Union valve necessity between sump and ext ret pump?

[Trex420]

Hey all. After trying about every combo I can think of I am a little stuck. I can't figure out a way to place any type of union valve between my return pump and my fuge. I have 14.5" to work with under my tank for the ret pump and fittings. My pump with connections and a union valve with all fittings snug (I removed the grey connector in the pic to see how small I could potentially get the setup) in picture #1 is about 16" , 13ââ"šÂ¬Ã‚ with out the valve in pic #2. I can either re-drill my fuge on the same face but the opposite side of that face or I can leave out the union valve from the line. You can see I left the bulkhead on in each picture. Thoughts anyone?

Tom

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

You don't need the true union valve.
Fashion an "L" shaped plug device out of the proper size PVC to fit into the bulkhead. Use this PVC to plug the bulkhead when removing the pump. Make sure to remove the plug before restarting the pump!

 

[Trex420]

That is a great idea but it still leaves one issue which would be when you need to service or replace the pump. I would have to take out the bulkhead as that is the only place that will have the ability to be unscrewed (unless I turned the pump itself). I would then have to remove bulkhead with the pump assembly only to then remove the bulkhead from the pump assembly to then replug the hole in the fuge with the bulkhead while the work was done.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

I use flexhose and barb fittings to attach pumps. To remove a pump I simply unscrew a hose clamp on the flex hose. You might want to try this.

 

[FishnWishn]

Can you attach the Union on the bulkhead then attach the elbow and motor?

 

[Trex420]

Solved

Solved

Got it. I turned the bulkhead so the threaded part was on the inside of the fuge. This gave me enough room to work with to allow the union valve. The assembly barely fits under the tank but it fits. I didn't know you could do this with a bulkhead until I saw it done at a LFS while picking up an additional bulkhead today. The light bulb didn't turn on until after I sent the post. Sorry. Thanks for playing everyone.

 

[Trex420]

I must say that you all ROCK!!! What a great community.

FishnWishn
You must have been reading my mind. I originally had planned it so the bulkhead faced the other way. Even with the bulkhead facing like it is in the pic I have a half an inch to the stand wall.

Gary Majchrzak
A fellow NYer in the house. Nice but pleasantly surprised to see you coming to my help. I had originally had intended to use hose and barbs but the barbs are long! Once I got to HD with the pump I realized I could to it smaller and more easily with PVC fittings.