O.C.'s Pellet questions and answers!

[burrows14]

what fittings and hose are people using to plumb the vertex uf-15 reactor? I cant seem to find the right size hose for it. Could some of you post pics on how yours is plumbed.

Cheers
Ray

[don.ald]

just so i have this correct, the pellet reactor goes into the sump chamber, where the skimmer is located? and Why?

[kien]

Originally Posted by burrows14

what fittings and hose are people using to plumb the vertex uf-15 reactor? I cant seem to find the right size hose for it. Could some of you post pics on how yours is plumbed.

Cheers
Ray

At first I plumbed my Vertex with flex hose and had to use a crap load of adapters. Plus the hoses ended up snaking around all over the place. Instead I ended up replumbing it with 1/2" sch 40 PVC.





It is possible to plumb with flex hose but you'll have to find the correct sizes depending on what pump you are using and what adapters you can locate.

[burrows14]

I would much rather hard plumb than so hose. I was told to clue the fittings tho so I guess im stuck going with soft plumbing

[kien]

Originally Posted by burrows14

I would much rather hard plumb than so hose. I was told to clue the fittings tho so I guess im stuck going with soft plumbing

the 1/2" PVC joints are all cemented/glued except for the sockets that go into the reactors unions. Those pieces are just wrapped with a bit of Teflon tape and shoved in for a snug fit. It is just like the barbbed fittin that it comes with , those aren't glued, they just sit in the socket.

[burrows14]

I glued tho barbed peices in to the unioin peice

[OceanicCorals-Ian-]

Originally Posted by burrows14

I glued tho barbed peices in to the unioin peice

I think I was the one that said to glue the fittings, if so I apologize if it was bad advice; however, this is the way I did it as mine is running externally, I would not trust Teflon if ran outside the sump. For internal Teflon could work.

Ian

[kien]

Originally Posted by OceanicCorals-Ian-

I think I was the one that said to glue the fittings, if so I apologize if it was bad advice; however, this is the way I did it as mine is running externally, I would not trust Teflon if ran outside the sump. For internal Teflon could work.

Ian

You bring up a good point about this reactor, something I wonderEd about myself. How many people glued that piece in?? I too found it strange at first that vertex didn't just have that piece glued from the factory. I decided in the end that if they didn't have it glued then I guess it was snug enough and didn't need glueing. So long as you are not putting preassure in the reactor by valving and blocking the output then I would guess you should be okay.. But that's just a guess and a gamble that I think a lot of people are taking.

[burrows14]

Originally Posted by OceanicCorals-Ian-

I think I was the one that said to glue the fittings, if so I apologize if it was bad advice; however, this is the way I did it as mine is running externally, I would not trust Teflon if ran outside the sump. For internal Teflon could work.

Ian

I will be running external also. I went to HD in south surrey with the barbed fitting and couldnt find any hose the would fit properly. Ill try another couple of places to see what I can find