What are your helpful plumbing hints?

[Curtswearing]

I most certainly am NOT a DIY genious. I found the following and thought it might be helpful while looking for plumbing parts.....

Slip x Slip - Used to join two pieces of PVC pipe together at 90 degrees.

Slip x FPT - Used to join PVC pipe to a male-threaded fitting at 90 degrees.

Slip x MPT - Used to join PVC pipe to a female-threaded fitting at 90 degrees.

FPT x MPT - Used to join a female-threaded PVC fitting to a male-threaded PVC fitting at 90 degrees.

FPT x FPT - Used to join a female-threaded PVC fitting to another female-threaded PVC fitting at 90 degrees.

FPT x Insert: Used to connect vinyl hose to a male thread PVC fitting.

FPT x Insert 90: Used to connect vinyl hose to a male thread PVC fitting where a 90 degree bend is necessary.

MPT x Insert: Used to connect vinyl hose to a female thread PVC fitting.

MPT x Insert 90: Used to connect vinyl hose to a female thread PVC fitting where a 90 degree bend is necessary.

PS....slip fittings need acrylic glue and threaded fixtures sometimes need teflon tape.

 

[reedman]

Nothing sharper than a 45 degree when ever possible.

Spa flex is your freind

threaded fittings seam like a great idea until they leak.

use the PVC primer. It's simple and works to give you a better seal

long straight runs of plumbing are good for flow. Your pumps will have a big smile!

Calculate the area of the pipe coming out of the pump and ensure that the total area of all of your outlets is greater than or equal to the outlet area of the pump. This will prevent back pressure on the pump and ensure a longer life for your pump.

Plan twice and install once. Plan your plumbing for minimal head loss, but also ensure that you can service your pumps easily. If it's difficult to remove and clean your pumps you wont do it.

 

[Zephrant]

I'm not quite following the "90 degrees" comments. A slip-slip fitting can be 180 degrees (called a Couple) or 90 degrees (called an Ell) or even a slip-slip-slip (Tee).

PVC slip fittings require PVC glue and primer. Acrylic glue should only be used in no-pressure applications like plumbing in to the side of a tube of a reactor.

I like to use silicon tank sealer for threaded fittings. Fast to apply, never leaks, and comes off easy if you need to disassemble the fitting. I like it better than Teflon tape (which likes to leak or weep) or Teflon paste (messy).

Zeph

 

[NaH2O]

Zeph, I was going to comment on using silicone, as well - instead of teflon tape. That's what we did for my tank.

Also, there is a plumbing part called a bushing, but if I needed to describe it - I'd probably get it wrong. It helped us take the 1-1/2" PVC down to the 3/4" bulkhead.

 

[Hooked]

long straight runs of plumbing are good for flow. Your pumps will have a big smile!

Absolutely!!!

If you must have a bend in the line on the intake side of the pump, makes sure it is at least a distance of 10 times the diameter of the pipe from the pump. (Lesson learned the hard way )

 

[zeltar]

I'm not quite following the "90 degrees" comments. A slip-slip fitting can be 180 degrees (called a Couple) or 90 degrees (called an Ell) or even a slip-slip-slip (Tee).

PVC slip fittings require PVC glue and primer. Acrylic glue should only be used in no-pressure applications like plumbing in to the side of a tube of a reactor.

I like to use silicon tank sealer for threaded fittings. Fast to apply, never leaks, and comes off easy if you need to disassemble the fitting. I like it better than Teflon tape (which likes to leak or weep) or Teflon paste (messy).

Zeph

Are you talking about regular old tank silicone for the threads?
Or do they make a special application for threaded fittings?
thanks

 

[Zephrant]

Nikki- Great minds.....

Yep bushings are great, I forgot to list them. They can adapt slip to thread, or change sizes of pipe (and adapt too).

I use regular old tank sealing silicon. They do make a gooey thread sealing silicon that should be fine too, but it does not cure.

The tank sealer cures. When you take it apart again it crumbles up. If you hit the fitting with an air blast from a compressor, it comes nearly completely clean. (Always clean it off and reapply the silicon if you take it apart.)

Zeph