Plumbing help

[reefiness]

So I'm going to be replumbing my tank with schedule 80 bulkheads some time this weekend. Currently I have the 1 inch bulkheads and 1" plumbing. With the schedule 80 I'm limited To 3/4" bulkheads. Trying to figure out if I should plumb everything in 3/4, or use the 1 inch to plumb and have a reducer going into the bulkhead. Or even just 1 inch going up to a tee where I will could start the 3/4" pipes running to the frag tank and display respectively. I'm thinking that last option may be my best bet.

What do you guys think?

 

[ourcoralreef]

Why are you limited to 3/4? bulkheads
Because of the outer diameter of the schedule80 pipe?
I would think it should be 1? no?

 

[reefiness]

Yeah it's the drilled holes for regular 1 inch bulkheads has the same outer diameter of the 3/4" schedule 80 bulkheads.

 

[ourcoralreef]

Why can you use regular bulkheads with schedule 80 pipe

 

[edd]

if anything you would want the 80 for bulkhead. but not needed.
schedual 40 is more than over kill, i dont see any need for 80, besides it looks nice.
i dont think its a good idea to reduce down to 3/4 if its your drains. that will reduce flow quit a bit, if just gravity.

 

[reefiness]

if anything you would want the 80 for bulkhead. but not needed.
schedual 40 is more than over kill, i dont see any need for 80, besides it looks nice.
i dont think its a good idea to reduce down to 3/4 if its your drains. that will reduce flow quit a bit, if just gravity.

the abs crap leaks on me every so often. so i figured its time to do a better job with the schedule 80. The return line is only gravity, im not so worried about the reduction, if anything I'll just reduce my return to the tank to compensate. I will likely use the same 1.5" pipe in the over flow that will reduce to the 3/4". currently reduces to 1".

 

[edd]

https://flexpvc.com/Reference/WaterFlowBasedOnPipeSize.shtml
heres a pipe flow chart, you would loose 300GPH with 3/4

 

[edd]

the abs crap leaks on me every so often. so i figured its time to do a better job with the schedule 80. The return line is only gravity, im not so worried about the reduction, if anything I'll just reduce my return to the tank to compensate. I will likely use the same 1.5" pipe in the over flow that will reduce to the 3/4". currently reduces to 1".

no ofence but you must be doing something wrong, them fittings dont leak without glue.
good luck

 

[theMeat]

Yeah , sch 80 on bulkheads much safer. Sch 40 on pipes is plenty.

But now you?re limited to 3/4. How big is tank?
How many drain pipes?
Reef ready?

 

[ourcoralreef]

Are your gaskets on the inside or outside
Where does it leak from

 

[samster]

3/4" drains for a 120g? How many drains? And reducing the drain might cause noise issues. You might be better just doing the complete drain in 3/4 piping instead of reducing it at the bulkhead. Regular sch40 bulkheads don't leak unless you touch them, don't have the plumbing, plumb and leveled, or their supporting the weight of the pipes.

 

[Juano908]

Are your gaskets on the inside or outside
Where does it leak from

+1 on the gaskets.


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[theMeat]

Personally, if it?s a rr 120g, would drill a 3rd hole in overflow box and do a herbie style overflow. You won?t limit your flow, and will be much quieter. Don?t think you will have adequate flow with one 3/4, and no wiggle room for any kinda blockage could end in flooding too.

Gasket on bulkhead goes on inside, and schedule 40 is weaker. For bulkhead sch 80 is always a better choice, For the rest of the plumbing sch 40 is more than enough. Tubing offers better flow but If you want to run pipe instead of tubing down to sump, would recommend a nipple out of bulkhead, then a small piece of tubing, then back to plumbing the rest of the way. This way any leverage that the plumbing offers when you lean or bump into it gets some flex in that piece of tubing, instead of putting that pressure on the weak spot which is the bulkhead.

 

[reefiness]

boy, lots of things to respond to.

So, yes i saw the 3/4" is limited to approximately 350 gph vs the 600+ gph of the 1" bulkhead which is going to suck.

About gasket, yes it is on the inside. To be honest, it was fine until I cut my plumbing in order to plumb in the new frag tank i installed in march of this year. When I cut through the pipe, I heard a crack and honestly thought I had cracked the glass of the tank because there was a bunch of water flowing from the bulkhead. After re-tightening the bulkhead I was able to stop the leaking for the most part, but i am still seeing salt creep build up in the area so i know theres still a minor leak. I have checked as best as I can to see if there is an actual crack in teh bulkhead, but it doesnt seem like it.

About drilling a 3rd hole in the bottom, totally out of the question. If anything, I would think about making the 2 holes in there already drains and just plumbing a return pump up around the back of the tank to come out on the right side which would also help increase flow throughout the tank.

The current setup I have with the 1.5" pipe reduced to the 1" bulkhead is what came with the system when I purchased it used. I have read a little that says that it causes more head pressure so forces more flow through the bulkhead, although im not so sure I believe it. One of the main reasons I would do the 1.5" down to the 3/4" with the new plumbing is just so I can reuse the length of tubing already there for the drain line.

Another possible option is to use the schedule 80 for the return line, but have the drain remain the 1" abs crap-o bulkhead.

 

[reefiness]

and yes schedule 40 is what im planning on using for everything else except for the bulkheads.

 

[samster]

i don't believe 1.5" reduced to 1" would give more head pressure, but instead apply back pressure or turbulence which can cause noise, a 120RR from manufacture only came with one 1" drain and one 1" return?

 

[reefiness]

Yup

 

[Alfredo De La Fe]

Search for the MACNA talk by Bill Wann on YouTube. Schedule 80 bulkheads are definitely better. He also gave an amazing tip on using pure silicone on the threads to avoid leaks. A million times better and easier than teflon tape.

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[samster]

Search for the MACNA talk by Bill Wann on YouTube. Schedule 80 bulkheads are definitely better. He also gave an amazing tip on using pure silicone on the threads to avoid leaks. A million times better and easier than teflon tape.

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No silicone or Teflon needed for bulkhead. sch 80 is a lot beefier, but you don't need it in a home aquarium unless you put your hands on the plumbing a lot. I also would go 3 drains if using 1" sch 40, 2 drains if 1.5", reducing 1 1" drain to 3/4" is a bit risky.

 

[Alfredo De La Fe]

Depends if the bulkhead is threaded. I have had leaks pop up at the threads after YEARS of use. Vibrations from the pumps eventually loosen them enough that they leak. I wish I could have changed my bulkheads to sch 80 on my new 80, but couldn't because of how they drilled the holes for the return line. It is so close to the drain that I couldn't get a sch 80 to fit.

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