Show off your plumbing here...

[brewmaster15]

Okay... I'm talking tank plumbing here :) I'm at the point where I am going to start plumbing one of my racks of tanks in the very near future. I have the glass drill bit, the tanks, etc.. I've read enough do-it yourself posts to be confident that I can do this....But I'm a procrastinator when it comes to possibly screwing up several hundred $$$ worth of tanks.

can all you do-it your selfers, get out your cameras, and post some pics of the fittings, plumbing and filters you are using.
This should help resolve my hesitation. :)

Thanks,
al

[Jason]

Hi Al,

here's a great descriptive thread on bulkheads.
http://forum.simplydiscus.com//index.php?board=19;action=display;threadid=9391;st art=0

The best money/agrivation saving tip I could pass on is, a seperate drain-line for every tank! I run a 3" abs drainline all around the room at baseboard height, it ties into the main stack/drain. I use a black poly tube line on each tank, it runs down into the main abs drainline, I use "tee eliminators" from aquatic-ecosystems to cut costs down.

hth!

[hunterbeav]

Al the subject heading leaves yourself wide open for some pictures of different kinds you know !!!!! :) OHHHHH MYYYY hope no one gets in trouble lol ;D

[Jason]

damn Jim I missed that one, must be getting old :'(

[pops]

how about pvc?
1 line to fill tanks,line would be "T'd" at each tank with ball valve to turn off an on.
drain: line down into tank, would come up 90 an 90 to down line to drain line "T'd". also with ball valve.
home depot has some low cost, low pressure pvc.
one main line high for filling/one main line low for draining.
pops :)

[Jason]

yup I agree with Pops, use pvc "globe" valves over each tank so you can tune the flow each tank gets.

[mench]

Also use a screw together disconnect fitting at each tank so ya can get the plumming apart,this is from experance...I didn't do that and have to cut all my pluming and add them :P

Mench

[DiscusJeff]

Here is description of how my system is plumbed. Maybe this can give you some ideas.

First the water changing system:

I use a 1/2 HP Wayne utility pump. (http://www.waynepumps.com/products/product.php?PC4). It has good performance and is self priming.

The pump is connected to 4 solenoid valves controlled via the black box above the sink. When in "drain mode". 2 valves are opened so that the water flows from the tanks, through the pump and down the drain. When in "fill mode", 2 other valves are opened so that the water flows from the storage tank through the pump and into the tanks. Each tank has 3/4 " PVC drain/fill tubes which extend to the bottom of the tank and are controlled via PVC ball valves.

I can drain and fill the two tanks you see in about 5 minutes. The system also serves another rack that has three other tanks and can be easily extended. The resevior is refilled half way with a tap line which originates above the sink. The other half is R/O.

As far as filtration, I had the tanks drilled at an LFS. The black bulkhead fittings located in the upper left corner of the tanks were also purchased at the LFS. Can't recall who makes them. Basically there is just a gravity fed tube that allows the water to flow to the trickle filter below. Then it is pumped back via a Supreme Mag Drive pump. Flow is controlled via a PVC ball valve on each tank.

Make sure you don't drill tempered glass tanks which is probably anything over 40 gallons. The glass will just shatter.

My next project is to completely automate the water changing system via computer interfaces!

[pooljap]

This is a very timely thread... I am trying to set up my new tank. When you put in the bulkhead on the bottom of the tank does
the rubber washer on the bulkhead go outside the tank or inside ?

thanks a lot

Jim

[brewmaster15]

Thanks everyone, please keep ythe suggestions coming. Jeff- can you post some closeups of that trickle?

Thanks!
al

[keith_cny]

Jeff,
Where did you get that storage tank??

Keith

[DiscusJeff]

Here is the trickle close up.

Your basic 20 gallon long. I used acryllic for the drip plate and the partition. I used egg crate the suspend the bio balls.

I put filter floss in the drip plate and a power head in the sump to improve aeration.

I got the storage tank here http://www.usplastic.com/catalog/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=USPlastic&category%5Fna me=Vertical+Tanks&product%5Fid=Large+Vertical+Clos ed+Head+Tanks

It was over a hundred bucks but worth it. It has a closed end top and bulk head fitting on the bottom. I was using garbage cans before and this works much better. You get killed in shipping too.

[rickk]

Hi Al
Thought I'd share with you all My plumbing. I buy all my tanks pre drilled as I don't have the tools to do it my self.
The holes are 34mm (1 1/2 inch ? ) The fittings I use are for poly rain water tanks. they are screw on type with a flange on either end and rubber washer's, on either end I use screw on poly elbows. The elbow inside the tank is not over tight and has a poly pipe riser atached to the height of the water level, this way I can just push down the poly pipe at any level I wish, I can do part water change or I can drain the entire tank with the suction created by the water running out.
I have the holed drilled half up the tank, this way if something should fail it will only drain half the tank and not leave the fish high and dry. Also i have started placeing the drains on the side of the tank rather than the front where space allows purely for appearence sake
This also works well as an overflow should the tank overfill. I also have screw on stainers on the end of the poly pipe. this stops the fish being sucked up against the poly pipe which has happened once to me already (no harm done thankfully) All the fittings are low preasure so are quite cheep to use, where i can I use garden fittings

[rickk]

Poly pipe lower

[rickk]

As for feeding water to my tanks I have three 44 gal drums I use to prep the water, I then pump it up to two header tanks and use gravity to feed the fish tanks, The main line is 3/4 low presure poly pipe, I then run of it 4 mm (airline) line to the tanks each line has a valve which I can regulate the water flow

[rickk]

From the drums to the header tanks and then to the fish tanks

Man.. seeing all these I feel like stuck in the 18th century.... Waow!!! :o

[brewmaster15]

You and me Both Anand :) man I have to get with the program here.


I'm embarrassed by lack of techie tanks in my house. :'( I might even go as far as to say I am envious of all the plumbing being shown here :).

Thanks everyone!

-al

[daninthesand]

Ya. Me too.

PVC envy!

LOL

Daniel