newbie plumbing help

cvx16 · Oct 7, 2015

OK, so I bought a used tank and would like to improve on the plumbing a little. Below is a close up of the drain and return. Both are using flexible hose right now. Yes, there seems to be a little salt creep around the drain.

The short question is, what would you recommend for plumbing the drain to the sump and return band to the DT?

I would prefer rigid PVC for the drain. How do people usually attach rigid PVC to these bulkhead connections? Seems like a pretty dumb question, but what I'm getting at is... is there a way to plumb in the PVC such that if I need to break down and move the tank, I don't have to cut the pipe just to take the tank off the stand?

Example pictures of other setups would be great!

thehammer1985 · Oct 7, 2015

Yeah wherever you would like to make the break after moving it you would want to use the union a lot of people use this around their valve is as true Union valves. However you can install Union wherever you deem necessary to break it down and do what you have to do.

Jlobes · Oct 8, 2015

HA, thats more than a lil salt creep, and looks like a slow leak.

If it were me, Id go ahead and scrap those bulkhead, and buy new ones. You can use threaded bulkheads and connections, so you can disconnect things in the future. Its actually recommended and helpful. also, use lots of union or true union ball valves, super helpful for future maintenance and current building

Not a problem to run PVC to the sump and PVC or flex for the returns, or any combination that you see fit and works well. I just redid all the plumbing under my tank, used 1 1/4" PVC for the overflows(from 1" at the bulkhead) and 3/4" for the returns. pics below.

cvx16 · Oct 8, 2015

Ah ha! I obviously haven't done enough PVC work or else I would have known about threaded unions. Makes sense and yes, obviously the way to go! Thx!

It looks like my bulkhead fitting is already threaded and I agree, I think there is a slow leak, but I'm thinking it's at the connection to the flexible hose, not at the bulkhead fitting. Hoping I don't have to replace that.

Jlobes - You're plumbing looks fantastic! I can only hope to make mine close to as nice as yours! Do you have close up pictures of the fittings on the bottom of the tank? Would help me figure out what I need to do for mine. Is there a union type fitting that I can/should put onto my drain bulkhead fitting?