Tank Journal Archive

[Mr.Reeefer]

I just seen a thread about john guest fittings.

For my previous tanks I have been using standard pvc piping and connectors, bulkheads bought from the local irrigation shop, and taps that piss me off, just way too stiff to turn.

For this tank build I want at least quality taps.

Can anyone please educate me on whats good, and
if i can use john guest plumbing supplies for the whole tank build, are there sizes big enough to cater for the amount of flow and can these connections stand the high pressure?

 

[Synodontis]

Hey @Mr.Reeefer

I've added a couple of John Guest catalogue's for you.
Not sure how cost effective plumbing a whole system would be, but it would look good!

 

[VaultBoy]

PVC is the most cost effective option. John Guess fittings are great and will hold really high pressure but PVC is the way to go for a whole tank. Do not buy the cheap PVC ball valves with the red handles they are shit! I cant remember the name of the brand that makes the good ones but they are black with a blue handle.... It is really annoying me that I cant remember I have fitted hundreds of them!

I have tried to find PVC gate valves or globe valves and found a supplier in the U.S.A. but they were heinously expensive. They are they way to go for ease of control/adjustment but I dont know where to look for them as they are not a standard plumbing fitting and even most plumbing wholesalers will look at you like you have 2 heads when you ask for one!

 

[VaultBoy]

FYI pvc and John Guess fittings will take mains pressure which is many many times higher than anything you will experience in a home aquarium, unless you are using a constant pressure closed loop circulation system and even then it wont be as high as the mains.

 

[MagicJ]

I cant remember the name of the brand that makes the good ones but they are black with a blue handle.... It is really annoying me that I cant remember I have fitted hundreds of them!

Hansen :)

And, @Synodontis you should have given a plug for them :)

http://www.kandj.com.au/collections/hansen-fittings

 

[VaultBoy]

Hansen :)

And, @Synodontis you should have given a plug for them :)

View attachment 47542

http://www.kandj.com.au/collections/hansen-fittings

I kept thinking nilsen but I knew it wasnt right! Thanks.

 

[Mr.Reeefer]

Hey @Mr.Reeefer

I've added a couple of John Guest catalogue's for you.
Not sure how cost effective plumbing a whole system would be, but it would look good!

cheers synodontis:)

 

[Mr.Reeefer]

FYI pvc and John Guess fittings will take mains pressure which is many many times higher than anything you will experience in a home aquarium, unless you are using a constant pressure closed loop circulation system and even then it wont be as high as the mains.

Cheers mate, i knew pvc could handle the pressure but i wasnt sure about the JG fittings, when your used to using adheasives and waiting 24-48 hours for them to dry, this whole push and twist business made me wonder.

Thanks for your info:)

 

[Synodontis]

lol, I only got a couple to make sure they where the "real" Hansen product. Seems that they are so will be getting a few more shortly, along with a few other Hansen bits lol.
I know they on the site but wasn't plugging them till I got them :)

 

[Mr.Reeefer]

My next question is, i couldnt see bulkheads on the catalogues but i did see them online last night on there uk site. There biggest is 20 or 22mm i think, if i was to use this, i would need 4+ to be able to meet the tanks drainage requirements, there is no other option using these fittings?

 

[VaultBoy]

Seriously I wouldnt use JG plumbing for a whole tank. Maybe for ATO and reactors and such they are great but for a whole tank you cannot go past PVC/Poly. Flexible tube does not flow as much water as a hard walled tube due to increased friction when you couple that with the smaller diameters available it is not practical.

PVC offers greater flexibility in the set up with more sizes, more fittings and greater availability. If the 24-48 hours glue is a problem you can get fast acting glue that is set within 30 - 60 minutes look for christies brand "red hot" or "wet 'r dry" glue and the same brand cleaner works a treat and will hold mains pressure.

To be honest the plain PVC glue will hold aquarium pressures easily within 10 - 15 minutes if you get caught out! The 24 hour cure time is the producer complying to the Australian standards and in my experience, on a warm day you will not be able to pull a glued fitting apart after more than 10 minutes without some serious effort! Remember this stuff is designed to hold seriously high pressures for decades and to do it underground and in reactive/mobile soils, this places stresses on the pipe many orders of magnitude more than they will EVER experience in a home aquarium.

 

[VaultBoy]

I have found the solution to the ball valve issue! Completely plastic and designed for corrosive environments and are even available with custom cut balls for specific flow control applications.

I am afraid to find out what the price is though...

http://www.plastomatic.com/mbvm.html

They also make an electronic controlled option for the tech heads!

They are an American company and I dont know if they are available anywhere in Aus but one of our friends from the land of the free may be able to help us out...

 

[Buddy]

I don't know what people's problem is with the red handle ball valves. I use them with no problem at all on my 6ft tank and my tank previous to that one. They are easy to set and forget.

Wouldn't the JG fittings and pipes be way too small to plum a tank with??

 

[VaultBoy]

I have only used the red handle ones and still do but they are shit and I wouldnt buy them again. Its true that you set and forget but I have had to change mine a few times due to different pumps, changing plumbing etc. and its a massive PITA to get them right but I found the easiest way was to use a long handled shifter spanner to grab the handle and provide the extra leverage to make the adjustment smoother but I still wouldnt buy another one!

 

[Mr.Reeefer]

Seriously I wouldnt use JG plumbing for a whole tank. Maybe for ATO and reactors and such they are great but for a whole tank you cannot go past PVC/Poly. Flexible tube does not flow as much water as a hard walled tube due to increased friction when you couple that with the smaller diameters available it is not practical.

PVC offers greater flexibility in the set up with more sizes, more fittings and greater availability. If the 24-48 hours glue is a problem you can get fast acting glue that is set within 30 - 60 minutes look for christies brand "red hot" or "wet 'r dry" glue and the same brand cleaner works a treat and will hold mains pressure.

To be honest the plain PVC glue will hold aquarium pressures easily within 10 - 15 minutes if you get caught out! The 24 hour cure time is the producer complying to the Australian standards and in my experience, on a warm day you will not be able to pull a glued fitting apart after more than 10 minutes without some serious effort! Remember this stuff is designed to hold seriously high pressures for decades and to do it underground and in reactive/mobile soils, this places stresses on the pipe many orders of magnitude more than they will EVER experience in a home aquarium.

Hi Vaultboy and thank you for your response.

Yes i agree, that all makes sense.

i thought it would be a good idea to use since this tank will be going for years and years once set up, so I thought if i ever wanted to change the tubing for whatever reason using JG would have been nice and simple change over, PVC not so simple, but also as you stated not that much of an issue either.

The waiting period isnt an issue "generally" with pvc either, there has been times when I have had to buy the other fast acting glue, and that has held well, i have actually used that on my 250 thats currently running.

Thank you for your reply and clarifying things for me.:)

 

[Mr.Reeefer]

I have found the solution to the ball valve issue! Completely plastic and designed for corrosive environments and are even available with custom cut balls for specific flow control applications.

I am afraid to find out what the price is though...

View attachment 47555
http://www.plastomatic.com/mbvm.html

They also make an electronic controlled option for the tech heads!

View attachment 47556

They are an American company and I dont know if they are available anywhere in Aus but one of our friends from the land of the free may be able to help us out...

Im intrigued now, when i find out ill let you know.

 

[Mr.Reeefer]

I don't know what people's problem is with the red handle ball valves. I use them with no problem at all on my 6ft tank and my tank previous to that one. They are easy to set and forget.

Wouldn't the JG fittings and pipes be way too small to plum a tank with??

Hi Buddy,

For a full tank plum, it would be too small, could be used for some areas, but turns out it will be used on no areas.
If you set and forget, the red handle would be ok, just when you do have to eventually use it, its a pain in the ass, but for me its not set and forget.

On the 250, with how the tank is modified, if i turn off the return pumps, it acts as a siphon and drains way too much water into the sump which will make the sump overflow, so when its feeding time I have 4 red handled ball vales to close, I have devolped that much of a hatred for them that I will not use them on another f&%$*#@ tank.

This tank build, the tank will not have this issue, and will be set and forget but, I refuse to use them.

:)thanks for stopping by mate

 

[Buddy]

Hi Buddy,

For a full tank plum, it would be too small, could be used for some areas, but turns out it will be used on no areas.
If you set and forget, the red handle would be ok, just when you do have to eventually use it, its a pain in the ass, but for me its not set and forget.

On the 250, with how the tank is modified, if i turn off the return pumps, it acts as a siphon and drains way too much water into the sump which will make the sump overflow, so when its feeding time I have 4 red handled ball vales to close, I have devolped that much of a hatred for them that I will not use them on another f&%$*#@ tank.

This tank build, the tank will not have this issue, and will be set and forget but, I refuse to use them.

:)thanks for stopping by mate

Wow four of them! That would get annoying no matter what valve.
Do you have a problem if your power goes out and you are not home?

 

[Mr.Reeefer]

Wow four of them! That would get annoying no matter what valve.
Do you have a problem if your power goes out and you are not home?

I definatley would.

the only time was when my inlaws had a meter adjustment made without letting me know. other than that no issues, its in the garage also.

 

[gtrxu1]

The Hansen ones are a pleasure to use after a few years of those red pieces of #.
Those other ones posted above look pretty awesome.

Valve porn.