Today I managed to get some more done on the build. I glued the plumbing that I had dry fit for the return over the tank. This went pretty well but I was reminded how rarely I do plumbing by how many times I had to fix little errors. It looks the same as above, just glued.
I also got to working on my water change station. Everything is dry fit (that's why it's looking a little off for fit, since the glue will allow the plumbing to sink a little further in each fitting than dry)
Here's a picture.
The way that I've got it set up, I will be able to the do the following by select turns on the ball valves:
A) Transfer water between the fresh and salt tanks (right and left respectively)
B) Circulate the salt water tank (the pipe going up will enter a bulkhead on the top edge of the tank for this)
C) Complete a water change to my sump located on the bench to the left. (this pipe has not been completed yet but will be shortly)
D) Empty either or both tanks via the pump
E) Empty either tank via gravity.
The ABS pipe you see to the right is a drain that I will hook things up to for emptying via the pump.
The pump is a Blowhole 1450 so it will have plenty of power to do what I need it to. It's never been used yet but Reeflo already sent me the replacement bearing assembly that they've been updating these units with.
I am having a problem that I need advice on though. Here is another picture of my plumbing below my overflow.
I have since moved the large 2" pipe in the foreground to the rear 2" outlet but for the purposes of my question, this won't matter as I'm only focused on the 1 1/2" pipes for the overflow.
My issue is that my three bulkheads are thread on the bottom, into which I put a MPT/slip adapter. Below that I was planning on a pipe to lead to the union on two of the pipes and a Gate valve then union on the other one. How do I put this plumbing together as even with a union, the slip fittings on top and bottom don't allow me to get the pipe high enough to get into the fitting and then align with the union? I know this may not make sense but basically, I need to slip up and slip down...but how to do both?
I'm hoping this is just a brain fart and that I'm missing something obvious.