Plumbing help!!!

[fishstix]

Trying to plumb my new tank, and I was going to use SCH 80, but finding it difficult to get the correct size and it does not fit in bulkheads so on. I also have all the same, but correct stuff that fits for everything in SCH 40. At this point I think I am going to just use the SCH 40, as that seems to be what most everyone does.

So questions should I use SCH 80 unions, ball valve unions and gate valve. These things are very heavy duty, compared to the SCH 40. Or should I keep it all SCH 40?

The other problems if I use SCH 40, the fitting inside the overflows, it would be white, cannot find it in black. Does anyone have a solutions for the pipes in the overflow and fittings can they be painted?

Any suggestions, thanks so much.

 

[Kershaw]

There is no need to use schduale 80 other then it looks better. But you can buy colored schedule 40 from brs.

 

[DJDerbstep]

I believe Krylon Fusion spray paint is reef safe I'd just give it awhile to cure before you throw it in the water.

 

[fishstix]

There is no need to use schduale 80 other then it looks better. But you can buy colored schedule 40 from brs.

What about the heavy duty sch 80 ball valves, unions, and T vales? I cannot return them at this point.

Thanks

 

[fishstix]

I believe Krylon Fusion spray paint is reef safe I'd just give it awhile to cure before you throw it in the water.

Wondering if it will hold up or start to pit and flake being in the overflow?

 

[AllSignsPointToFish]

Agreed. You don't need anything over schedule 40 for this service, including valves and fittings.

 

[DJDerbstep]

What about the heavy duty sch 80 ball valves, unions, and T vales? I cannot return them at this point.

Thanks

You can use Sched 40 pipe with sched 80 fittings, it's a little more restrictive but it shouldn't affect headpressure or anything too much. The fusion paint should hold for quite awhile I haven't heard of flaking issues unless it's been years of use.

 

[JamesP]

Ive heard sch40 bulkheads crack easier. You obviously dont need it for the pressure rating, but it is thicker walled. Smaller inner diameter which may slightly reduce flow though. Grab a piece of sch40 and sch80 and tap it on the ground and feel the difference. You definitely dont need sch80, but there is no denying it is much stronger. As much money as I put into everything else, I couldnt justify sch40 except where I simply couldnt find anything else which was actually pretty rare. As for valves, the cepex ones are the best ive ever used and are sch80 only.

 

[JamesP]

One more thing. A lot of folks use sch80 fittings and the colored sch40 pipe. The fittings are where the stress and torque will happen not the straight runs so thats a good compromise.

 

[Kershaw]

Schedule 40 is rated for 480 psi. If it cracks on a fish tank, you did somthing wrong.

 

[JamesP]

Right, youll never come close to 480psi of sch40 pvc but I was talking about torqing a fitting such as a bulkhead such as when modifying plumbing hanging from it. Also, the schedule is the wall thickness and doesnt even imply the material is pvc. If you have a schedule 40 bulkhead and it is black it is very likely abs not pvc. Im sure there is some exception to the rule out there, but 99% of the time if it is black it is abs.

With that said, the internet is full of stories of folks cracking abs bulkheads without seriously mistreating them. But its also full of success stories with the same fittings. Goolge around and youll find both. I just see more issues with the abs bulkheads than the sch80 pvc. The part that scares most people off is the hole needs to be drilled larger to accomodate a sch80 pvc bulkhead. Ive personnaly drilled my 1/2" glass to accomodate sch80 pvc, but ill admit that it is not for everyone.

 

[Fin]

You can use furniture grade colored PVC pipe and fittings. The only difference is the furniture grade PVC has a gloss finish and is UV resistant. You can order it online from Home Depot (not available in stores), or another source that I have used for black is Savco Plastics. Links shown below.

Black Schedule 40 PVC fittings
Black Schedule 40 PVC Pipe

BRS does handle the colored pipe, but not the fittings. That is why you see most of the colored plumbing jobs with white fittings. But you can get SOME fittings and pipe from Home Depot's web site. The fittings are limited to what would be used in building outdoor furniture projects: 90s, 45s & Ts. Shipping is free for orders over $45.

As far as Krylon Fusion being "reef safe" to be used under water in an aquarium, somewhere here on R2R there is a thread where someone actually wrote to Krylon about this. I copied and pasted the response from Krylon below...

Quote from Krylon:

"Thank you for contacting Krylon.

Unfortunately, we do not recommend any of our products to be applied below the water line. None of our products are immersion-rated or waterproof. Our products may last for a time under water, but there is no guarantee as to how long they will hold up.

Additionally, we have nothing that is FDA approved, which is important in terms of ingestion. Our products may harm the aquarium life.

I wish you the best of success with your search for a compatible product. Please let me know if you have additional questions.

Regards,

Daniel
Krylon Product Support"