Clear PVC
- Thread starter jdfenn81
- Start date
I haven't used 6" round clear PVC but I made a nelson reactor out of 8" round. It's worked perfectly and is much easier to work with than acrylic. It can also hold more pressure/thickness I think, but don't quote me on it, that's what a plastics guy told me. Since most reactors/skimmers get some kind of algae/dirt on them over time, I never saw the point of using acrylic. The clarity only last so long...
HTH
HTH
BeanAnimal
Premium Member
I used 6" CLEAR PVC for a 6' tall skimmer. The rest went to a club member for calcium reactors.
They work great and fit into standard PVC fittings. The stuff is more durable than acrylic and easier to tool. I paid $80 for 10' of harvel 6" on eBay. Just keep your eyes open.
They work great and fit into standard PVC fittings. The stuff is more durable than acrylic and easier to tool. I paid $80 for 10' of harvel 6" on eBay. Just keep your eyes open.
BeanAnimal
Premium Member
PVC pipe is all the same O.D. for each schedule and nominal pipe size. The I.D. is what differes. So for 6" PVC the common schedules are #40 and #80. Both have the same OD, but different ID. The 80 is thicker than the 40. It most certainly fits in standard PVC fittings.
You may have found "clear pvc" that is NOT sized the same as nominal pipe, but it is not likely as thick as sch.40 pipe either. ASM skimmers for example are made of PVC (not acrylic like some people think) and the size is not a standard pipe size.
Clear PVC in standard nominal pipe sizes costs MORE than the similar sized CAST or EXTRUDED acrylic. Check the harvel (or competitators) catalogs and websites if you want to learn more.
As a side note: There are other "types" of PVC pipe. (DWV) for example and it does NOT fit standard fittings.
BeanAnimal,
Meaning no disrespect, but you have a habit for propounding falsities. Unlike many others, I have no wish to argue with you.
jdfenn,
just find a local supplier and ask what they have, they will be able to help you with what size they have available. I suggest you ask them as opposed to assuming it's standard.
Meaning no disrespect, but you have a habit for propounding falsities. Unlike many others, I have no wish to argue with you.
jdfenn,
just find a local supplier and ask what they have, they will be able to help you with what size they have available. I suggest you ask them as opposed to assuming it's standard.
BruiseAndy
New member
No disrespect but your head is up your ***...kinda sounds the same.
Bean is right especially when it comes to 6". Need to specify sch 40 with 6". Otherwise dimensions are not the same. Harrington for example does not carry standard size 6" sch 40. If it says sch 40 on it, it meets the dimensional and the pressure standards.
Yeah, I'm sure with standard 40 the fittings would be the same, otherwise therewould be no point in the standard.
I found when I was looking for clear PVC that there was a lot available that was of varying thickness and much did not fit with standard fittings.
My only advice is to check before you buy it, it's not like regular PVC, there seems to be more variety in it. I measured my clear PVC and it's about .67, not standard at all.
It is cheaper than acrylic though, and by a fair margin, or at least it's available from several shops around me at a much lower price than acrylic.
I found when I was looking for clear PVC that there was a lot available that was of varying thickness and much did not fit with standard fittings.
My only advice is to check before you buy it, it's not like regular PVC, there seems to be more variety in it. I measured my clear PVC and it's about .67, not standard at all.
It is cheaper than acrylic though, and by a fair margin, or at least it's available from several shops around me at a much lower price than acrylic.
BeanAnimal
Premium Member
What? You say no disrespect, and no wish to argue, yet in the same sentance you argue and show disrespect. Now I remember why I had you on my ignore list for all this time.
Propounding falsities?
JOtca.. You said that the clear PVC pipe will not fit standard PVC pipe fittings.
In hopes of helping the OP, I replied that CLEAR PVC that comes in nominal PVC pipe sizes will certainly fit standard PVC pipe fittings.
I said that SOME CLEAR PVC is not made to fit standard PVC pipe fittings and gave examples (ASM skimmer), even though that kind of pipe is not readily sold to "end users". Falsities?
http://www.clearpvcpipe.com/ Notice that it is SCH 40 pipe.
http://www.usplastic.com/pdfdatafiles/34100specsheet10-2004.pdf
Here is a quote from the PDF above:
IF that is not enough:
http://www.harvel.com/piping-clear-pvc.asp Plase note the dimensions here JOtca. Notice Schedule 40 and 80 both have the standard IPS O.D.
http://www.savko.com/portal/clearpvc.asp and please note that this pipe is also standard sch 40 (again OD is that of the nominal IPS size).
http://www.aquaticeco.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/product.detail/iid/7010/cid/1859 And here notice that is it also fully compatable with standard PVC fittings sir, again schedule 40 or 80.
http://www.ryanherco.com/Auto/price.cfm?FAM=175&SEC=110&GRP=170&CAT=010 and here notice again that the pipe is SCH 40
http://www.excaliburextrusions.com/Clear_PVC.htm and another company that has SCH 40 clear PVC.
http://www.professionalplastics.com...spl/prrfnbr/100534/sesent/00/PVC-Pipe---Clear and yet one more that is IPS comaptable.
http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/mepages/pvcpipe.php more schedule 40 pipe.
http://www.customaquatic.com/customaquatic/subsubcategorypage.asp?subcatindexid=pf-clp-pp and more.
Shall we go look at that ASTM D1785 standard JOtca? Where am I propounding falsities? What is Schedule 40 Pipe? What is Schedule 80 pipe? They both fit the same fittings. They are both part of a standard. Any "pipe" that is made to conform to that standard will fit those fittings. The OUTSIDE diameters match IPS diameters. End of story.
So that we are 100% clear. MOST CLEAR PVC "PIPE" you will find is IPS compatable. That means it will fit STANDARD PVC FITTINGS. Because "STANDRD PVC FITTINGS" work with both Schedule 40 and Schedule 80 pipe (again JOtca they both have the same Outside Diameter as outlined in ASTM D1785) they will work with ANY of the PVC listed above.
You will be hard pressed to find CLEAR PVC PIPE that is non standard. Of course it is made. It is sold for specialty use or contract use in things like ASM skimmers, store fixtures, etc. Actually I searched AT LENGTH to find non standard CLEAR PVC PIPE or TUBING and was not able to find any for direct sale. I found several companies that would produce ANY I.D. for a contract price.
I can find Stainless Steel, Galvanized, Clay, Copper, Acrylic, Vinyl, Glass and other tubing or pipe that does not fit the standard as well.
You mentioned that you did not want to argue. Armed with the information above, you can rest assured that there is now nothing to argue about.
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BeanAnimal
Premium Member
The thickness is rather irrelavant. The O.D. is what matters. As I have already shown, most of the readily available clear PVC pipe follows standard IPS outside diameters.
With regard to Cost...
CLEAR PVC PIPE is not cheaper than CAST ACRYLIC once you reach the 4"-6" or so mark. As the diameter increases, so does the price gap. Large diameter clear PVC is much more expensive than the Cast Acrylic product.
A look at the links above will will give you an idea of the pricing.
The nice part is the fact that the 4" and 6" pvc is readily available and DOES FIT standard fittings. It can make fabrication very easy for those who do not have the skills to tool PVC flanges and fittings.
Bean
jefferzbooboo
New member
Thanks for clearing it up BeanAnimal. Wish I woulda came across this before I bought the wrong pipe for a DIY phosban.
Jeez does this "electrician" (take a peak at his occupation) fallow you everywhere you go on the forums here?
Jeez does this "electrician" (take a peak at his occupation) fallow you everywhere you go on the forums here?
BeanAnimal
Premium Member
Who? j0tca? I dunno what he does or thinks... He does not post here anymore anyway.
Pbrown3701
New member
One thing about clear PVC is that it is not as clear as acrylic. I used some 4" clear PVC for my Neilson reactor and found out that it's quite hard to see inside. If seeing inside is important to you, then I'd stick with acrylic.
BeanAnimal
Premium Member
My 6" skimmer is clear pvc (Harvel if memory serves me correctly). It is not crystal clear. It has a bluish cast and there are definite extrusion marks in it.
mr pink floyd
New member
not arguing, more like constructive criticism here, thickness would matter. If you change thickness, either the ID or the OD would have to change. so say standard 1" ID PVC has a thickness of 1/8", if you made the wall thinner to say 1/16", either the ID would increase, or the OD would decrease
i think i know what you meant... it just came out a little wrong i guess?
Just clearing up. HTH
Mike
BeanAnimal
Premium Member
Mike,
I assure you, nothing came out wrong
If you follow the thread you will see that there is no ambiguity in what is being discussed and what I said. There is nothing to clear up. Reading the entire thread will bring you up to speed (and would have kept you from offering misplaced constructive criticism
At the expense of repeating what has already been covered in detail, i will briefly repeat what was said:
PVC plumbing follows the IPS pipe size standards. The ID of the pipe changes when the schedule (thickness) of the pipe wall changes. The OD does not change. Just about any clear pvc pipe you find will fit into this category.
FWIW: j0tca often posted very poor information and refused to be corrected by those in the know.
This thread is almost exactly a year old...
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mr pink floyd
New member
i did read the thread, i must have just confused myself! (trust me, wouldnt be the first time)
touche
and woah, i never even noticed the dates. holy crap!
touche
and woah, i never even noticed the dates. holy crap!
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