Do I thighten them all the way?

Dtfnemo · May 13, 2018

Plumbing question here, do I need to thight this things all the way in? They are pretty hard I don' want to break them.

Thank you!

P-Dub · May 13, 2018

Teflon tape them with ~ 6 turns of tape and turn by hand till you cannot tighten anymore, then an additional 1/4 to 1/2 turn with a tool should do. Always test with pressure (if on a pump) prior to relying on it to be leak free. Hopefully, you place unions so this task is possible.

Dtfnemo · May 13, 2018

P-Dub said:
Teflon tape them with ~ 6 turns of tape and turn by hand till you cannot tighten anymore, then an additional 1/4 to 1/2 turn with a tool should do. Always test with pressure (if on a pump) prior to relying on it to be leak free. Hopefully, you place unions so this task is possible.

Thank you, they feel supper tight, I'm trying to dry fit everything now any advice is well appeciated

Dtfnemo · May 13, 2018

That's what I have so far, any advice?

Velcro · May 13, 2018

Don't tighten without Teflon tape

Dtfnemo · May 15, 2018

Velcro said:
Don't tighten without Teflon tape

Any Teflon should do right, I see a couple of different ones out there

5altkreep · May 15, 2018

Teflon tape is intended for metal fittings, not PVC. Any home improvement store should have the correct PVC sealing compound.

Dtfnemo · May 15, 2018

5altkreep said:
Teflon tape is intended for metal fittings, not PVC. Any home improvement store should have the correct PVC sealing compound.

Did not know that tank you! Any that you are familiar that is reef safe?

bobman · May 15, 2018

I use aquarium silicone on all threaded joints. Works great and easy to remove later.

JoshH · May 15, 2018

Deleted

mfinn · May 15, 2018

Dtfnemo said:
Did not know that tank you! Any that you are familiar that is reef safe?

https://www.amazon.com/Plasto-Joint...1526432548&sr=8-7&keywords=pvc+thread+sealant

bobman · May 15, 2018

As far as advise you might want to do something with the tee off the red pipe or water will go everywhere

Dtfnemo · May 15, 2018

bobman said:
As far as advise you might want to do something with the tee off the red pipe or water will go everywhere

Lol something like this?

Dtfnemo · May 15, 2018

Thank you everyone for the I put, I see a lot of people puttng Teflon on pvc with no negative effect same as sealant. But I'm thinking silicone to be able to remove and reuse later

mfinn · May 15, 2018

Dtfnemo said:
Thank you everyone for the I put, I see a lot of people puttng Teflon on pvc with no negative effect same as sealant. But I'm thinking silicone to be able to remove and reuse later

I have had a pvc fitting split because I used tape. Whether it was because it was too much tape or I over tightened it, didn't really matter when I got up for work and there was about 70 gallons of saltwater on my kitchen and dinning room, and living room floor.
The fitting that split was the first one out of a closed loop pump and it split sometime after I went to bed.
It may not happen often, but it can happen.
I went to a thread paste after that and then when the plasto joint compound came around I used it after that.
You can use what ever you want, but why not use something that was designed for that purpose?

mfinn · May 15, 2018

Dtfnemo said:
Thank you everyone for the I put, I see a lot of people puttng Teflon on pvc with no negative effect same as sealant. But I'm thinking silicone to be able to remove and reuse later

And just because no one else posted they didn't have a issue with tape doesn't mean it hasn't happened.

Dtfnemo · May 15, 2018

mfinn said:
And just because no one else posted they didn't have a issue with tape doesn't mean it hasn't happened.

That is so true!! It only makes sense to use what was designed for that purpose!!!
Sorry to heard that about the leak most be horrible to wake up to that
Thank you for your input it really makes me think that it's not worth to rush this build

Gnomy · May 15, 2018

I use Teflon on PVC daily as an irrigation tech. Splits are from overtightening. Teflon is easier to use than silicone and plumbers paste and cleans up way easier. As too whether or not it is reef safe, I couldn't say. Best bet is solvents and unions.