DIY Inline heater housing for under $15

[dawnmarie]

Hi Gang , I needed two inline heater housings for my tank replumb project.
Here's how I did it.
Material List:
2-9" long pcs. 1 1/2" PVC pipe.....Had it in stock
1- 3/4" repair union (cut in half).............$ 3.67
2- 1 1/2 PVC Tee's...............................$ 2.74
2- 1 1/2" PVC 90's................................$ 2.38
4- 1 1/2" slip to 3/4" FPT adapters..........$ 4.12
2- 1 1/2" x 1" PVC reducer bushings........$ 1.86
4- 3/4" barb to MPT fittings...................$ 8.96
TOTAL.............................................$ 23.73

The tricky part was cutting the repair coupler in half and making it fit in the 1 1/2"x 1" reducer bushing. I carefully reduced the OD with my hi tech tool till it fit.

After that it was just a matter of assemling the parts.

Mocked up with an old heater

Finished product

Took about an hour and a half to build both.

$23.73 +tax for two complete assemblies or $11.86 each.
All the photos are larger in my albums.not sure why they got so small.

 

[Dane]

If you wanted to go a bit more hi-tec you could put a threaded reducer on it and a water heater element. Wire that to a water heater thermostat that feeds from the tank.

 

[dawnmarie]

I have to admit , I don't have a clue what you just said. The idea is "Low Tech " on purpose.

 

[johncl]

Looks like a great idea too bad the pics are so small my tired old eyes can't see the details.

 

[KaiserSousay]

If you wanted to go a bit more hi-tec you could put a threaded reducer on it and a water heater element. Wire that to a water heater thermostat that feeds from the tank.

If you try that, or have done it already..I would keep a close watch on my system. That has the potential of making your fish stock into soup really fast.

****************
Project with lots of PVC.........
Yummmmmm

 

[Knowdafish]

Nice build. Very informative. "........for under $15" and it cost $23.73 to build????

How does that work?


DIY Inline heater housing for under $15

Hi Gang , I needed two inline heater housings for my tank replumb project.
Here's how I did it.
Material List:
2-9" long pcs. 1 1/2" PVC pipe.....Had it in stock
1- 3/4" repair union (cut in half).............$ 3.67
2- 1 1/2 PVC Tee's...............................$ 2.74
2- 1 1/2" PVC 90's................................$ 2.38
4- 1 1/2" slip to 3/4" FPT adapters..........$ 4.12
2- 1 1/2" x 1" PVC reducer bushings........$ 1.86
4- 3/4" barb to MPT fittings...................$ 8.96
TOTAL............................................. $ 23.73

 

[Dane]

If you try that, or have done it already..I would keep a close watch on my system. That has the potential of making your fish stock into soup really fast.

****************
Project with lots of PVC.........
Yummmmmm

Yeah, but so do most heaters if they malfunction.

 

[flstffxe]

Nice build. Very informative. "........for under $15" and it cost $23.73 to build????

He built 2 for $23.73.

$23.73 +tax for two complete assemblies or $11.86 each.

 

[dawnmarie]

Yeah, but so do most heaters if they malfunction.

I think you're both right.
That's why I am going with two "barely adequate" heaters. A single Ehiem 200 watt heater running wide open will get my 240 to 85 degrees max. Running two 200 watt heaters will make them work less. If one sticks on the other shuts off and the tank will take 24-48 hours to get to 85 degrees. Also if one fails completely the other will maintain the 78 degrees I want.


Does anyone know why these photos are so small ?
I've run out of ideas.

 

[dawnmarie]

I got it. It was a combination of errors.