Acer's new build thread
- Thread starter acer
- Start date
Drone
New member
Didn't know you were dry fitting..... You had me worried for you for nothing!!!! :idea:
The glue should soften the pvc for welding. Make sure you slide it together in one full motion. I usually twist it about 90 degrees as I force them together, then hold them as stated by zelie_dad.
Good luck.
acer
New member
After i thought about it. Not sure the baffles in the 75 refugium need to be watertight. The baffles are just for a bubble trap, and to make sure nothing gets into the pump. So a pinhole leak makes no difference. So, tested sump, fuge, and pump today. <a href="http://s1028.photobucket.com/user/acer327/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2016-08/IMG_20160828_162052993_zpsmwrzbyfz.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1028.photobucket.com/albums/y342/acer327/Mobile%20Uploads/2016-08/IMG_20160828_162052993_zpsmwrzbyfz.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_20160828_162052993_zpsmwrzbyfz.jpg"/></a>
Yeah,. It worked, only had one issue. The bulkhead between the 75 fuge and the pump leaked. Arrrrggg.... , but no biggie, switched out the one above it. I was very surprized how quiet the reefflow pump was. It was the one i got from Frank. I would think the regular Barracuda will be even quieter.
Yeah,. It worked, only had one issue. The bulkhead between the 75 fuge and the pump leaked. Arrrrggg.... , but no biggie, switched out the one above it. I was very surprized how quiet the reefflow pump was. It was the one i got from Frank. I would think the regular Barracuda will be even quieter.
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feedmycorals
New member
Looks great, acer!
acer
New member
So started plumbing " for real " today. Started with getting the new pump in the mix and guess what- the housing on the new pump cracked when I was screwing in the PVC = WHAT!!??? Was using the thread lube/sealant and hand turning and "crack" - the adapter was not even fully seated - about 3/4 the way in. I emailed Chris at Reeflo - hopefully they will be sending me a new housing for the pump. I guess I will proceed with using Franks used pump.
<a href="http://s1028.photobucket.com/user/acer327/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2016-08/IMG_20160829_092248557_zpsknngzmlv.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1028.photobucket.com/albums/y342/acer327/Mobile%20Uploads/2016-08/IMG_20160829_092248557_zpsknngzmlv.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_20160829_092248557_zpsknngzmlv.jpg"/></a>
NO doubt this hobby tests your patients. Thank goodness I had already purchased a backup pump that uses the exact same threads and is the exact same dimensions. I looked and the housing is called a Volute and can be purchased for $42 including shipping - so not the end of the world.
<a href="http://s1028.photobucket.com/user/acer327/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2016-08/IMG_20160829_092248557_zpsknngzmlv.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1028.photobucket.com/albums/y342/acer327/Mobile%20Uploads/2016-08/IMG_20160829_092248557_zpsknngzmlv.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_20160829_092248557_zpsknngzmlv.jpg"/></a>
NO doubt this hobby tests your patients. Thank goodness I had already purchased a backup pump that uses the exact same threads and is the exact same dimensions. I looked and the housing is called a Volute and can be purchased for $42 including shipping - so not the end of the world.
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acer
New member
Chris at Reeflo answered my email and will send a new volute after a few email exchanges, at first he said my pump was three years old, so would sell me a new volute. I then pointed out the pump was NOT three years old, but three months old and have never been plugged in. He tgen agreed to send new volute for free, but asked if the volute was the original. I guess now a days he had to, but really? I then suggested i buy a set of seals ,since then pumos apparently need new seals every year and then he just add the free colute inthe package. After all, there us no way to tell if i overtightened or if it was a defect in the volute. However, at 55 years old I cant see me being strong enough to crack the volute when hand tightening.
acer
New member
New Volute is on its way - He apologized. What thru him off was that whoever made and stuck the label on my pump had an incorrect number or transposed it , or something - so the SN number was wrong. So , when I sent him the picture - the SN number that he had did not match the number you see in the picture.
Drone
New member
Good to hear you have it solved already.
When you tighten those they never should really seat. Looking at the pic in your drive of the mock up the fitting looks pretty deep into the housing. I think the "handtight" rule is a bit ambiguous. My hand tight might be twice as tight as guy 1 and only half as tight as guy 2. I think the better definition might be finger tip tight to resistance then 1.5 turns more. ???
Kevin
When you tighten those they never should really seat. Looking at the pic in your drive of the mock up the fitting looks pretty deep into the housing. I think the "handtight" rule is a bit ambiguous. My hand tight might be twice as tight as guy 1 and only half as tight as guy 2. I think the better definition might be finger tip tight to resistance then 1.5 turns more. ???
Kevin
acer
New member
The new Volute for the barracuda pump arrived yesterday and is installed - thanks to Chris at Reeflo. Also Custom Acrylics has completed my tank overflows and the dual 7 inch sock holder- WOOO HOOO !!!
SO this weekend will be "BIG" - complete all sump/fuge install with filter sock holder. Mix water in system and if all is well . Add sand to fuge. Purchase 7 inch filter socks, install skimmer in sump. Add some live rock from other systems. Let run for 24 hours.
Install overflow system on new tank and test.
SO this weekend will be "BIG" - complete all sump/fuge install with filter sock holder. Mix water in system and if all is well . Add sand to fuge. Purchase 7 inch filter socks, install skimmer in sump. Add some live rock from other systems. Let run for 24 hours.
Install overflow system on new tank and test.
acer
New member
OK you PVC guru's ...
I am using some true unions valves before/and after my Reefflo pump ( see pic above) - do I use thread sealant on the actual threads that connect/hold the pieces of the true union together or not. I am not talking about connecting the PVC to the true union ends, but the threads within the True union itself. I have tested the true unions that I have and they don't seem to leak - but I figured they might at some time or because the leak may be soo small it will actually create a siphon and pull air into the system - like a venturi. Opinions?
I am using some true unions valves before/and after my Reefflo pump ( see pic above) - do I use thread sealant on the actual threads that connect/hold the pieces of the true union together or not. I am not talking about connecting the PVC to the true union ends, but the threads within the True union itself. I have tested the true unions that I have and they don't seem to leak - but I figured they might at some time or because the leak may be soo small it will actually create a siphon and pull air into the system - like a venturi. Opinions?
zelie_dad
Always bring a towel
You don't really need to put thread sealer inside the ball valve. As long as the o ring is there, you should be fine. You can use a little vasiline to lube the o ring so when you tighten it down it doesn't kink, but there should already be a little on it.
As long as you don't tighten the union to much you shouldn't have any issues, as long as the o ring is there and still viable.
Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk
As long as you don't tighten the union to much you shouldn't have any issues, as long as the o ring is there and still viable.
Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk
acer
New member
OK - the threads are just so sticky = if I tighten them even for a day - they are hard to get apart- so I can imagine after a year. I need to be able to get them apart periodically to do maintenance on the Reeflo pump and am afraid I wont be able to get them to budge after a while. The ball joint is also pretty tough to open and close. It must be the brand I bought from Flex PVC - good stuff but maybe too good.
Hopefully my current 65 reef tank will be in your hands soon.
Hopefully my current 65 reef tank will be in your hands soon.
zelie_dad
Always bring a towel
As long you're not overtightening them, they should come apart without to much struggle.
As for the 65, I'm getting excited, and slightly worried about the transfer. I'm going to have to take everything out, disassemble and replumb the overflow and returns, and get everything back up and running again. I'm hoping that I can do it all in a few hours, that remains to be seen though.
acer
New member
Ok , picked up the overflow system, looks awesome!
<a href="http://s1028.photobucket.com/user/acer327/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2016-09/IMG_20160904_112351142_zpsgpcjrinf.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1028.photobucket.com/albums/y342/acer327/Mobile%20Uploads/2016-09/IMG_20160904_112351142_zpsgpcjrinf.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_20160904_112351142_zpsgpcjrinf.jpg"/></a>
<a href="http://s1028.photobucket.com/user/acer327/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2016-09/IMG_20160904_112351142_zpsgpcjrinf.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1028.photobucket.com/albums/y342/acer327/Mobile%20Uploads/2016-09/IMG_20160904_112351142_zpsgpcjrinf.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_20160904_112351142_zpsgpcjrinf.jpg"/></a>
acer
New member
Its hard to even see the overflow from tge front.
<a href="http://s1028.photobucket.com/user/acer327/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2016-09/IMG_20160904_112316226_zpsubl2kc1t.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1028.photobucket.com/albums/y342/acer327/Mobile%20Uploads/2016-09/IMG_20160904_112316226_zpsubl2kc1t.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_20160904_112316226_zpsubl2kc1t.jpg"/></a>
Ready to test.
<a href="http://s1028.photobucket.com/user/acer327/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2016-09/IMG_20160904_112316226_zpsubl2kc1t.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1028.photobucket.com/albums/y342/acer327/Mobile%20Uploads/2016-09/IMG_20160904_112316226_zpsubl2kc1t.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_20160904_112316226_zpsubl2kc1t.jpg"/></a>
Ready to test.
acer
New member
Started filling external overflow with water to test for leaks, looked good, until water filled the internal overflow about half way , then you guessed it, a leak....
<a href="http://s1028.photobucket.com/user/acer327/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2016-09/IMG_20160904_112817362_zpsrwjmzrvp.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1028.photobucket.com/albums/y342/acer327/Mobile%20Uploads/2016-09/IMG_20160904_112817362_zpsrwjmzrvp.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_20160904_112817362_zpsrwjmzrvp.jpg"/></a>
<a href="http://s1028.photobucket.com/user/acer327/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2016-09/IMG_20160904_112817362_zpsrwjmzrvp.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1028.photobucket.com/albums/y342/acer327/Mobile%20Uploads/2016-09/IMG_20160904_112817362_zpsrwjmzrvp.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_20160904_112817362_zpsrwjmzrvp.jpg"/></a>
