How Do You Plumb An Aquarium?

What

size plumbing

do I need for my aquarium?

The most common size for home aquarium plumbing is 3/4” for return lines and 1” for drain lines These sizes can vary though as tanks get larger or smaller and other connections are made to various other pieces of equipment.

Can you put PVC pipe in an aquarium?

PVC is a great material to improve your aquarium Not only does it offer

great benefits

, but it’s also easy to use for creating tunnels and caves and is a great solution for aquarium overflow and filters.

What kind of tubing is used in aquariums?

any standard vinyl or silicone tubing will work just fine, but if you want your reef tank looking good, try the black vinyl tubing.

Why use a sump for an aquarium?

The main advantage of having a sump plumbed into an aquarium is the increase of

water volume

in the system, making it more stable and less prone to fluctuations of pH and salinity, and also mitigating the effects of nutrient buildup or the unintentional introduction of foreign substances.

How big of a sump do I need?

Choosing The Right Sump The sump should be no less than 25% of your tank’s total water volume , the bigger the better. The sump needs to fit inside your tank stand or proposed sump location, check overall dimensions.

What plastic is safe for aquariums?

These are plastics made of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) Compared to other types of plastics that are categorized (numbers 1 through 7), HDPE is relatively stable and inert. This means that it doesn’t leach chemicals into food or fluids over time. This makes HDPE plastics with the #2 recycle symbol aquarium safe.

How do I know if my PVC is potable?

They are marked as NSF-61, indicating they are compliant with government regulations for safe drinking water. However, if you have recently had PVC and CPVC pipes installed in your house, you may have detected a slight plastic taste in the water.

What glue is safe for aquariums?

  • Gorilla Glue Gel.
  • Loctite Super Glue Gel.
  • Seachem Reef Glue.

Is silicone tubing safe for aquariums?

Same for black or gray. Neither can be used for potable drinking water. For livestock and fish it is perfectly acceptable.

How thick is aquarium tubing?

SAFE FOR FISH: Our Standard 3/16” Airline Tubing is made of fish-safe plastic, and can be used for both freshwater and saltwater tanks. MEASUREMENTS: Length = 8′ / Inner Diameter = 4 mm / Outer Diameter 5.8 mm.

What size is aquarium pump tubing?

This standard-size 3/16” tubing will fit

air pumps

and air stones with standard fittings. It’s made to stand up to everyday wear, resists kinking and is safe for use in both freshwater and saltwater aquariums.

Do you need to drill a tank for a sump?

Unless the back glass panel is tempered, drilling affords you the best solution If you don’t want to drill, you can get an

overflow box

with a U-tube, creating a siphon to get water to a sump below the tank.

What size sump do I need for a 200 gallon tank?

The Triton 44 Sump is great for aquariums up to 200 gallons and specially made to have a large refugium that meets the 10% volume recommendation for the Triton Method of reefing.

Does PVC pipe float?

PVC pipe is a plastic material that has an air cavity in it so it can float on the water as in Figure 1 below.

Can PVC pipe be used for potable water?

If the PVC pipes in your water supply are old, most of what could have leached out already has, at least at non-elevated temperatures. A possible solution is to replace your PVC pipes with an approved material such as CPVC (a stronger type of PVC) or copper. Both materials are considered safe for potable water.

Does air pump have to be above aquarium?

If the air pump is positioned higher than the top of the aquarium, you can skip this step If the air pump is positioned lower than the top of the aquarium, you need a check valve to prevent water leakage through the airline tubing.

What is soft plumbing?

Soft plumbing is accomplished by using flexible tubing and barbed fittings with hose clamps to attach the tubing The tubing can be vinyl, corrugated tubing, or even flexible PVC, which doesn’t use barbed fittings.

Is a sump better than a canister filter?

However, if you’re looking for a general rule of thumb, a canister filter is generally a better option than a sump filter This is because canister filters are more efficient and typically last longer. However, sump filters are cheaper and more customizable, making them a good option for hobbyists on a budget.

Is a sump worth it?

Without a doubt use a sump It allows you to keep heaters, probes and skimmer out of the DT. It allows for better water circulation. With the ability to use a bigger skimmer than in tank you can introduce more oxygen and remove more crap.

Can fish live in sump?

Bye. Fish will not live long in the sump The bitterness of poor quality lingers long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten. No one is born with intellect and age guarantees wisdom to no one.

What is the point of an overflow box?

An overflow box is used to drain water from your display aquarium down into your sump or filtration system The overflow box itself consists of a weir and drainpipes to get water out of your tank and down into your sump.

How tall should a sump be?

With a water level rating of 9.5-11″ I would shoot for a water level of 10″ in the skimmer chamber. You will want to have at least a few inches of unused sump above the water line to handle that extra overflow water. Here are some pics of my sump and skimmer, hope it helps give you and idea.

Are cast iron or stainless steel sump pumps better?

Stainless steel has anti-corrosion properties, while cast iron maximizes cooling ability to better distribute heat from the motor The interior of a sump pump is just as important.

Can a sump pump be too powerful?

You don’t want a pump that is either too small or too powerful. If the pump is too small, it won’t be able to keep up with water flowing into the basin. If the pump is too powerful, it will “short cycle.” This means the pump will start and stop frequently, which can cause premature pump failure.

How deep should a sump pump be?

Most sump pumps and basins should be installed 3 feet deep but the exact depth depends on your local soil conditions and the amount of floodwater you expect to receive. Deeper pits can collect more water but will require a more powerful pump to drain all the water before overflowing the pit.

Can I put cucumber in my fish tank?

Lightly steaming is also acceptable, and may actually be preferred for certain hard vegetables. The best vegetables to blanch or steam are zucchini, squash, cucumbers (remove seeds) , lima beans, peas (shell before serving), broccoli, cabbage, lettuce and spinach.

Sources


https://reefs.com/aquarium-plumbing-guide-part-i-basics-of-pvctubing/





https://www.aquacave.com/aquarium-plumbing.html


https://www.aquariumspecialty.com/parts-plumbing.html


https://fishtanksdirect.com/aquarium-supplies/plumbing-supplies/