Plumbing and joining pvc together. What do I use? Help?

MarineGirl411

MarineGirl411

New member
Hi,
I am setting up my closed loop system. I need help knowing what is safe to use to keep the pvc together? My boyfriend said to use pvc cement. He says they use it in homes and it's safe. Well, I read so many things on here. I don't want something toxic to end up getting in my tank. What do you guys suggest to join the pvc together? I tried to find all threaded elbows and such, but couldn't. PVC will also be used for my return from my sump. Could you give me a brand name to use to join this all together? I just want to make sure what I get is safe. Also, do you guys like the flexible PVC better than the Hard Plumbed PVC? What do you suggest. It's for the 40 gallon breeder in my signature. I'd really appreciate some help. Thank you very much.
 
You can use a PVC primer first then PVC cement for your plumbing. Oatey's is a common brand name. Others have used the Christy's PVC cement.
Flexible PVC is probably better in terms of room for error when cutting the length of PVC required. It probably has less vibration when you plumb it to your return pump.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8183271#post8183271 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by carman9941
also the flex will let you make bends without useing 90* elbows alot less restriction on the pump
Click to expand...

the effect of 90' elbows is very often overstated. Just use larger sized PVC in general.
 
So for a 1 in overflow that's 45mm on the outside circumference, what size 90* elbow would you suggest using? I've heard that they decrease your flow a lot.
 
When sizing pipe try to keep the velocity under 4 feet per second. I use these guidelines:

1/2" 120 GPH
3/4" 360 GPH
1" 720 GPH
1-1/4" 1080 GPH
1-1/2" 1560 GPH
2" 2880 GPH

You could probably push that a little but the larger the size the pressure drop and the water flow. Now this is for pressure lines so on the pump discharge. If it is gravity feed back to your sump the size will need to be larger.

I am a big fan of spa-flex but it is much more expensive. I would say roughly 6 times more expensive than rigid sched 40 PVC. It is nice because you can use less fittings and it does reduce vibration transfer.

I ended up using both on my systems. I like the look of rigid if it is installed properly. I like it square, plumb, perpendicular and level. (It is a curse being a perfectionist, really. I fear I am OC sometimes). But spa-flex is such a time saver.

I use Christy's PVC glue, no primer is required so it's a bit more simple that way.

If you use spa-flex make sure that you HOLD THE PIPE AND FITTING JOINT TOGETHER FOR 30 SECONDS after you insert it. For some reason the spa-flex stuff like to creep out of the fitting until the glue cures.

I have placed fittings in service in less than 30 minutes using Christy's. Probably not wise but then there is much that I do that may not be wise. sigh.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8185965#post8185965 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by MarineGirl411
So for a 1 in overflow that's 45mm on the outside circumference, what size 90* elbow would you suggest using? I've heard that they decrease your flow a lot.
Click to expand...

hmmm, well you would use a 1" elbow. Guess I don't understand your question.

IF you are talking about the elbow directly inside of your tank hole then for sure use a rigid el, spaflex would be a mess there.

HTH:rollface:
 
Well, from what I understood from the question they said to go larger which is something I didn't understand. If you scroll up Rich said to use larger pvc piping. That is what I was asking. What size? That's what I meant. My return is a Quiet One 3000. Most of everything I am using is in my signature.
 
I think that he meant go with a larger size pvc overall. If you are concerned about the flow and can afford stepping it up to the next size then I would. From what I have learned you will get better flow and you will get less force out of the fittings with bigger size pipe. It looks like the Quiet One 3000 is 780GPH. 1" pvc should do the trick, but as they say(to some extent) bigger is better. Also 1" is the size of your inlet/outlet of the pump so it shouldnt be too bad.
I will be building my plumbing out of 1-1/4" but I have about 1200GPH from my pump.

Hope this helps
 
uh, oops. never mind.

See, when I get rambling like that someone just needs to touch my shoulder and say "you're doing it again" and I'll stop.

Anyway, it looks like your pump will push about 7 or 8 GPM (450 GPH) at maybe 5 feet of head. At that rate in a 1" pipe you will see a velocity of just over 3 feet per second (FPS), not too shabby (NTS). hehe.

Anyway you could go to an 1-1/4" pipe size for a little less pressure drop but honestly for the amount of piping that you will have it is probably not worth the extra cost, IMO. Especially if you are running it in cramped quarters. AND you are doing 11 water changes per hour, which I think is plenty.

Sorry that first post of mine was so jumbled, jeeze I re-read it and even I had a hard time figuring out what I was trying to say.

:hmm5:
 
Thank you. Do you think the spa flex would be the best way to go? Where can I get it? How much is it usually? I will have about 3 1/2 head from the Quiet One 3000 pump for the return. I am also making it external so it will not heat the aquarium. I will also be running a closed loop with a Quiet One 5000. I am wondering if this is going to produce too much flow and cause a sandstorm? It will be running through loc-line and also a sea swirl for random flow. What do you guys think?

Cuby: 11 water changes per hour? Do you mean that's how much turnover I am going to be getting? I don't understand what you meant by that. Please clarify. Thank you.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8190422#post8190422 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by MarineGirl411
Do you think the spa flex would be the best way to go? Where can I get it? How much is it usually?

Cuby: 11 water changes per hour? Do you mean that's how much turnover I am going to be getting?
Click to expand...

Spa flex at HD or Lowes. Cost hmmmm, as I recall it is in the neighborhood of $2 a foot. Too bad you are not closer I have about six feet in my garage you could have.

yes on the water changes.450 Gallons per hour/40 gallon tank = 11 per hour. Yeah I didn't mean that you need to change the water out 11 times per hour.
 
ARGH! I just cut the piece that I had in half to give to my neighbor. I only have about two feet left. It would probably cost less to buy than to ship but if you are still interested I'll take a look at shipping costs.

That piece has been sitting in my garage getting in the way for about a year now and all of a sudden . . . .:rolleyes:

Sorry
 
that's okay. don't worry about it. I will go to HD and see how much they are charging for it. Maybe I will still need it. That's what you use on your reef correct? How much better is it than say hard plumbing? Could you install a check valve in it? Do you just need your bulkheads then plop the spaflex on the outside of the bulkheads? I'd really be interested in knowing. Thank you cuby. It's okay. How do you like Mechanical Engineering? Do you make pretty good money doing that? (sorry that seems a little rude) my boyfriend wants to do it and he wanted to figure how much he could make compared to his other job. Right now he's a carpenter. Of course you make A LOT more now, but he will move up the ladder and they offer benefits and guarantee you can retire at age 55. He's not sure what he wants to do. Thank you.
 
MarineGirl, I have (do) used the spa flex but I use the hard stuff as well. (That sounds funny . . .) I like the flex because it cuts down on fittings, seems to isolate vibration and it faster to install. I like hard pipe, if installed correctly, because I like how neat and orderly it looks. Yes I am anal.

You can install any fitting that you would install on rigid piping; check valve, shut-off valve, tees, elbows, etc. If you connect it to bulkheads I think it is best to use a fitting on the end of the flex and thread it into a threaded bulkhead. Makes it easier to dis-assemble if/when necessary.

I have always loved engineering, my dad was a mechanic but his first love building things out of metal. In reality he was an artist that built mechanized steel sculpture. I am still amazed to this day what he could build, he was a great man and I miss him.

:beer: TO DADs!

Money? well it's all relative I think. I know several carpenters that have become general contractors and make more money than I could ever dream of. It all just depends on your commitment level to work I think. Retiring at age 55 sounds great but I will be working until I die I think. I just enjoy working.

Do you enjoy your work? :hammer:
 
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