Return Standpipe Question

[CastAway]

Mocking up some fittings today. When the time comes, do I need to glue the standpipes into their bulkheads?

 

[mfinn]

If they are a standard bulkhead going through the bottom of your tank?
I would not glue them.

 

[CastAway]

just to clarify, they are standard bulkheads. I'm not gluing any piece of the bulkhead itself. I'm asking whether or not to glue the white standpipe into the slip side of the bulkhead. Sorry if I've confused the matter.

 

[AZDesertRat]

I am not a fan of slip bulkheads but I would not glue the PVC to the bulkhead. They should be a good friction fit and drip tight without glue if they are cleaned up well with a xacto knife or jewelers file. Will these be inside a oveflow box where if they do leak for any reason whne the power goes off, the leak will stop once the overflow box is empty?

https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/eq...iltration/34973-installing-bulkhead-tips.html

 

[CastAway]

Yup, they are in an overflow weir. Potentially, should they leak, they could serve to drain the overflow back to the sump. No problem I suppose, as I have plenty of capacity. I suppose that not gluing them just provides some flexibility. My concern was that if the standpipe worked loose that I might see some increased flow due to the reduction in head (Loc-Line and nozzle) that could overwhelm my return. Thanks for the help!

 

[robbrouse]

Not sure if I did mine right or not.. The stand pipe them self I did not glue (wanted to be able to remove for cleaning). But underneath the tank I did glue the plumbing that works it's way into my sump. I wish I would of not used slip (it came with my tank), but will not be redoing it.

 

[RacinRevo0818]

Not sure if I did mine right or not.. The stand pipe them self I did not glue (wanted to be able to remove for cleaning). But underneath the tank I did glue the plumbing that works it's way into my sump. I wish I would of not used slip (it came with my tank), but will not be redoing it.

You can always just cut them and add a union. I guess the slip bulkheads add a little more safety against a leak but can be tricky if you have to change or fix something. Either way you go your opening the door for possible problems.

 

[AZDesertRat]

There will come a time when you will want to clean then returns and thats where threaded bulkheads and fittings are superior, you can disassemble at any point, run a brush through and reassemble without losing a fitting. Its hard to snake a brush through elbows and fittings. I would take the time now to get a few threaded bulheads and PVC fittings, it will save you a lot of headache down the road.