Waterbox 135.4 plumbing mods

[Mike Arnold]

I Noticed that the Waterbox Pro series has a gate valve for flow control and a manifold on the return, so I emailed support and asked if I could purchase and upgraded plumbing kit for my 135.4; unfortunately they don’t sell plumbing kits (that would be too easy)

I’m trying to find the parts to build the kit myself but I need some help identifying the parts and finding somewhere to purchase them.

Can someone tell me what the part circled in red is called and where I can purchase a couple of 32mm and a 25mm union

It looks like this company has the parts and I really would like that 32mm to 1” adapter, but I can’t figure out the proper direction of the adapter. I need the 1” on the male side

https://flexpvc.com/cart/agora.cgi?p=PVC-Fittings-Metric-Adapters&p_id=8697-032&xm=on&ppinc=detail

Any help or direction would be greatly appreciated. It’s taken me about 6 months to get this far and I’m getting a little anxious [emoji6]

 

[Mike Arnold]

Found it: PVC Bulk Head Metric Solvent Weld Thread Straight Thicken Fish Tank Fittings Plastic Pipe Connector 20mm/25mm/32mm/40mm/50mm

https://www.ebay.com/itm/BulkHead-T...tor-20-25-32-40-50mm-Waterproof-/201974736455

 

[kgk]

My experiences with manifolds haven’t been great, for a variety of reasons. Biggest being that any change on the system has waterfall effects other places... I personally leave the return simple and then use small pumps to drive other equipment, or gang them on a single pump.

Once you get the herbie drain plumbed on that water box, you won’t want to mess with it again.... and changing flow rates will have you tuning it constantly.

A gate valve on the siphon drain would be awesome, though.

 

[Mike Arnold]

My experiences with manifolds haven’t been great, for a variety of reasons. Biggest being that any change on the system has waterfall effects other places... I personally leave the return simple and then use small pumps to drive other equipment, or gang them on a single pump.

Once you get the herbie drain plumbed on that water box, you won’t want to mess with it again.... and changing flow rates will have you tuning it constantly.

A gate valve on the siphon drain would be awesome, though.

Thanks for another perspective. I haven't even considered the herbie overflow. My previous tank just had a single durso stand pipe. I'm only considering the manifold to add some flow to the ATO reservoir to be used as a refugium, so the adjustment should be minimal. This may take some additional thought though.

 

[kgk]

Thanks for another perspective. I haven't even considered the herbie overflow. My previous tank just had a single durso stand pipe. I'm only considering the manifold to add some flow to the ATO reservoir to be used as a refugium, so the adjustment should be minimal. This may take some additional thought though.

Yeah, manifolds are fine with standpipes. The Herbie & Bean Animal being quiet depend on tuning the siphon drain flow with the return flow to a specific point. If the return flow changes, that throws off the balance and you end up with a noisy drain that you have to futz with.

I'm still trying to dial in the flow balance on my 75.2, and it's basically the same setup. The ball valve sucks; it's hard to make small adjustments. I wish I could get a siphon downpipe from their newer tanks to install with the gate valve. I'm really close right now, but the drain is JUST a smidge low & I know I can get it quieter... but as soon as I touch it, it'll be out of whack & I'll be adjusting the flow with the return pump again.... it's a circle. Patience is a virtue.

 

[Mike Arnold]

I'm really struggling trying to get the metric pluming parts that I need. I can't seem to find any U.S. based companies that sell the parts that I need; I don't really want to order from over seas if I can help it. I need some bulkheads (BulkHead To Aquarium Marine Pipe Fitting Connector 20/25/32/40/50mm Waterproof) and some 25mm pipe. I'll convert from metric to Us/Imperial once I get the bulkheads installed. Does anyone have any recommendations for U.S. based companies that fill online orders of metric plumbing supplies?

 

[JoshH]

I'm really struggling trying to get the metric pluming parts that I need. I can't seem to find any U.S. based companies that sell the parts that I need; I don't really want to order from over seas if I can help it. I need some bulkheads (BulkHead To Aquarium Marine Pipe Fitting Connector 20/25/32/40/50mm Waterproof) and some 25mm pipe. I'll convert from metric to Us/Imperial once I get the bulkheads installed. Does anyone have any recommendations for U.S. based companies that fill online orders of metric plumbing supplies?

Flex PVC that you've noted above is the only company that I've ever seen carry anything metric other than the straight adapters.

The pipe you circled in red is that the return you would like to modify? Most people just keep the metric plumbing down to the bulkhead, cut the pipe after the bulkhead and install the standard adapter at that point Then add unions after that.

 

[bcarl77]

How did this turn out for you? I want to do the same thing to mine. One thing I am considering is adding a second gate valve after the waterbox one by converting the plumbing to english after the original ball valve. Will that work? Curious to see how you did it...

 

[Hurdbird88]

This is my 130.4 converted to standard plumbing. Go to coralvue and get one 25mm and two 32mm unions and use only the bottom half of the union and connect directly to Waterbox metric unions below bulkheads and then buy the metric to standard conversion fittings from BRS and then you can plumb it however you want.

 

[Hurdbird88]

This is my 130.4 converted to standard plumbing. Go to coralvue and get one 25mm and two 32mm unions and use only the bottom half of the union and connect directly to Waterbox metric unions below bulkheads and then buy the metric to standard conversion fittings from BRS and then you can plumb it however you want.

The metric to standard conversion fittings won’t from flex pvc wont work with the Waterbox unions.

 

[bcarl77]

I have the 135.4 model. I want to change the bottom side but that is the side with the o Ring and the threads are on the other side. Would I be able to flip it and will it work?

 

[Mike Arnold]

It looks like the 130.4 uses standard unions, and therefore much easier to replace or customize; like hurdbird88 said, the 135.4 uses non standard unions that I haven’t been able to find yet. I’m going to keep the default waterbox 135.5 overflow plumbing for now. I’m working on modifying the return plumbing to add a manifold; here’s a thread that I started in the Waterbox forum:

https://www.reef2reef.com/index.php?threads/Waterbox.-Bulkheads.607293/

I ended up purchasing a 2 foot length of 25mm pipe from flexPVC. This will allow me to replumb the return

 

[Mike Arnold]

How did this turn out for you? I want to do the same thing to mine. One thing I am considering is adding a second gate valve after the waterbox one by converting the plumbing to english after the original ball valve. Will that work? Curious to see how you did it...

It looks like the 130.4 uses standard unions, and therefore much easier to replace or customize; like hurdbird88 said, the 135.4 uses non standard unions that I haven’t been able to find yet. I’m going to keep the default waterbox 135.5 overflow plumbing for now. I’m working on modifying the return plumbing to add a manifold; here’s a thread that I started in the Waterbox forum:

https://www.reef2reef.com/index.php?threads/Waterbox.-Bulkheads.607293/

I ended up purchasing a 2 foot length of 25mm pipe from flexPVC. This will allow me to replumb the return

 

[bcarl77]

Thanks, I will probably end up in the same spot. My main goal was to add a better gate valve, which I can achieve after the stock one. Do not want to start messing with the bulkheads.