How to change drain pipe?

[Gauge]

Silly question I guess but I don't want to break something and I'm not much of a plumber.

Bought a used tank off Craigslist a few months ago and is working fine. The drain pipe has slits in it and I'd like to change it to a durso so I need to swap it out for a solid pipe. How do I get the old one out? I tried pulling on it and twisting it and didn't have any luck. I didn't do it too hard though. We left them in place when we moved the tank.

Tank is drilled with a middle overflow and the overflow runs the vertical length of the tank. Just don't want to twist or pull too hard and dump a bunch of water by cracking something.

Thanks in advance.

 

[robbrouse]

Need to check and make sure the owner did not glue it it. If so you should be able to loosen the bulk head nut on remove it all. If it's blued you'll have to replace the bulk head. I would anyhow on a used tank.. Never how how old they are.

 

[Gauge]

Here's a pic if it helps...any way to tell?

 

[Gauge]

Sorry it's upside down.

 

[Munch]

Looks like threaded ends to me, glued to the PVC. Is that the rubber gasket too, if so - it'll unscrew. Whats on the other side of the glass? Your sump? Outta spin off, lefty-loosey.

 

[Gauge]

So do I just need to try to unscrew the pipe harder or the gasket? Under the tank is just my sump.

 

[Hydrahawk]

Well, first turn off the return pump just in case. You will want to unscrew the pipe. I am sure the previous owner didn't glue it to the bulkhead.

 

[kschweer]

Definitely looks like threaded fittings. I would suggest shutting the tank down and syphoning out as much water as you can from the overflow. It should just twist out but may be a little tough depending on how long it has been together, how tight the previous owner made it, and if they used anything like silicone on the threads. I would be prepared to replace the bulkhead before trying this. What does the plumbing look like on the underside of the bulkhead?

 

[Gauge]

Thanks everyone. Underside of the bulkhead is similar plumbing. It is hard plumbed. I'm going to try getting it off today, will let ya know how it goes

 

[pickupman66]

ill also agree on the fact that it looks threaded to me. mine are this way. you may just have to break the threads lose and it will unscrew. worst part is you have ZERO leverage in this situation so you may not be twisting it as hard as you think.

 

[mfinn]

On the underside of the bulkhead fitting, there should be a nut to unscrew.

If it is hard plumbed and glued all the way to the water, you may have to cut the pvc.( 2" to 3" below the fitting)

 

[AZDesertRat]

Looks like the one with writing on the pipe is glued, you can see purple primer on the joint. Both are socket x thread or male adapters that you will need to unscrew from the bulkhead, you should be able to do this from above without removing the bulkheads but while the tank is down it would not hurt to remove the bulkheads and clean everything up real well.
A basin wrench like used on sink plumbing works very well for holding a standpipe inside and overflow box since it swivels to vertical and has a sliding tee wrench handle, and they are very inexpensice. Theey also work well under the tank on the bulkhead nust when space is limited.

I have a sticky thread here that may help you with bulkheads:
https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/eq...iltration/34973-installing-bulkhead-tips.html

 

[Gauge]

Thanks everyone. I was able to get it off....the one with the purple is the return and I didn't mess with it. The drain was just threaded although it was rough getting it off. Had to use pliers and a wrench to pry it out. Got a few blisters too, but its done. Thanks