Overflow plumbing.

[jerseypete]

just about finished my tank plumbing. Im wondering should the plumbing parts in the overflow be glued. Im assuming the return line should be. Should the drain pipes be.

 

[shovelrider]

I glue all joints that are not directly over the sump. Joints over the sump can leak a little and cause no issues but salt creep on the pipes. However, for the non glued joints you should push them in tightly.
Good luck!

 

[Barky]

inside the sump no for cleaning purpose or if you want to change it later.

 

[jerseypete]

My question is the parts in the overflow inside the display tank.

 

[zemuss]

Jerseypete,

In my over flow I don't have any pipes glued. This is so that I can pull them out and clean them.

All other joints for the return is glued and I use unions to be able to remove the return for cleaning.

 

[AZDesertRat]

I always recommend using threaded fittings so it can be disassembled and cleaned as needed. The Stockman standpipe cap slips on the standpipe so again it can come off and be cleaned and a Fluval brush can be run down the standpipe to clean it out inside where it leads down to the sump.

In this Sticky Post I discuss not only bulkheads but also threaded fittings, unions, thread sealants and such too:
https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/eq...iltration/34973-installing-bulkhead-tips.html

 

[Jimbo662]

+1 on what zemuss and AZ said. On my return that's sticking up in the overflow box I glued a threaded pvc adapter to the stand pipe and got a thread ended loc line piece to screw them together.

 

[mfinn]

I do not glue the drain line inside the overflow box.

 

[jerseypete]

Thanks guys im going to leave everything unglued except the line lock return. Ill leave the pipe to the bulkhead unglued. I have a spare that will be easy to replace and ill always have a clean one on hand

 

[jerseypete]

Dont know why it posted upside down. Almost ready for water.

 

[jerseypete]

Well i just filled the tank and started everything up. The overflow is dead silent. Worked great. Only sound is a slight hum from the return pump. I can live with that. Rock is just placed in tank. Still have to place it where i want. Was cycling for 5 months in a rubbermaid. All parm. Perfect. Phosphate at 0. Water already starting to clear up. Rinsed the sand for hours. Im happy. Have 2 small leaks that i will take care of tomorrow. One valve and fitting to bulkhead on refuge. Maybe one drip every 20 min. Dry before the next drip.

 

[Rjramos]

I like to use a threaded bulkhead for the standpipe at the bottom of the overflow. Attach a male adapter at the end of the standpipe and screw it into the bulkhead with teflon tape. A union can be used above this point if you ever want to take out the standpipe for cleaning. The problem with not glueing when using a slip type bulkhead is that when the pump is off (i.e. water changes, or power outages) water will slowly leak at the bottom of the overflow through the unglued pipe going into the bulkhead. If the sump below can handle the full volume of the overflow then you got no problem. If it cant take this additional volume then your sump will overflow. Hope you understand and this helps.

 

[jerseypete]

Thanks. I think the sump can prob handle it. I have check valves on the return. The sump runs at about 50 % volume. Plus the bottom of the stand has a pan that can hold another 5 gallons. Maybe something ill look at changing in the future but for now i think ill leave it.

 

[jerseypete]

Never thought of putting a uniin it the overflow.

 

[jerseypete]

Union