Fish-safe return piping in Australia?

[cypher1024]

Hey guys,
I just bought myself a Quiet One pump to replace the noisy pond pump that I've been using in my sump. I'd like to plumb it into the tank with some 1" black pipe. I tried Bunnings, but the closest thing they had was some irrigation pipe that had blue stripes along the sides ans used gigantic fittings for the elbows.

Ideally, what I'd like is a 1" barbed fitting to go on the pump, then some sort of flexible tubing, then another barbed fitting that connects to some hard piping (PVC/ABS/whatever as long as it's black).

If anyone can point me in the right direction, I'd really appreciate it.

 

[RS2000]

You could try reece plumbing for the barbed fittings, you can get them with a threaded male to barb

then hook that into u're flex tubing with hose clamps and run that into another barb screwed into a pvc female thread to slip pipe then glue u're pipe from there on.

as for black, I have no experiance on anything other than standard pvc pipe, but you could always just paint it blakc when u're done

oh just another alt you could try getting some rural fittings maybe they would suit what u're looking for better (those u may be able to get in bunnings, if not reece or any decent plumbing shop will stock them)

 

[Richies^Ghost]

I'm not a fan of barbed fittings - we use to use it for irrigation in horse paddocks, and they'd disconnect on a regular basis until hose clamps were installed.

Bunnings might also have clear pipes such as you'd find on a cannister filter, in different lengths and diameters. At the one I go to, they're located above the hose clamps (double win) in the aisle for irrigation, hoses, and sprinkler systems.

 

[cypher1024]

Thanks for the suggestions guys.

You could try reece plumbing for the barbed fittings, you can get them with a threaded male to barb

then hook that into u're flex tubing with hose clamps and run that into another barb screwed into a pvc female thread to slip pipe then glue u're pipe from there on.

That sounds like it should do the trick. Now all I need to do is find some black ABS or something to run into the tank.

oh just another alt you could try getting some rural fittings maybe they would suit what u're looking for better (those u may be able to get in bunnings, if not reece or any decent plumbing shop will stock them)

Yeah, I did see them in Bunnings. The guy told me they were safe for drinking water, but I don't really trust him - I think he was just trying to get rid of me.

I'm not a fan of barbed fittings - we use to use it for irrigation in horse paddocks, and they'd disconnect on a regular basis until hose clamps were installed.

I was planning on using hose clamps, and the pressure should be fairly low, so hopefully I wont experience a disconnection...

Bunnings might also have clear pipes such as you'd find on a cannister filter, in different lengths and diameters. At the one I go to, they're located above the hose clamps (double win) in the aisle for irrigation, hoses, and sprinkler systems.

At the moment I have some of that clear pipe (vinyl maybe?) as return piping. The problem is that the parts of it that are submerged have turned opaque and have hardened up considerably. I'm a little worried that if they're that unstable, they might be leeching stuff into the water.

On a related note, is teflon tape safe for use in aquariums?

Thanks guys!

 

[chemicall]

Thanks for the suggestions guys.


That sounds like it should do the trick. Now all I need to do is find some black ABS or something to run into the tank.


Yeah, I did see them in Bunnings. The guy told me they were safe for drinking water, but I don't really trust him - I think he was just trying to get rid of me.


I was planning on using hose clamps, and the pressure should be fairly low, so hopefully I wont experience a disconnection...


At the moment I have some of that clear pipe (vinyl maybe?) as return piping. The problem is that the parts of it that are submerged have turned opaque and have hardened up considerably. I'm a little worried that if they're that unstable, they might be leeching stuff into the water.

On a related note, is teflon tape safe for use in aquariums?

Thanks guys!

Clear tubing discolors like that. Just a fact of life.....I don't like it either, but clear airline tubing does it also, so I don't think it causes any harm....(Just think, if you were underwater 24/7, how would you look?)
Teflon Tape is safe, I used it on all my union fittings.
I use 1.5" ABS for my return and overflows, works great, hard to see.
Luck for me Home Depot had a 3/4" NPT to 1.5" abs adaptor(my magdrive 9.5 takes the 3/4" NPT IF I remember right.
When looking at abs parts if you have to use a union or anything with a seal, look for the ones with rubber seals. The plastic ones break/leak easy.

 

[RS2000]

Thanks for the suggestions guys.
Yeah, I did see them in Bunnings. The guy told me they were safe for drinking water, but I don't really trust him - I think he was just trying to get rid of me.

Thanks guys!

The fittings are fine for drinking water/tanks the pic i linked shot of them is from a reed tank build thread on masa

http://www.masa.asn.au/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=51&t=213274&start=90#p772602

incase you would like to have a sticky, if you scroll down from that pose he also put up some pics of what they look like apart.

 

[cypher1024]

Thanks for the help guys.

I'm still hunting for this piping. I tried a Tradelink plumbing center today, without any luck. They just had the same agricultural pipe.
My new pump is sitting on top of the filing cabinet mocking me.

 

[chemicall]

I don't know where you are in .au, but here's a .au abs dealer. If not near you maybe they can ship it? abs pipe is light-weight atleast....

http://www.philmac.com.au/Product/Product/ProductGroup.aspx?g=20

 

[DFishkeeper]

Forget Bunnings, your best bet is an irrigation shop, that's where I get all my plumbing fittings for my fishroom. They also know what they're talking about, if you tell them what you're trying to do they can suggest some options. We have a few good ones here on the Gold Coast, wherever you are you should be able to find one nearby.

Cheers, Doug