Fittings for silicone plumbing

  • Thread starter Thread starter Artisan
  • Start date Start date
  • Tagged users None

Artisan

Community Member
View Badges
Joined
Feb 5, 2015
Messages
54
Reaction score
24
Location
Florida
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I'm attempting to plumb my drilled Marineland 93 with silicone tubing instead of PVC. Mainly because I didn't like that PVC can't be threaded to the bulkhead and because I didn't want to glue it, but also because I feel that silicone is a lot more forgiving in case I want to modify my plumbing. I've found a few fittings, but I'm having problems finding others.

To start with the bulkhead seems to be 1-1/4 in.

I got lucky and found an adapter for the bulkhead at Homedepot
Bulkhead adapter - Watts 1-1/4 in. Barb x 1-1/4 in. FIP Nylon Adapter-HA-632 - The Home Depot

Elbow and T fittings can be found online pretty easily.

The real problem I'm having is finding a y fitting so I can make a reverse durso going into the sump. Anyone had any luck finding a solution for plumbing with silicone tubing?
 
FWIW, there's nothing stopping you from threading hard PVC in there. A slip/thread adapter doesn't cost much or reduce performance.

Also FWIW, bulkheads are available in slip, thread or every permutation you could want, so that shouldn't be a limitation.

I've not heard of plumbing with silicone. Link to the tubing you're looking at?

Double check me, but I'm pretty sure that the thread/barb adapter will reduce flow significantly vs full-size PVC. You may have to adapt up +1/4" on the tubing side for equivalent performance.
 
Yeah. I'm being a little stubborn. I wanted to find a solution that worked without having to modify the Marineland plumbing that comes with the tank. I tried quite a few PVC adapters at local hardware stores, but none had proper threading.

To be more clear about the tubing, I want to use vinyl braided tubing.

The barb adapter will reduce flow a little bit, but I think I should still be able to move about 700gph max.

I'm sure other people have done this before, but I'm caught up on the reverse durso fitting. The tank is in our livingroom so I want to keep it as silent as humanly possible. *knock on wood*
 

IF YOU HAD TO TAKE A REEFING EXAM, WOULD YOU PASS?

  • Yes!

    Votes: 32 45.7%
  • Not yet, but I have one that I want to buy in mind!

    Votes: 9 12.9%
  • No.

    Votes: 26 37.1%
  • Other (please explain).

    Votes: 3 4.3%
Back
Top