New to plumbing

[sergifed91]

Got the life Reef skimmer and fuge and sump. Both jeff and I thought the return pipes were 1 inch. After getting the tank and everything in place discovered the 2 pipes for the marineland corner flow are 1 and 1/4 inch. So instead of going out and buying new hose I used what I had. I'm aware I should of used unions and missing a few clamps but got the clamps on order.

iui

 

[Hemmdog]

Water test it before you use salt.

 

[sergifed91]

Water test it before you use salt.

I'm doing a wc this week so I'm going to do a water test before I do anything.

 

[sergifed91]

Water test it before you use salt.

when I do my wc. im going to use some of that water into the sump and test the return piping. I'm concerned about leaks from the plumbing. just need to get the clamps in place before I do the test.

 

[SeaJay]

You're not supposed to use threadseal tape or any sort of teflon on PVC thread connections. I think in the end, you'll find that it's much easier and safer to just glue up pvc slip connections. If you mess up, they can be cut out and replaced for a couple bucks and you'll never be stuck with anything that a quick run to the local hardware store can't solve.

 

[Hemmdog]

You're not supposed to use threadseal tapoe or any sort of teflon on PVC thread connections. I think in the end, you'll find that it's much easier and safer to just glue up pvc slip connections. If you mess up, they can be cut out and replaced for a couple bucks and you'll never be stuck with anything that a quick run to the local hardware store can't solve.

I completely agree. You also want to use a gate valve not a ball valve on the drain or any flow regulation value. Ball valves are designed to have the flow on or off, not regulate flow. Gate valves regulate flow.

 

[sergifed91]

You're not supposed to use threadseal tape or any sort of teflon on PVC thread connections. I think in the end, you'll find that it's much easier and safer to just glue up pvc slip connections. If you mess up, they can be cut out and replaced for a couple bucks and you'll never be stuck with anything that a quick run to the local hardware store can't solve.

I'll remove the Teflon tape tonight and just screw those on the threaded. then I'll look for a gatevalve at lowes or menards. does it matter where I put the gat valve on the return?

 

[Hemmdog]

I'll remove the Teflon tape tonight and just screw those on the threaded. then I'll look for a gatevalve at lowes or menards. does it matter where I put the gat valve on the return?

You don’t want to restrict the return flow with a valve, use a dc return to tune flow. Use a gate valve on the drain if you have two drains. If you have a single drain durso then have no valves, you don’t want snails getting stuck in them.

 

[SeaJay]

I'll remove the Teflon tape tonight and just screw those on the threaded. then I'll look for a gatevalve at lowes or menards. does it matter where I put the gat valve on the return?

The big box stores don't usually have gate valves. I would disagree that you don't want a valve in the return line. IF you have a DC pump, that's nice, if you don't I would put a valve. Ball valves aren't made to adjust flow, but people do it. You can't fine tune it. Just make sure that you either get full flow valves or use some fittings to upsize the valve. Gate valves are the way to go. It is a significant investment as far as plumbing parts go, but not in the grand scheme of things. The gate vlaves are the one part that I bought threaded instead of slip. That way I can remove them for repairs or reconfiguration and not have to spend that money again.

And no, it doesn't matter where you put the valve. Just somewhere between where the water enters the pipe and where it leaves.

 

[sergifed91]

You don’t want to restrict the return flow with a valve, use a dc return to tune flow. Use a gate valve on the drain if you have two drains. If you have a single drain durso then have no valves, you don’t want snails getting stuck in them.

one pipe going to the sump and one for the return is what I have.