Will it explode?

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T

TanninMan

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Oct 5, 2007
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A Happy Place
I redid some of my plumbing today, particularly in the area of my return from sump to tank. It is now 100% pvc with a total of 4 90degree joints all held together by pvc cement.

Will this hold? or am i in danger of some exploding pvc? I am running a rio 32hf on 3/4" pvc @ about 5.5ft of head.

I used no compression joints or a ball valve as flow was not an issue, so this is just straight pvc on pvc held by cement. And i am finding that the pvc is vibrating like crazy! Is that usual for a high gph pump?

Is it "better" in any way to split the return line into 2 via a "t"?

And random observation, the first time i turned on the pump, gph was quite low and i ran it like that for about 5 hours. I turned it off to redo some things, and when i turned it back on, this thing looks like it doubled its output? is it normal for a pump to run low at first and then pump itself up to regular output levels?
 
pressure wise you will be fine, I believe that PVC is rated at 125 PSI but I can't remember for sure. I don't know what to tell you about the vibration.
 
I would put a piect of reinforced vynal tubing between the pump and the pvs the vibration will be eliminated and that vibration can cause the glue loints to break eventually and then you know what's next.........
 
I have a mag 24 and 2 mag 36's hard plumbed with pvc. The vibration in your pipes is due to the vibration of the pump. The manner in which I put mine in made it able for me to use the pipes to press the pump against the bottom of the sump to reduce the vibes. I have found with some pumps, that sometimes they when you first plug them in the magnets maybe aren't sitting correctly, causing them to vibrate a little more and to reduce flow.

You you also want to see if there is any way to take reduce the number of 90*'s in your return. With the two 36's I have on my big tank, one has one T and two 90*, the other has 2x 45* and one 90* and flows much more.. Even considering one has two and other only has one return.
 
Thanks for the great info guys. I just redid the piping as follows:

pump - pvc hose barb - 1" threaded vinyl (the clear one with criss-cross strings - says 175psi) - hose barb - pvc

sound is wayyy down! finally....

although, now i am SUPER paranoid....wondering how strong these hose barbs + hose clamps are at high gph.....

anyone have any horror stories? success stories welcome also...

don't want to wake up to the sound of a 2000gph hitting the floor.....
 
For the vinyl hose and pvc connection I used a 1/4 x 20 thread nylon hex bolt, you can pick them up at any hobby store that sells remote control planes. Drill a hole thru the vinyl and pvc ,make sure it is under size 1/4 x 20. Thread the hole ,a dab of silicone seal and tighten. It will not come apart until you take it apart.
 
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