PVC Support or No?

DocRose · Mar 10, 2022

Looking for input here. The support clamp I have is so far out from the wall that it causes the pipe to sit at an angle from the return fitting. Turning the existing 90 at the return and adding pipe and then another 90 elbow won’t work because then it will be too far away from the wall. My question is, is the support clamp even needed since the plumbing is so short and is also supported by the hard plumbing attached to the return pump? (Nothing is glued yet by the way. I’m using this plain white PVC to mock it out. Will be using actual orange when I’m ready to glue.)

Drewe · Mar 10, 2022

That is such a short stretch of pipe that I wouldn't have even considered adding a support bracket to it. It's just a drain too, not pressurized, so there won't be sudden sharp movements within it like there are when the return is cut on or off.

DocRose · Mar 10, 2022

Drewe said:
It's just a drain too, not pressurized, so there won't be sudden sharp movements within it like there are when the return is cut on or off.

Nope. This one is the return line. That pipe coming up from the return pump is going to be cut and attached to the open elbow pointing down.

shakacuz · Mar 10, 2022

i may be misunderstanding the explanation, but have you tried using 45 degree elbows? looking at the pictures it’s all 90 degrees i believe

DocRose · Mar 10, 2022

shakacuz said:
i may be misunderstanding the explanation, but have you tried using 45 degree elbows? looking at the pictures it’s all 90 degrees i believe

45's would make the problem worse. I DON'T want the pipe at an angle. I want it parallel with the wall its running along. So my question is can I get away with not using the support clamp. I'm thinking that because the pipe is secured at the pump, as well as the connection to the pipe that leads back up to the tank, and the fact that it's such a short run of piping, that support isn't necessary.

Weasel1960 · Mar 10, 2022

Probably not but over time who knows. Personally I would support it. Cut a small wooden shim the thickness you need to fit and hold the pipe properly. Pre drill the hole the same size as the fastener so yo don’t split it. Paint to match if so desired.

DocRose · Mar 10, 2022

Weasel1960 said:
Probably not but over time who knows. Personally I would support it. Cut a small wooden shim the thickness you need to fit and hold the pipe properly. Pre drill the hole the same size as the fastener so yo don’t split it. Paint to match if so desired.

Oh no... No need to shim it. It's TOO much. lol.

Apotack · Mar 11, 2022

Use a different type of clamp?

Snoopy 67 · Mar 11, 2022

I would use a support, BUT to reduce any vibration issues I would use a piece of Silicone hose from the pump to the piping. By doing this you can move the pipe closer to the wall.

workhz · Mar 11, 2022

i'd just screw in a little mini ledge for the pipe to sit on with rubber padding.

DocRose · Mar 11, 2022

Apotack said:
Use a different type of clamp?

Can't find one with a smaller profile foot.

workhz said:
i'd just screw in a little mini ledge for the pipe to sit on with rubber padding.

Why the rubber padding?

Snoopy 67 said:
I would use a support, BUT to reduce any vibration issues I would use a piece of Silicone hose from the pump to the piping. By doing this you can move the pipe closer to the wall.

Well, yeah. If I used vinyl tubing I could have it completely flush with the wall. That's how the actual Red Sea tanks are designed. I wanted this one hard plumbed though. I've done my tanks in the past with vinyl, but I wanted to give a hard plumbed return a shot.

PanhandleReef · Mar 11, 2022

How about a J-Hook style?

SteveMM62Reef · Mar 11, 2022

Go to the Electrical section of your Hardware and get a Clamp for PVC Conduit. Another option would be their Hardware Assortment bins, and get a Nylon Hanger Strap.

DocRose · Mar 11, 2022

SteveMM62Reef said:
Go to the Electrical section of your Hardware and get a Clamp for PVC Conduit.

Yeah that's exactly what's in the picture. A PVC conduit clamp.

SteveMM62Reef said:
Another option would be their Hardware Assortment bins, and get a Nylon Hanger Strap.

I thought about using those cuttable straps that you screw in, but they're so ugly. I think I will go with @workhz idea and use a small piece of wood (painted black) to make a sort of ledge for the pipe to sit on.

SteveMM62Reef · Mar 11, 2022

They have ones, that hold the pipe side against the wall. Two screws into the wall and your done. The other ones are Black or Clear Nylon and use one screw.

workhz · Mar 11, 2022

It could be a piece of plastic you just screw in. Anything really just to give the pipe some support. It could be a gummy bear. A door stop. A rubber bouncy ball. Anything your imagination can dream up.

Snoopy 67 · Mar 11, 2022

A regular Clic Clamp has a threaded hole in the back for threaded rod for a standoff.

thatmanMIKEson · Mar 11, 2022

DocRose said:
45's would make the problem worse. I DON'T want the pipe at an angle. I want it parallel with the wall its running along. So my question is can I get away with not using the support clamp. I'm thinking that because the pipe is secured at the pump, as well as the connection to the pipe that leads back up to the tank, and the fact that it's such a short run of piping, that support isn't necessary.

In the trade, good rule of thumb is to always support pipe if you can.

thatmanMIKEson · Mar 11, 2022

workhz said:
It could be a piece of plastic you just screw in. Anything really just to give the pipe some support. It could be a gummy bear. A door stop. A rubber bouncy ball. Anything your imagination can dream up.

Gummy bears hold to 10 foot pounds or 15lbs per bear evenly spaced.

DocRose · Apr 8, 2022

SteveMM62Reef said:
They have ones, that hold the pipe side against the wall. Two screws into the wall and your done. The other ones are Black or Clear Nylon and use one screw.

So I tried using the one on the left, but because of the elbows at either end of the pipe, the pipe is too far from the wall for the screw holes to lay flush with the wall. And if I push it hard to make them touch it’s putting strain on the connections (and will likely just strip the screw out of the hole over time).

I haven’t been able to find the one on the right.

I was thinking of just using the one on the left, but oversized. As in using a 1” clamp on 3/4” pipe. That way the ends touch the wall. The only catch is that the pipe will be laying against the clamp instead of fully supported by it.

Thoughts?