bean plumbing support

sleepydoc

sleepydoc

Team RC
I'm finishing my Beananimal overflow conversion and trying to figure out the best way to support/secure the plumbing behind my tank. It's the 'classic' configuration with bulkheads through the back of the tank and the pipes running straight down behind. The main problem is that the tank is up against a wall, so access behind is cramped and somewhat limited.

My initial idea was to have a board attached to the stand with U-shaped notches in it and couplings on the pipe that would rest on the board. (2nd pipe in the pic) The problem with that is there's no way to secure the pipes in behind the board because of the wall.

The other idea was to use pipe straps with the hole notched out from underneath so I could slide it onto a screw (1st pipe in the pic)

Does anyone have any better ideas?

Also, what's the best way to secure the return plumbing? My thought was to secure it the same as the overflow pipes and have the top portion resting on the edge of the tank, but that doesn't seem terribly secure.

Plumbing%20Support_zpsyaz7qbi2.png


Return%20Plumbing_zps8zsmj0ok.png
 
Try mounting the U-Strap on the underside of the horizontal tank brace. That way you can run the plumbing tight enough against that horizontal brace and you can have access to attach it from under the stand.
 
sleepydoc said:
I'm finishing my Beananimal overflow conversion and trying to figure out the best way to support/secure the plumbing behind my tank. It's the 'classic' configuration with bulkheads through the back of the tank and the pipes running straight down behind. The main problem is that the tank is up against a wall, so access behind is cramped and somewhat limited.

My initial idea was to have a board attached to the stand with U-shaped notches in it and couplings on the pipe that would rest on the board. (2nd pipe in the pic) The problem with that is there's no way to secure the pipes in behind the board because of the wall.

The other idea was to use pipe straps with the hole notched out from underneath so I could slide it onto a screw (1st pipe in the pic)

Does anyone have any better ideas?

Also, what's the best way to secure the return plumbing? My thought was to secure it the same as the overflow pipes and have the top portion resting on the edge of the tank, but that doesn't seem terribly secure.

Plumbing%20Support_zpsyaz7qbi2.png


Return%20Plumbing_zps8zsmj0ok.png
Click to expand...

Notch with Velcro is what Bean used I believe. I use plastic ratchet clamps, (the adjustment "ratchets in" with teeth and cog.) When I knock something, I knock it pretty good, so I am not sure Velcro would withstand my abuse.
 
Thanks for the replies

jmadison - not sure that I could use a U strap underneath since the pipe's running at a 45º angle instead of horizontal.

Jim - did you mean ratchet clamps like these? How do you attach them to the frame?

rickztahone - thanks for the link. I'd be nervous that that technique wouldn't give adequate vertical support and keep the strain off the bulkheads, though.
 
I used clic clamps on mine. Not sure how much they hold in the vertical (they do grip pretty tight), but they keep the pipe from becoming a lever (with the bulkhead as a fulcrum) which is the bigger risk i think. Also not sure just how much room you need to install the pipe once they are in place, that depends on order of operations really...

My return is secured as you said, just the clamp by the drain lines and resting on the rim. Not terribly secure but it can't go anywhere as the 45 ends below the rim and its right next to the side wall.
 
sleepydoc said:
Thanks for the replies

jmadison - not sure that I could use a U strap underneath since the pipe's running at a 45º angle instead of horizontal.

Jim - did you mean ratchet clamps like these? How do you attach them to the frame?

rickztahone - thanks for the link. I'd be nervous that that technique wouldn't give adequate vertical support and keep the strain off the bulkheads, though.
Click to expand...

No, the ones I am talking about have a screw base. I have boxes of them. I suspect that calling them a ratchet clamp was not exactly correct, but surface clamp was lost in the brain cloud.

These:

http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/sm-cl...jscWzQpb7u-5GokQq_pQ0QVb4GmMPZ6aVwaAq288P8HAQ
 
This is something I'm trying to figure out too. My concerns are whatever I do, I want to be able to remove the pipe if necessary. So I don't want a permanent solution. I'm thinking wing nuts, hanger bolts and clamps. Using wing nuts would allow me to reach behind the tank and unscrew it to remove the clamp and the pipe.
 
The clamps above can be opened with a flat head, and pipe reinstalled by just pushing it into the clamp. Opening them is not even that hard to do without being able to see the clamp, from in front of the tank through the stand...
 
Gorgok said:
The clamps above can be opened with a flat head, and pipe reinstalled by just pushing it into the clamp. Opening them is not even that hard to do without being able to see the clamp, from in front of the tank through the stand...
Click to expand...

Perfect. I see it now.

I don't want to hijack your thread doc, but what are your guys thoughts on supporting an external box? Specifically one that is around 7 feet long and mounted with pass through bulkheads? I imagine given the size of the box it will consequently have some substantial weight and I certainly don't want to add any stress on the glass. Would it be advisable to put some pvc supports between the box and the plywood (extended) the tank sits on or is it not a concern?
 
Ok - I think I'm going with Uncle's idea. I picked up some from BRS and they are easy to secure and can be released with little clearance from behind, and seem to do a good job of supporting the pipe.

I've been to Home Depot and Lowe's multiple times and haven't seen anything similar. They have screw in pipe straps, but you need to have access from behind to screw them in, so they wouldn't work. Ditto for the pipe holder Felix and Rick suggested.

BRS was definitely more expensive, but they're not cheap anyway - the cheapest I found them online was $5 each for the 1.5" size, but I have the luxury of living close enough to BRS that I can drive there and pick stuff up, so I don't have to pay for shipping or wait for stuff to be shipped, so in the end they were the best deal for me.
 
CuzzA said:
This is something I'm trying to figure out too. My concerns are whatever I do, I want to be able to remove the pipe if necessary. So I don't want a permanent solution. I'm thinking wing nuts, hanger bolts and clamps. Using wing nuts would allow me to reach behind the tank and unscrew it to remove the clamp and the pipe.
Click to expand...

You will find you will never have occasion to remove the pipes, once the system is operational and has been constructed right. The solution I presented is not permanent, but still, there is no logical reason you will ever take it apart, unless changing tanks, and then the system will have to be rebuilt anyway. Folks get carried away with the "I wand to be able to take it apart," but have seldom seen a case where they actually did.
 
Vinny Kreyling said:
The Clic Clamps can be opened by pushing the pipe towards the back of the clamp where the screw mounting is.
Click to expand...

Actually, that just tightens the clamps that I got, which is reassuring, since I'd hate to think that jiggling the pipe in a certain direction would cause the clamp to open up.
 
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