Reef Tank Plumbing HELP!

[xbrentx]

I am new to the hobby, AND plumbing, and I need help PLEASE!

I picked up a 125 gallon that is pre-drilled at the bottom with 4 holes, it will have a 1" diameter once the bulkheads are on. There are no overflow walls, so I need to find a standpipe setup to drain that won't suck in all the fish. Can someone point me in the right direction?

 

[kschweer]

What I did when my tank was set up like that is used 1"PVC into the bulk head with a 90 to "point" the PVC to the top of the tank. I then used a 1" coupling on the end with a 1" strainer like this

Hope that makes sense. Ill look for some pictures of the setup tomorrow

 

[xbrentx]

YES! Great idea! The 90 degree keeps the water level high, and the head piece keeps fish out! I LOVE IT!!!

 

[Budman's Corals]

I am new to the hobby, AND plumbing, and I need help PLEASE!

I picked up a 125 gallon that is pre-drilled at the bottom with 4 holes, it will have a 1" diameter once the bulkheads are on. There are no overflow walls, so I need to find a standpipe setup to drain that won't suck in all the fish. Can someone point me in the right direction?

Plumbing - Bulk Reef Supply

 

[xbrentx]

I am from Canada so it may be a little harder to find stores that carry some of the more precise pieces like the return jet. Any ideas?

 

[xbrentx]

All the under tank plumbing is planned out, and I can get everything at a local hardware store like Rona or Home Depot. The drains are planned out now thanks to kschweer. All I need now is the return standpipe, can someone point me in the right direction, something I would be able to find locally.

 

[xbrentx]

I spoke with someone locally and they suggested locline since it can be flexed in directions of choice, this would simply be installed onto the PVC standpipe return, does that make sense to the pros out there?

 

[Alex27]

I spoke with someone locally and they suggested locline since it can be flexed in directions of choice, this would simply be installed onto the PVC standpipe return, does that make sense to the pros out there?

You can use the locline with a threaded 3/4" elbow. this should be perfect.

 

[xbrentx]

Thanks Alex, I will go check some Home depots for these parts, should work well.

 

[kschweer]

You can use the locline with a threaded 3/4" elbow. this should be perfect.

+1.

 

[Alex27]

I don't know if you have a lowes but they would more than likely have it. Welcome

 

[xbrentx]

I tried RONA and they don't have anything in 1 inch for PVC, I'm going to try Home Depot tonight, which should have it, and I'll try LOWE's if needed on Thursday.

 

[kschweer]

I'm not familiar with RONA, but Home Depot or Lowes should have what you need. If you're using 1" for the return stand pipe, you should get a 1" 90 and a 1" to 3/4" thread bushing so that you can attach the Loc Line

 

[xbrentx]

The holes are 1" 3/4 so the bulk heads I get on Thursday are threaded and have a 1" diameter space. I think I will have greater success at Home Depot tonight than I did at Rona last night.

 

[xbrentx]

I found a local PVC specialty store that has EVERYTHING I need for UNDER the tank. I am going back on Friday with my bulkheads and he will set me up with everything I need.

Now I need to figure out the internal parts. How am I going to drain and return... NO stores have a strainer like the one imaged above, I need some guidance or suggestions!

 

[kschweer]

It's going to be tough to find that strainer in a plumbing store. I would check your lfs but your best bet is probably online. Check out BRS or even eBay.

 

[Alex27]

I find hard to get items at savko.com. that screen your looking for can be replaced by eggcrate, just cut it down to fit inside the pvc pipe

 

[PortRicheyKidd]

or cut the drain pipe a little hi and cut slits into it like this