Quick Overflow Connection question

fernalfer · Feb 3, 2016

I have a 120 gallon dual over flow tank. Now I have Bulkhead threaded flanges pic below:

What would be the best way to connect the PVC plumbing from the underside of tank coming out of the threaded piece? Is there an adapter that screws over it then another piece of PVC gets glued to that? Or do i slide a PVC piece inside that threaded piece?

redfishbluefish · Feb 3, 2016

Are they threaded both sides?

If this is a "conventional" overflow with durso type pipes, I prefer having slip joints on that side so that the stand pipe can easily be removed if needed. But that's just me. Let's get some other opinions [HASHTAG]#reefsquad[/HASHTAG] .

Jimbo662 · Feb 3, 2016

You'll need an adapter like this in the correct size for your bulkhead. I always add a union just below this then do all the plumbing. It makes it easier to disconnect and work on stuff or make changes to the plumbing if necessary.

http://www.lowes.com/pd_23904-1815-436020RMC_1z10xvn__?productId=3380940&pl=1

fernalfer · Feb 3, 2016

I'm sorry this is what the piece looks like going threw the drilled hole at bottom of tank. It is threaded into a barb. What is the best way to connect PVC to the for the drain and return?

Jimbo662 · Feb 3, 2016

Ah, that's designed to attach flexible tubing to. If you go with that make sure to get plastic hose clamps...not any type of metal...they' always get saltwater on them and corrode.

fernalfer · Feb 3, 2016

Jimbo662 said:
Ah, that's designed to attach flexible tubing to. If you go with that make sure to get plastic hose clamps...not any type of metal...they' always get saltwater on them and corrode.

Ok i don't want tubing. So do i buy new bulkhead fitting so i can go out PVC instead and if so do i buy something like in my first post. The pic i posted?

Jimbo662 · Feb 3, 2016

Yep, that's what you want to buy. Whether you go with threaded or slip on the bottom side is personal preference. I always do threaded so you can take it apart later if you want / need to make changes. If you use slip and glue the pvc pipe to it you can't undo it.

fernalfer · Feb 3, 2016

Jimbo662 said:
Yep, that's what you want to buy. Whether you go with threaded or slip on the bottom side is personal preference. I always do threaded so you can take it apart later if you want / need to make changes. If you use slip and glue the pvc pipe to it you can't undo it.

Thanks Jim So buy the bulkhead material in my first pic and fit that pic from lowes you sent me and thread that over the top, then add a union. Is there any places that i should look to buy those bulkhead pieces? Do local fish stores sell them? Also do you buy Unions from places like Home Depot or Lowes or buy the more expensive ones sold at reef stores

reefwiser · Feb 3, 2016

Get a threaded adapter piece. Not a fan of inside threaded bulkhead fittings. Always a chance of leak.

fernalfer · Feb 3, 2016

reefwiser said:
Get a threaded adapter piece. Not a fan of inside threaded bulkhead fittings. Always a chance of leak.

Chance you can post a pic or link of what your talking about. Sorry little noobish on this subject and just want to do it right.

Jimbo662 · Feb 3, 2016

You can get the bulkheads from some local fish stores or from BRS. I get all my pvc pieces from Lowes. Just seems like they've got a better selection and easier to find what you need. I don't have a good pic in my build thread of my plumbing. I'll take a pic this evening to show how I did mine.

reefwiser · Feb 3, 2016

Here is a 3/4 threaded to 3/4 slip fit connector.

If you go into Home Depot and take a bulkhead that you have in the will get you straight.

ReeferBob · Feb 3, 2016

HD usually doesn't have any bulkheads. I suggest Amazon. I also suggest a slip bulkhead and not threaded. Threaded leak, a lot. Then glue a short piece of PVC on the bulkhead like 6" and from there use a PVC Compression fitting to the rest of your plumbing.

fernalfer · Feb 3, 2016

ReeferBob said:
HD usually doesn't have any bulkheads. I suggest Amazon. I also suggest a slip bulkhead and not threaded. Threaded leak, a lot. Then glue a short piece of PVC on the bulkhead like 6" and from there use a PVC Compression fitting to the rest of your plumbing.

You use the PVC compression fitting so you can take apart the plumbing from that point instead of from the bulkhead if threaded was used. correct?

ReeferBob · Feb 3, 2016

fernalfer said:
You use the PVC compression fitting so you can take apart the plumbing from that point instead of from the bulkhead if threaded was used. correct?

Kind of. It specifically allows you to remove the slip bulkhead fitting without cutting the PVC pipe you glued to it. The best of both worlds - slip which doesn't leak and compression fitting which allows removal. But as a bonus, you also will be able to remove the plumbing since it acts like a union.

Again, get all parts from Amazon.

mcarroll · Feb 4, 2016

Amazon is great, but buy locally when you can....before you don't have the option any more.

Compression fittings are wicked expensive (6x the cost) compared to unions and...maybe significant only to me, YMMV...I've never heard of anyone using them before so I don't have any confidence in them by default. It's non-wet, but there is a metal part just like in the compression fittings our RO tubing uses....only this will obviously be around saltwater.

I think I'd prefer a standard union, if possible - even though it, or threaded adapters, have to be glued in permanently. Make your stubs off the bulkheads long enough to get a PVC cutter in and just cut them out if needed....THEN get a compression fitting for the repair...or a simple coupler fitting. (This situation should never happen until the tank is being taken down, so I dunno how much I'd be willing to worry about this....but I guess you never know.)

ReeferBob · Feb 4, 2016

mcarroll said:
Amazon is great, but buy locally when you can....before you don't have the option any more.

Compression fittings are wicked expensive (6x the cost) compared to unions and...maybe significant only to me, YMMV...I've never heard of anyone using them before so I don't have any confidence in them by default. It's non-wet, but there is a metal part just like in the compression fittings our RO tubing uses....only this will obviously be around saltwater.

I think I'd prefer a standard union, if possible - even though it, or threaded adapters, have to be glued in permanently. Make your stubs off the bulkheads long enough to get a PVC cutter in and just cut them out if needed....THEN get a compression fitting for the repair...or a simple coupler fitting. (This situation should never happen until the tank is being taken down, so I dunno how much I'd be willing to worry about this....but I guess you never know.)

I buy what I can locally, but HD has jack accept the standard 45s and straight pipe. No bulkheads, no compression fittings, no PVC gate valves, etc.

These are not expensive at all!

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000H5Q9BW?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_search_detailpage

They are 100% PVC - no metal at all. And I use them myself.....

fernalfer · Feb 4, 2016

ReeferBob said:
I buy what I can locally, but HD has jack accept the standard 45s and straight pipe. No bulkheads, no compression fittings, no PVC gate valves, etc.

These are not expensive at all!

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000H5Q9BW?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_search_detailpage

They are 100% PVC - no metal at all. And I use them myself.....

I like those couplings thanks.