Threaded vs Slip?
- Thread starter Be102
- Start date
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what’s funny is someone who supports an industry that helps destroy our reefs judges someone for maybe, potentially wasting a piece of pvc IF it needs to be cut off. How bout the leftover silicone you won’t use? Or the plastic tube it comes in? How many water changes you do? How bout if I take a shower only once a week to compensate?
Silicone will reduce friction and encourage over tightening. Which is exactly the most important property a pvc thread sealant should not have.
Do not mix threaded pvc schedule 40 with threaded pvc schedule 80. But slip to slip is fine. And a slip joint is easier and more water tight for novice or pro alike
JoshH
Tank Status: Wet...ish, growing things....
I second the no silicone in thread's for the reasons above, can it be done, definitely. But there are appropriate thread sealants for PVC thread that aren't expensive and as long as you keep the lid clean and tight you can use the same can till you run out.
chipmunkofdoom2
Always Making Something
If you do threaded fittings right, they won't leak. I work part time at the National Aquarium in Baltimore and we use threaded fittings everywhere. We use them on drains, on pumps, on pressure lines, etc. Very rarely do we seal them with thread paste or silicone. The last time I remember using silicone paste was on 6" threaded end caps on custom reactors. In almost all cases, we seal threads with plain old Teflon tape. I've seen pressure threads up to 3 inches taped... no leaks.
Is it the "right" way to do it? Not sure. All I know is we do it all the time with no leaks and no issues.
Is it the "right" way to do it? Not sure. All I know is we do it all the time with no leaks and no issues.
chipmunkofdoom2
Always Making Something
Yes, I was quite surprised when I first started there and I saw so many taped threaded joints. Now I'm quite surprised when we actually use thread sealant on threaded fittings. I have never seen a leaking or cracked threaded fitting during my time there. Maybe it's because we tape them properly, maybe it's because we don't over-tighten them. I'm not sure. They just seem to work, despite the hobby being so vehemently against taped threads.
JoshH
Tank Status: Wet...ish, growing things....
My life reef came with tape as well but no instructions lol I went with the sealant and it worked just fine. I believe the real issue is people using too much tape which makes it REALLY easy to overtighten the threads. Where as with the sealant it's pretty hard to overtighten
Smo
Well-Known Member
I’ve had great results using Plasto-Joint Stik on my threaded fittings. You can find it on eBay.
Ferrell
Valuable Member
Still in the process of plumbing my 75 and used all slip with unions, with the exception of the $58 gate valve which I used threaded. I installed plenty of unions but wanted the ability to 100% salvage that valve if need be. Fortunately so far only blown two elbows. Cheap price to pay. Good luck
Saltwaterwannabe
New Member
With one exception I have never had a threaded connection leak. I was able to undo the connection, retape, and reconnect to fix. The leak was very slow. I use teflon tape with 2 to 4 wraps placed smoothly over to make one line around the threads that is one tape width wide. I do not spread the wrap accross the threads and it must be flat as it is wrapped.
The number of wraps I use is generally based on pipe size. My goal is as many wraps as possible while still being able to tighten the fitting. Threaded costs a bit more up front and can lead to less flow. Flow loss is generally negligible as long as the fitting is tightened to the point that little to know threads are exposed to water flow inside the fitting. I oversize pipes anyway so there is virtually no headloss from pipe and fittings.
Nothing wrong with slip connections and slip is considered a better permanent conneection that is cheaper than threaded on a one time cost. I like the ability to easily modify without tossing assemblies of glued pipe.
The number of wraps I use is generally based on pipe size. My goal is as many wraps as possible while still being able to tighten the fitting. Threaded costs a bit more up front and can lead to less flow. Flow loss is generally negligible as long as the fitting is tightened to the point that little to know threads are exposed to water flow inside the fitting. I oversize pipes anyway so there is virtually no headloss from pipe and fittings.
Nothing wrong with slip connections and slip is considered a better permanent conneection that is cheaper than threaded on a one time cost. I like the ability to easily modify without tossing assemblies of glued pipe.
john.m.cole3
cyclOps
thread x thread for all bulkheads, get the scedule PVC ones and they can be re-used forever. Also threaded valves of any kind also to use them later down the road.
