Return Pump Plumbing

[Malyon18]

So I made a trip to lowe's tonight to by the part to do my plumbing on my 90 gal tomorrow and when I got there my plan kinda backfired.

I was hoping to use spa flex for my return line (mag7) but come to find out I could not find any 1/2'' spa flex. I was wondering if I used sch 40 if I would achieve the same result, the reason for the spa flex was that I read somewhere that it helps reduce noise caused by vibration from the pump.

For the overflows I plan on using sch 40, would I benefit from using spa flex for the overflows as well?

[HomerJ]

I have hard piped everything except about 18" between my pump and the shut-off valve, where I used the cheap flex hose (the transparent stuff you buy by-the-foot at HD).  No noise at all.

[Aquaviewer]

The give in Spa Flex allows some flexibility and room for error in getting around obstacles under your tank and having soft curves.  The reduced noise and vibration theory gets mixed reviews and generally once the bio film gets established in your pipes things quite down (at least that is what I have observed with both Spa and rigid pipe) and there is no problem in hard piping much of your plumbing.  My comment would be that you have undersized you plumbing unless you meant to say 1 1/2 not 1/2.  You can get 1" and 1.5" spa at pool stores, and a number of the marine stores in town.  Also Boon Plumbing in the east end carries 1 1/2" Sch 40 PVC pipe and fittings - not sure if they have the Spa flex though.

[Malyon18]

Well the fitting that comes off the mag 7 is a 1/2'' fitting, I could probably find an adapter to make it 3/4''. My overflow lines are 2 drilled holes which accommodate 1-1/2" lines, so 2 x 1-1/2'' lines

[Aquaviewer]

Just get an 1/2 to 1" adapter for the pump.

[Malyon18]

Alright sounds good I am about to head out to see what I can find today

[Aquaviewer]

If you are stuck let me know - I have buckets to misc fittings and I'm sure I have some 1/2 to 1" and 3/4 T/S adapters.

[NjOyRiD]

any luck Robyn?

[veron]

I never really likes spaflex, always found it to be leak prone but I'm not a plumber.
as mentioned, a section of soft tubing after the pump will work.
MAGS like to have there plumbing larger after the outlet! so if its 3/4''outlet,upgrade to 1'' etc.. all the fittings can be found at LOWES.

[Malyon18]

Ya I decided to go with sch 40, and thanks to aquaviewer I was able to find the 1/2'' to 1'' fitting I was missing to start my plumbing. I do have to agree with you on Lowe's, I stopped at home depot and they had NOTHING while lowe's had pretty much everything I wanted and their true union ball valves were really cheap at like 8-9 bucks a piece. Bought a bunch of different elbows with the intention to return whatever I do not end up using. The only thing I was not sure on was the pvc cement I bought, I got the purple primer and the red can of oatey's all purpose cement?

[Malyon18]

Here is my first ever attempt at plumbing a tank, there are a few tiny mistakes I wish I could change but we will see how holds up to the water test

[Saltcreep]

I can't add much to this discussion because on the two very basic sumps I've put together so far, I used mostly flexible lines. I am planning a more permanent setup with rigid piping, but I still plan to have a least a few inches of flexible line up near the bulkheads. Just seems to me that any stress on rigid piping, such as twisting on a valve, would transfer directly to the bulkhead, and therefore, to the glass.

[Malyon18]

Well just finished filling it with water for the test run and seems everything is operating the way it should, the pipes are a little noisy, I have read several places that it takes a little time for them to build up some slime and quiet down, so time will tell.