Plumbing & Check Valve Questions

djcmeeks · 11/30/2006, 01:13 PM

I'm plumbing my new 70 oceanic and can't decide on what size pvc. 1" or 1.25" I will be running a Mag 9.5 From the sump which has a 3/4" output. The two holes in the glass of the aquarium are 1.25". The plubing kit that came w/ the tank has two bulkheads, one reduced to 1" flex hose on the drain and the other reduced to 3/4" flex on the return. I will use 1.25" threaded adapters to fit over the other end of the bulkhead. So what size pvc should I use. Since the return line will be going from 3/4 out to 3/4 into the tank, is it useless using a 1" or 1.25" pipe in between?

Also I saw a check valve at lowe's that I was considering using, but I think it is spring loaded? Will this cause a problem or rust?

oldsaltman · 11/30/2006, 01:50 PM

Most people, including me, have not had any luck with checkvalves of any type. IMO I would avoid them and use other methods to stop reverse flow.

tptp279 · 11/30/2006, 03:02 PM

most check valves you find at home depot and lowes are spring loaded and will not work due to rust. and for the piping, it is not going to make any difference on size pvc you use because it starts out as 3/4 and ends as 3/4.

kgross · 11/30/2006, 03:04 PM

ON the plumbing size if you want max flow from you pump use 1.25 inch pipe everyplace you can. If you want lots of friction loss on the pump use all 3/4 pipe that should reduce your flow to I would guess around 400 gph.

On the check valve. I would say you don't want a check valve, just because it will slime up and leak when you need it to seal. Because of the stuff that grows in our pipes, stuff will grow on the sealing surface and cause it to not seal when it closes. A better solution is to make sure your return line goes up above the water line and use an anti-siphon hole easy to keep clean and easy to check to make sure it is still working.

Kim

djcmeeks · 11/30/2006, 03:10 PM

Thanks for the feedback. I'll skip the check valve. I think I'm going to my LFS and see if I can get some different Thread-to-Thread bulkheads hopefully bigger than 3/4".

11/30/2006, 01:13 PM	#1
djcmeeks Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Cumming, GA Posts: 12	Plumbing & Check Valve Questions I'm plumbing my new 70 oceanic and can't decide on what size pvc. 1" or 1.25" I will be running a Mag 9.5 From the sump which has a 3/4" output. The two holes in the glass of the aquarium are 1.25". The plubing kit that came w/ the tank has two bulkheads, one reduced to 1" flex hose on the drain and the other reduced to 3/4" flex on the return. I will use 1.25" threaded adapters to fit over the other end of the bulkhead. So what size pvc should I use. Since the return line will be going from 3/4 out to 3/4 into the tank, is it useless using a 1" or 1.25" pipe in between? Also I saw a check valve at lowe's that I was considering using, but I think it is spring loaded? Will this cause a problem or rust?

11/30/2006, 01:50 PM	#2
oldsaltman Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Ga Posts: 1,333	Most people, including me, have not had any luck with checkvalves of any type. IMO I would avoid them and use other methods to stop reverse flow. __________________ "No honey I can't just send it back. It's all wet and they won't take it back now!" Current Tank Info: 90g inwall with a 30g sump

11/30/2006, 03:02 PM	#3
tptp279 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Huntington Beach, ca Posts: 1,047	most check valves you find at home depot and lowes are spring loaded and will not work due to rust. and for the piping, it is not going to make any difference on size pvc you use because it starts out as 3/4 and ends as 3/4. __________________ Paul No one dies a virgin, life screws us all. Current Tank Info: 90 gallon rimless :)

11/30/2006, 03:04 PM	#4
kgross Premium Member Join Date: Nov 1999 Location: Nampa, ID Posts: 5,870	ON the plumbing size if you want max flow from you pump use 1.25 inch pipe everyplace you can. If you want lots of friction loss on the pump use all 3/4 pipe that should reduce your flow to I would guess around 400 gph. On the check valve. I would say you don't want a check valve, just because it will slime up and leak when you need it to seal. Because of the stuff that grows in our pipes, stuff will grow on the sealing surface and cause it to not seal when it closes. A better solution is to make sure your return line goes up above the water line and use an anti-siphon hole easy to keep clean and easy to check to make sure it is still working. Kim __________________ Proud Member of the Idaho Marine Aquarium Society America will only be the Land of the Free as long as it is the Home of the Brave. Current Tank Info: AGA 180gallon tank, VHO/MH lighting, DSB, calcium reactor, Also a 7 Gallon Nano softy tank, and a 32 gallon cube

11/30/2006, 03:10 PM	#5
djcmeeks Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Cumming, GA Posts: 12	Thanks for the feedback. I'll skip the check valve. I think I'm going to my LFS and see if I can get some different Thread-to-Thread bulkheads hopefully bigger than 3/4".