Plumber advice

pszemol · 03/05/2006, 09:26 AM

Hi, I am looking for materials to build a closed loop in a new tank.
I was thinking about purchasing black 1" PVC pipe and drill holes in it. I know it will be uncommon and expensive, so I would like to use it only where I need it - all other fittings, not submerged, would have to come from a regular Home Depot / Lowe's etc.
I have found 1" 4' long black pipe made of UV-Resistant PVC which should be good for fish

but since I do not have experience in plumbing I am not sure if I can match couplings, fittings and other pieces from white house plumbing parts.

Could you please check part number 5066K15 at http://www.mcmaster.com/ and advice what matching parts should I look for in Home Depot? The diameters look strange, like the pipe was very thick walled...

Any other source of cheaper black PVC pipes/fittings ?

stinkyfish · 03/05/2006, 09:56 AM

as long as you stick w/ sch. 40 and sch. 80 pvc pipe and fittings you can mix and match. the o.d. remains the same it's the i.d. that changes. stay away from cpvc because it requires a different type of glue. buy yourself a pvc pipe cutter. they make nice clean square cuts. also be sure to file a small bevel on the end of your pipe before glueing, this will help to make leak free connections. good luck w/ your project.

SDguy · 03/05/2006, 10:33 AM

I just turned on my CL. What parts do you want submerged? The only parts I needed black were the lockline fittings on all the outlets of the perimeter return.

pszemol · 03/05/2006, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by SDguy
I just turned on my CL. What parts do you want submerged? The only parts I needed black were the lockline fittings on all the outlets of the perimeter return.

I was thinking about the intake pipe with holes drilled in it. Also, first elbow - not sure yet if I use 90' or 45' elbow. Still undecided on the project. Just looking for source of parts and some inspiration

SDguy · 03/05/2006, 11:12 AM

Well, here's what mine looks like. I have one 1.5" intake in the back upper left of the tank. This feeds directly to a sequence hammerhead mounted vertically in the stand. The water is then pumped back up to a perimeter manifold, with 10 outlets using various lockline fittings.

Here's the manifold

Here it is with water. Note that once the canopy is on, only the black lockline nozzles will be visible. A black background on the tank will eventually hide external pipes also.

pszemol · 03/05/2006, 11:29 AM

Cool looking plumbing

How do you plan hiding pipes in the overflow box ?
Have you made this overflow box yourself ?

toothman · 03/05/2006, 11:36 AM

That is impressive.

SDguy · 03/05/2006, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by pszemol
Cool looking plumbing

How do you plan hiding pipes in the overflow box ?
Have you made this overflow box yourself ?

Thanks. The tank was built with the overflow. Actually, the tank manufacturer provided a black acrylic overflow cover to hide the pipes. Once it';s all done, the only things you will see inside the tank are the outlet nozzles and the black intake strainer.

teo241 · 03/05/2006, 11:43 AM

i'm sure you already thought of this, but are you going to use some sort of screen over your closed loop intake? don't want to suck a fish or snail through your impeller.

SDguy · 03/05/2006, 12:09 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by teo241
i'm sure you already thought of this, but are you going to use some sort of screen over your closed loop intake? don't want to suck a fish or snail through your impeller.

Actually there is a screen on the intake, but I had to cover it because a votex was forming sucking in air. Will remove the elbow eventually. Thinking about what to put over the intake to block the vortex formation. Probably something that coral can eventually grow on/cover.

stingers81 · 03/05/2006, 12:34 PM

cool lookin plumbing...what size is your intake and how much gph are you planning of having go through it?

SDguy · 03/05/2006, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by SDguy
Well, here's what mine looks like. I have one 1.5" intake in the back upper left of the tank. This feeds directly to a sequence hammerhead mounted vertically in the stand. The water is then pumped back up to a perimeter manifold, with 10 outlets using various lockline fittings.

The hammerhead is rated at 5800gph

Sorry pszemol, didn't mean to hijack your thread. Any other questions about my system can be posted here

03/05/2006, 09:26 AM	#1
pszemol Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: La Grange, IL Posts: 632	Plumber advice Hi, I am looking for materials to build a closed loop in a new tank. I was thinking about purchasing black 1" PVC pipe and drill holes in it. I know it will be uncommon and expensive, so I would like to use it only where I need it - all other fittings, not submerged, would have to come from a regular Home Depot / Lowe's etc. I have found 1" 4' long black pipe made of UV-Resistant PVC which should be good for fish but since I do not have experience in plumbing I am not sure if I can match couplings, fittings and other pieces from white house plumbing parts. Could you please check part number 5066K15 at http://www.mcmaster.com/ and advice what matching parts should I look for in Home Depot? The diameters look strange, like the pipe was very thick walled... Any other source of cheaper black PVC pipes/fittings ?

03/05/2006, 09:56 AM	#2
stinkyfish Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Bellflower,Ca Posts: 259	as long as you stick w/ sch. 40 and sch. 80 pvc pipe and fittings you can mix and match. the o.d. remains the same it's the i.d. that changes. stay away from cpvc because it requires a different type of glue. buy yourself a pvc pipe cutter. they make nice clean square cuts. also be sure to file a small bevel on the end of your pipe before glueing, this will help to make leak free connections. good luck w/ your project. __________________ Don SCRK Member Current Tank Info: 90g reef, 20g sump, asm skimmer, jbj 1/4hp chiller,39x6 T-5 , red sea wavemaker controlling 4 maxijet 1200's

03/05/2006, 10:33 AM	#3
SDguy Fish heads unite! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: San Diego Posts: 23,384	I just turned on my CL. What parts do you want submerged? The only parts I needed black were the lockline fittings on all the outlets of the perimeter return. __________________ Peter SDMAS member Marine tanks since 1989. ><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><((((º> ·´¯`·.¸. , . .·´¯`·.. ><((((º> Current Tank Info: 240g butterfly and angel FOWLR. 15g QT.

03/05/2006, 11:12 AM	#5
SDguy Fish heads unite! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: San Diego Posts: 23,384	Well, here's what mine looks like. I have one 1.5" intake in the back upper left of the tank. This feeds directly to a sequence hammerhead mounted vertically in the stand. The water is then pumped back up to a perimeter manifold, with 10 outlets using various lockline fittings. Here's the manifold Here it is with water. Note that once the canopy is on, only the black lockline nozzles will be visible. A black background on the tank will eventually hide external pipes also. __________________ Peter SDMAS member Marine tanks since 1989. ><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><((((º> ·´¯`·.¸. , . .·´¯`·.. ><((((º> Current Tank Info: 240g butterfly and angel FOWLR. 15g QT.

03/05/2006, 11:43 AM	#9
teo241 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: wisconsin Posts: 339	i'm sure you already thought of this, but are you going to use some sort of screen over your closed loop intake? don't want to suck a fish or snail through your impeller. __________________ 360, 75, 45

03/05/2006, 11:29 AM	#6
pszemol Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: La Grange, IL Posts: 632	Cool looking plumbing How do you plan hiding pipes in the overflow box ? Have you made this overflow box yourself ?

03/05/2006, 11:36 AM	#7
toothman Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Phila area (Newtown) Posts: 1,572	That is impressive.

03/05/2006, 12:34 PM	#11
stingers81 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Montreal, Canada Posts: 393	cool lookin plumbing...what size is your intake and how much gph are you planning of having go through it? __________________ "Success is a Journey, not a Destination". Current Tank Info: 90g, 20g sump,asm g3 skimmer, fowlr, crappy lights