Need help plumbing

[shrimped]

Hello i have been in the reefing hobby for well over 2 years but as I’m building the new tank, this is my first time actually plumbing a tank myself. Everything seems complicated and I’m unsure if I’m doing things properly so it’ll be great if some of you can help me on this section of reefing that I’ve been stuck on for the past month lol. I will go from first problem to second after the first one is completed and so on.

First problem:
I have a 1200gph Bean Animal Styled Modular Marine Overflow that was bought with 3/4” uniseals for the drain (just noticed uniseals are no good). I want to replace it with bulkheads but
-what size
-abs?
-slipxslip|Threadxslip|slipxthread|threadx thread?
Will this cause more problems?

 

[DeniseAndy]

I am not sure how large a hole for the uniseals were, but the bulkhead size depends on the hole size. Find the largest that fits for better drainage. Then as far as kind of bulkhead, that depends on the piping you are using and whether you will hard plump or use tubing. Are you going through a wall or floor? Just down from tank? I like getting my plumbing from either a reef store or true plumbing manufacturer (we have a local one I have used for rare parts).

 

[1WildBill]

GMACREEF.com has a lot of info for plumbing a tank.

 

[shrimped]

I am not sure how large a hole for the uniseals were, but the bulkhead size depends on the hole size. Find the largest that fits for better drainage. Then as far as kind of bulkhead, that depends on the piping you are using and whether you will hard plump or use tubing. Are you going through a wall or floor? Just down from tank? I like getting my plumbing from either a reef store or true plumbing manufacturer (we have a local one I have used for rare parts).

Thank you. According to Bulk Reef Supply the hole size for a 3/4” uniseal is 1 and 1/4” or 31.7mm. So I guess I’m going to get a bulk head that fits that size hole. I’m just doing a simple external Overflow attached to the tank.

 

[shrimped]

GMACREEF.com has a lot of info for plumbing a tank.

Wow this website has a ton of good info! Thank you!

 

[DeniseAndy]

Let us know if you need help with anything else. Good luck and hope to see some pics of your expert plumbing.

 

[shrimped]

Let us know if you need help with anything else. Good luck and hope to see some pics of your expert plumbing.

Thank you! I’ll post some pictures of
the plumbing once I figure out the first part of the drain system of the overflow.

 

[shrimped]

Ok I am back after exams and more exams!
I bought a 1/2” (inside diameter) silicon tubing with 1/3” (outside diameter) that fit perfectly to the outlet of a small return pump.
1. I’m trying to end the silicon with a Schedule 80 1/2” Spigot x Barb to connect it to a Union.

1 a). Will the 1/2” Spigot x Barb fit in the silicon tubing?

2. I’m also trying to make the return pipe bigger. From 1/2” (inside diameter) to a 1” Schedule 80 Pipe from BRS. Is this possible? If so what do I need?

2 a). Is there any problem with a 3/4” Schedule 80 Pipe from BRS if I use it as a return line?

3. Im trying to avoid gluing. Am I able to avoid gluing by putting unions like everywhere?

Thank you so much being patient with a plumbing noob like me, really appreciate it!

 

[shrimped]

Bump

 

[Bayareareefer18]

Ok I am back after exams and more exams!
I bought a 1/2” (inside diameter) silicon tubing with 1/3” (outside diameter) that fit perfectly to the outlet of a small return pump.
1. I’m trying to end the silicon with a Schedule 80 1/2” Spigot x Barb to connect it to a Union.

1 a). Will the 1/2” Spigot x Barb fit in the silicon tubing?

2. I’m also trying to make the return pipe bigger. From 1/2” (inside diameter) to a 1” Schedule 80 Pipe from BRS. Is this possible? If so what do I need?

2 a). Is there any problem with a 3/4” Schedule 80 Pipe from BRS if I use it as a return line?

3. Im trying to avoid gluing. Am I able to avoid gluing by putting unions like everywhere?

Thank you so much being patient with a plumbing noob like me, really appreciate it!

A 1/2" barb will fit 1/2" id tubing.

You have no choice but to glue your pipes. Even unions need to be glued

As far as diameter of pipe that depends on size of pump, flow rate, etc

 

[JoshH]

You can get away with not gluing if you only wanted to use flex PVC or spend a fortune on push fittings for solid pvc. Threaded fittings work great but you would need a ton of extra fittings in order to achieve what you want. Plus, gluing is pretty darn easy to do once you try it once or twice.

 

[DeniseAndy]

best glue for pvc is the gorilla glue pvc. Easy to use, low fumes, less mess.

 

[theMeat]

best glue for pvc is the gorilla glue pvc. Easy to use, low fumes, less mess.

Best glue for pvc is pvc glue, which isn’t a glue, it’s a cement.
When glueing flex pvc you don’t use primer first as you would with regular pvc, you use pvc cleaner instead, then regular cement

 

[Idoc]

A little advice that might come in handy:

1. Do you have a Lowe's near you? If so, use their PVC pieces as much as possible. While you are putting all this together, you are gong to need extra parts, angle pieces, etc... and it's easier to just go to Lowes and get those pieces (and return what you don't use after you are done) than it is to order pieces from online stores. There will be a few pieces that you need to order online, though. Also, Lowes has a great PVC section with both schedule 40 and schedule 80 pieces.

2. Layout everything (each run/line you are putting together) before gluing it. It's called dry fitting. This ensures you have all the pieces you need before putting together.

3. Is there a reason you are using all schedule 80? Schedule 40 is already over-strengthed for our systems and those parts are more common, more options, and much cheaper pieces. You can connect schedule 40 and schedule 80 together as well. A 1" sch80 has a slightly smaller inside diameter than a sch40 pipe and fitting so your flow can be very slightly less.

If you check out my build thread, i have a section on exactly how I plumbed my lines with detailed planing sheets showing each line and the pieces needed for the connections. It might help you some to visually see it layed out like those plans.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/idocs-first-reef-tank-build-75g.317135/

 

[theMeat]

Agree with this ^

Except homecheapo has a better selection, and while schedule 40 is more than enough for pipes and fittings, schedule 80 on bulkheads is a good idea

 

[Idoc]

Agree with this ^

Except homecheapo has a better selection, and while schedule 40 is more than enough for pipes and fittings, schedule 80 on bulkheads is a good idea

Wow... opposite in my area! Our Home Depot has less of a selection of schedule 40 fittings and no schedule 80 stuff for some reason.

 

[cracker]

Iv'e learned that if lowes doesn't have a specifics fitting Home depot will. & visversa. I think the y have a deal on this. LOL

 

[ReefWithCare]

Following this. I’m in the same situation plumbing for the first time. I also got modular marine. Share some pictures so we can see [emoji3]

 

[Bayareareefer18]

Wow... opposite in my area! Our Home Depot has less of a selection of schedule 40 fittings and no schedule 80 stuff for some reason.

Sch 80 typically is not at your regular hardware stores. Usually need an actual plumbing supply or irrigation supply but you will pay $$$

 

[JoshH]

Sch 80 typically is not at your regular hardware stores. Usually need an actual plumbing supply or irrigation supply but you will pay $$$

I must be lucky, home depot and lowes both carry schedule 80 up here in the great white North. I personally think schedule 80 is overkill for all of our applications, I just order online from formufit for all the lovely coloured stuff and zoro.com for valves and adapters. Both are pretty cheap so ordering extras is no no deal.