Plumbing Question

[Thalasstronaut]

Hello,

I’m trying to get my sump up and running again. I had previously used soft plumbing for both the drain and return but the way my sump is positioned under the tank, the drain tubing I was using would require a pretty harsh bend just to go over the sump, and I’m trying to get at least the drain partially hard plumbed in.

My bulkheads have the barb end, so I plan to have a short section of soft tubing going into an adapter and then hard plumbing into the filter sock section.

My question is, the adapters I found (and the one I purchased) have a barb on one end and a threaded section on the other. What do I screw onto there, if anything? I bought a p trap kit and can screw that together but I’m worried about that actually being water tight and any gasket being eroded by salt. So do I glue a coupling to the threaded end? Or does some other threaded component come first?

 

[redfishbluefish]

I love it....using sink plumbing for your drain....genius!

That said, isn't the barb on the bulkhead threaded into the bulkhead? or is it slip, and the barb glued in? The reason I ask, if threaded, simply remove and go with a threaded portion to the plumbing.

 

[Thalasstronaut]

I love it....using sink plumbing for your drain....genius!

That said, isn't the barb on the bulkhead threaded into the bulkhead? or is it slip, and the barb glued in? The reason I ask, if threaded, simply remove and go with a threaded portion to the plumbing.

I’m not sure of specific terminology, but the bulkhead has a nut that I screwed down (and may have siliconed in, I don’t remember) and then a barb. And I had the hose over the barb and a clamp/zip tie on it. It’s all one piece. From the bottom of the aquarium it’s threaded and then transitions to a barb.

Here is another thread here on R2R where the poster had the same plumbing kit I do. Mine is a different size but the style is the same.

 

[jnhernandez1]

I would be very cautious about the sink drain line. They are finicky enough with leaks and are not designed for any sustained pressure. They have very little thread engagement. There are all sorts of pvc fittings that are designed for this application that would be safer against leaks. I’m not saying it can’t work - just very risky. I would recommend going to any Home Depot type store and look at the the pvc fitting options.

 

[Thalasstronaut]

I would be very cautious about the sink drain line. They are finicky enough with leaks and are not designed for any sustained pressure. They have very little thread engagement. There are all sorts of pvc fittings that are designed for this application that would be safer against leaks. I’m not saying it can’t work - just very risky. I would recommend going to any Home Depot type store and look at the the pvc fitting options.

That’s what I did. I guess I’m just unclear about what slides over the threaded end? Does it need to be a threaded piece or do you use a coupling and pvc cement?

 

[gtguy256]

You can thread a female adapter onto your piece and then glue PVC into the slip side.
The thread on the P-trap doesn't match the one on the barb and it will leak

 

[Thalasstronaut]

You can thread a female adapter onto your piece and then glue PVC into the slip side.
The thread on the P-trap doesn't match the one on the barb and it will leak

So it would go— bulkhead- soft tubing- blue adapter- female adapter- PVC? If I’m understanding correctly?

 

[jsmkmavity]

A threaded piece. It is called a female adapter. It will have inside threads on one end and smooth inside on the other end where you can glue the pipe in. If your bulkhead is on the bottom of the tank it shouldnt matter, but if your bulkhead is on the back of the tank you can get a fitting like the blue one but with a 90 degree bend so it doesnt stick out so far.
You could also just replace the bulkhead and use a male adapter that threads into the bulkhead and glues onto the pipe on the other end. Use teflon tape on the threads so it wont leak. I use blue monster brand because it is thick and has a lot on a roll.

 

[jsmkmavity]

Femal adapter

 

[jsmkmavity]

A lot of variations are available at yard sprinkler supply stores or online.

 

[Cichlid Dad]

Plumbing

To help support your aquarium plumbing needs, we carry a multitude of plumbing fittings, including hard-to-find and color coordinated PVC and fittings - Loc-Line modular hose, schedule 80 fittings & PVC, bulkheads, flexible tubing, uniseals and check, gate, and ball valves.

www.bulkreefsupply.com

I would start over and use these

 

[Cichlid Dad]

Simple soft plumbing to hard plumbing