Plumbing question

Actually, DO NOT use schedule 80!!! The difference is that sch80 is thicker walled (same o.d., smaller i.d.). Therefore you will get less flow using the sch80 than you will if you use the more common (and less expensive) sch40. In fact, if you can find it, sch20 (it's not called sch20 but it's real name escapes me) is more than adequate for our low pressure systems. And yes, that means even if you are using a pressure rated pump.

If you want it to be pretty grey, (or any other color) spray paint works well. All my visible plumbing is black - less visible at the back of the tank.

jm.02
 
The only problem with PVC is the bends. Elbows tend to rob 1 foot of head pressure for each run. Be careful about horizontals as they can trap air. You can get flexible PVC. It's expensive and really doesn't have the bendable radius. For outflow, you can also talk with your local hot tub distributer. They have all sorts of flexible tubes and plumbing that works. Often they have odd lengths, just perfect for us reefer/aquarists.
 
The only problem with PVC is the bends. Elbows tend to rob 1 foot of head pressure for each run. Be careful about horizontals as they can trap air.

Both of those are not correct. A fitting has an approximate equivalent length of straight pipe associated with it. An elbow is usually around 2ft. In a properly designed system 100ft of pipe has around 5ft of losses. So about 1/10 of a foot per elbow. If a run is horizontal it will not trap air. Just make sure it does not has a high spot, because that will trap air.

There are tables on line you can look at to show you fitting losses and pipe losses. It is all common stuff.
 
I have had air trapped in a true horizontal. But, what do I know. I've only been reefing for about 15 years.

You must be running poly since you know you have air. It is hard to get that perfectly straight. I suspect you have a high spot or a fitting issues. Air will only collect in high spots.
 
Nope, this is schedule 40 PVC. It happened during a power outage on my outflow. It was easily remedied by slightly tipping the section.
 
Nope, this is schedule 40 PVC. It happened during a power outage on my outflow. It was easily remedied by slightly tipping the section.

On the outflow - so the line from your return pump? That's odd - usually there's enough flow that bubbles are purged relatively quickly. Plus the general flow is upwards, so the air is not trying to go the opposite way the water is.

I have had persistent air in the pump itself that took a while to purge, but not in the pipe itself.
 
Clear is fine as long as it's not subject to any strong lighting and the. You can get a build of of some algaes. I use pcv and am also a Plumber you don't need schedule 80 that is over kill schedule 40 is plenty enough, there isn't enough psi from any circulating or pressure pumps to blow out the piping. The only thing I would use would be schedule 80 bulkheads as they are far more superior than the abs.
 
Will this work? Any suggestions are welcome. This is my first tank that I had to plumb. It's going to be a herbie so the long pipe coming down is the emergency drain and the short one will have the gate valve attached. Here's a few pics.





 
I would not have teed off there. I would have put the t under the tank and flexed over to it and then over to the tank...... Putting your t there just makes it messy and will eventually all get in the way. You can clean it up by flexing with one pipe up to the top and the t'ing out from there.
 
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