple is the ribbed part that the hose slides over and then the hose clamp goes around. marinedepot.com is another place to try

[MarineGirl411]

I wish I could see a picture! =( I will look at MD. If anyone has a picture handy, I would appreciate it.

[stan zemanek]

Ok you need a bulkhead that looks like this

then you make up something like this and glue it up and shove it in the hole.