gluing PVC into running setup

[Skimmerking]

Originally Posted by Aquattro

I've done the same thing, left it a couple minutes and started the water back up. No issues.

Plus 1here

[lastlight]

All I have here is the primer and glue. Did any of you use that or everyone had the primer free method? I don't mind making a trip to get some. Thx!

[Aquattro]

Honestly, I've never used primer in PVC.

[The Guy]

Originally Posted by Aquattro

Honestly, I've never used primer in PVC.

Ya I never have either, but when I was talking to an electrician friend of mine who works at Home Depot he told me about this glue I use now. I would just use what you have without the primer, I've done it lots of times, should be fine, up to you.

[craigwmiller]

For things dealing with higher pressure, I personally would recommend primer.

Higher pressure in our setups would be a closed loop (weight of the water of the entire tank pushing on the loop plumbing). A return is *high* pressure, but if it's not restricted (smaller output than the pump's output) it's not really that high of a pressure.

When it comes to Flex, I use Rain-R-Shine, and only use primer on the hard pvc fittings - the Flex just gets the glue (flex needs to be wiped clean with a clean rag first though)


....I just re-plumped the return to my closed loop this morning in fact, and waited a cool 10 minutes until the valves were opened again and the pressure applied to the new joints, no issues

[The Codfather]

During the extrusion process, a waxy layer is brought to the surface of the tube. The primer, dissolves this wax, so when I apply the glue, it is bonding the plastics together. On a non pressure application this step is not a big deal and is often skipped. On larger, high pressure application, the use of a primer is a must.
Although I wouldnt consider our tank a high pressure situation, we do have to take into acount head pressure that may be above the joint.
Just my 2 cents, been working around this stuff for the last 20 years or so...