Plumbing, A few new Questions

[GreenSpottedPuffer]

Originally Posted by Jason McK

Yes I agree I would have an acrylic over flow box built around your overflow drains. (I think OA can do this for you)

something to consider. The stand seems fairly low. you may find you have difficulty finding things hat can fit under it, Like a skimmer. I know you have invested a lot of time into the stand but I would raise it. It could also just be the perspective of the image.


As for sump/Fug I would baffle the refugium so that water from the overflow drains into the baffle then through the Fug then into the sump and returned to the tank. This will elliminate any bubbles returning to the main tank. Also you will not have to worry about the return pump sucking anything from the Fug into the display or clogging the return pump

J

The stand is fairly low at just a few inches over 2 feet. The thing that makes it look very low, is the tank. Because its only 18" tall. Makes the stand look even lower. I may raise it a bit though. The skimmer Im using is 2 feet with the collection cup, so not much room really.

I like your fuge/sump idea. I am using a external return pump which could be plumbed after the sump. I think that would be the best way to go. Have any of you ever plumbed rubbermaids together? I may just end up going with tanks...I have heard of people plumbing rubbermaids but never really seen it. Would it just be the same as plumbing (connecting) two glass tanks together.

[GreenSpottedPuffer]

So, I think to make life a bit easier, I will use the end holes for the overflow and return. I have a few more questions...Bare with me, these questions are probably stupid and simple but I have never done this before...

1. These are 2" bulkheads, what size PVC should I be plumbing the drain line with and will 2" bulkheads not be a bit much flow draining from a 115G tank? What about PVC size for building the standpipes? (I have never built them before). I have a whole bunch of 2" and 1.5" PVC that I would like to try to use if possible.

2. What is a better option than a durso standpipe? I have used them before and they were still a bit loud...maybe built wrong though?

3. I know acrylic does not bond to glass well at all. What do most of you do to solve this problem if you build an acrylic overflow? I guess its not really being used under pressure and the "suction" from the water flowing over it, may help keep it in place? Sorry if that sounds like a stupid question

4. What about painting the acrylic overflow? I would rather use the acrylic I have than buy black stuff. Are there any paints that are safe INSIDE the tank?

5. Same question are earlier, what about plumbing rubbermaid type containers together? How well does this work? I would need to connect them...

6. Whats the best spot in Vancouver to buy plumbing supplies? I have had a hard time finding any 2" bulkheads or anything for 2" PVC. I have a bunch of 2" PVC and would like to use it but can't find elbows, unions, valves, ect. in that size...only abs stuff.

I think I will draw a few of the plans up soon and that may help you guys help me

Thanks for your help though!

[Jason McK]

Originally Posted by GreenSpottedPuffer

So, I think to make life a bit easier, I will use the end holes for the overflow and return. I have a few more questions...Bare with me, these questions are probably stupid and simple but I have never done this before...

1. These are 2" bulkheads, what size PVC should I be plumbing the drain line with and will 2" bulkheads not be a bit much flow draining from a 115G tank? What about PVC size for building the standpipes? (I have never built them before). I have a whole bunch of 2" and 1.5" PVC that I would like to try to use if possible.

you must alway build a stand pipe or Durso 1/4" bigger than the bulkhead. But you can get around this by building a 2 inch Durso and then after the bulk head redoes the PVC size to 1 1/2 (1 3/4 is hard to find)

Originally Posted by GreenSpottedPuffer

2. What is a better option than a durso standpipe? I have used them before and they were still a bit loud...maybe built wrong though?

Mine have always been dead silent. A lot depends on height or the Derso

Originally Posted by GreenSpottedPuffer

3. I know acrylic does not bond to glass well at all. What do most of you do to solve this problem if you build an acrylic overflow? I guess its not really being used under pressure and the "suction" from the water flowing over it, may help keep it in place? Sorry if that sounds like a stupid question

Silicone made for Aquariums you can get large tubes of it at OA and hidden reef

Originally Posted by GreenSpottedPuffer

4. What about painting the acrylic overflow? I would rather use the acrylic I have than buy black stuff. Are there any paints that are safe INSIDE the tank?

I would just buy the black stuff

Originally Posted by GreenSpottedPuffer

5. Same question are earlier, what about plumbing rubbermaid type containers together? How well does this work? I would need to connect them...

I've seen a lot of them. they work well. You just have to make sure the bulkhead is sealed well.

Originally Posted by GreenSpottedPuffer

6. Whats the best spot in Vancouver to buy plumbing supplies? I have had a hard time finding any 2" bulkheads or anything for 2" PVC. I have a bunch of 2" PVC and would like to use it but can't find elbows, unions, valves, ect. in that size...only abs stuff.

Terasen (but it's not called that anymore) on River Road behind Richmond Home Depot

Originally Posted by GreenSpottedPuffer

I think I will draw a few of the plans up soon and that may help you guys help me

Thanks for your help though!

Hope I've helped I'm sure you'll get more responses

J

[GreenSpottedPuffer]

Yes that helps. Im still a bit confused though about the standpipe thing. Do you mean, I can build it with 2" PVC and then after the bulkhead reduce down to 1 1/2" PVC for the rest of the return? I thought the durso always had to be bigger than the bulkhead for some reason...

[GreenSpottedPuffer]

Anyone also have a good link to a thread or site that really shows plumbing step by step? I know all plumbing if different but I really would like to see it done step by step. Even stuff like building the standpipes...I know they are simple but again, I have never done it.

[mark]

comment about the Dursos.

I read as well that you should go up one size but my experience it's not required with the larger pipe size.

I'm running 2-2" threaded bulkhead with Dursos and they are both silent and I'm splitting probably 1000gph between them.

To make, just threaded a 2" TA into the bulkhead and built up from there staying with 2". The only mod I did was because of limited space in the overflow towers using 2", and since couldn't find a 2" street elbow, was to basically make one by cutting the 90 and Tee back before coupling.

[GreenSpottedPuffer]

Ok that helps, thanks. Is your overflow acrylic with black egg crate? That looks like how I might be doing mine.

Another thing Im wondering about, is my skimmer. Its a PM Bullet 2. I would prefer to have it in-line and not in the sump. Is this possible? I feel like an idiot asking but I have no idea??? If I did put it in-line, where "in-line" would you recommend and how is it done?

I know a lot of my questions are pretty basic but you guys are helping so much! I really want to get as much done this weekend as possible but have been really stuck

[spoot]

Originally Posted by GreenSpottedPuffer

Ok that helps, thanks. Is your overflow acrylic with black egg crate? That looks like how I might be doing mine.

Another thing Im wondering about, is my skimmer. Its a PM Bullet 2. I would prefer to have it in-line and not in the sump. Is this possible? I feel like an idiot asking but I have no idea??? If I did put it in-line, where "in-line" would you recommend and how is it done?

I know a lot of my questions are pretty basic but you guys are helping so much! I really want to get as much done this weekend as possible but have been really stuck

GSP, the PM bullet 2 can run external, but I'm not sure about inline. I have the bullet 3 for my ceylons' 120g. The guy I purchased it from had the pump fed from a section of his sump that tank water overflowed into. The skimmed water would then drain into the return chamber to be pumped back up into the tank. His overflow gph was higher than the skimmer pump GPH so he did not have to worry about it running dry.

When I eventually hook up my skimmer, it will be in a recirculating fashion. My over flow will be less than half of the GPH of my skimmer pump, so my skimmer will drain into the same chamber as the pump intake.

Not sure if this makes sense. It's a little late and I'm lacked of sleep.

[mark]

Always a good link http://www.melevsreef.com/links.html

The standpipe http://www.dursostandpipes.com/

Lots of pictures of plumbing , including CL http://www.oceansmotions.com/forum/v...87fe9e5e1657cf

And for options for standpipe, do a search here for Herbie, haven't actually seen or heard one but understand they're good.

[mark]

my overflows are glass covered with 1/8" or thinner black acyclic sheet