The plumbing problem

[Rob Top]

Algebra was never my strong point and figureing head loss is killing me. In a nut shell I know that 2-45's cause less head loss than 1 90. Not by much but when you are looking at 56 elbows it does add up. So I go with 112 45's to save 1.12 feet of head. Doesn't seem worth it really. So what about sweeps? Not in Escobal's book that I can find. I am now thinking flex line. I would eleminate over 100 fittings with flex line. That's 200 fewwer places to worry about a leak. That is starting to make a lot of since to me. Anyone agree?

 

[Len]

I'd do flex line if I was in your position. Frankly, while I like hard plumbing and acknowledge it's strong suits, I think flexible plumbing is way under-appreciated.

 

[Anonymous]

56 elbows on one line? ummm.. WTF ARE YOU DOING!?

 

[bleedingthought]

I am now thinking flex line. I would eleminate over 100 fittings with flex line. That's 200 fewwer places to worry about a leak. That is starting to make a lot of since to me. Anyone agree?

Do it!

 

[Rob Top]

It starts as a dart, then to a custom OM 2 way. The outlets are 1.5" Which each side will go into a manifold that breaks it down to 6 .5 outlet. So now I'm at 12 lines. From the left side of the
OM 2 lines will go RT and 4 left. The same 2:4 set up for the RT side. Then getting these 12 lines into the tank+56 elbows.

 

[das75]

Had some tight sections on my tank where one piece of flex was able to eliminate 4 or 5 fittings. Difficult to measure plus blow one joint when gluing a fitting I would have been hooped so went flex.

 

[trigger0214]

Check out the one inch PVC flex for hot tubs at Lowes....it's flexible and you can still glue it to standard one inch PVC fittings withthe standard primer and glue......love that stuff!

Course...I hard pipe nothing as I never know if I want to move someting a half inch or so....which I do all the time. Blame it one the ADD.

 

[Rob Top]

As I map out the plumbing again and again something accured to me. I am taking a 1.5" pipe into the custom OM which will make it two 1.5 pumps. Then taking each 1.5 down to 6 1/2" pipes total 12 lines with all the fittings and reduced flow as such. Of these lines there is only 4 places they are going. 2 to the bottom of each side and 4 to the top of each side. Splitting the line like this is stupid. If I go with 1.5 wyes and split the line so that 1 goes to the bottom of each side and 1 goes to the top of each side. I loose less head, have less plumbing and accomplish the same thing. Hopefully I'll be doing this plumbing in the next week or so. As soon as the body to my OM arrives. I'll post pics then