I am trying to set up a 180 gal reef tank and my wet-dry sump is in the basement. I need to pump water up 12 ft for quite some distance to my tank in the living room. I was advised to use sweep instead of 90 deg. elbow to reduce pressure drop. However, the only sweep available are those grey PVC used for laying electrical wiring underground.They are also schedule 40 PVC but they are not allowed for plumbing use(by plumbing code). Thet look quite strong to me but I do not know if they can withstand long time salt water run.Anyone with experience using these grey PVC sweep, please advise.
Plumbing Question
- Thread starter ceralipid
- Start date
No need to use the grey sweeps...make your own! PVC pipe can be heated (by blow torch even) and bent to any degree that you would like to go. Careful not to overheat though.
PVC electrical pipe is used to run wires in underground installations. They are probably more corrrosion resistant than plumbing pvc. They are most likely not allowed by code to be used for plumbing because, most likely were not tested for burst pressure, as they were never intended to be used for plumbing in the first place (why would an electrical manufacturer spend extra money on testing when they don't have to). Anyway I highly doubt you would have any problems with the pipe.
Grey electrical conduit is not reccommended for potable water. I would try and use 2-45* instead of a 90*.
If you try to heat and bend I would get some SCH. 80 for the bends. Yes it dose cost a lot more but it is a lot thicker.
Using 2 45* bends would work a lot better.
Using 2 45* bends would work a lot better.
You can use flex PVC for whatever part of the run where you need curves. It doesnt do really tight curves like a 90 or even a 45, but is good for larger more gentle curves.
VDub90 said:
VDub,
Thanks for this explaination!! I always wondered about that. I know that both PVC's can be easily bent using a cheap Propane torch from Home Depot.
gray pvc wiring tubes
I have used this stuff under huge amounts of pressure in a hydroponics system the end use for my tank water and i have use the raw output with grit from a swiming pool pump 1000 of gallons an hour and its lasted well you probly wont give it the same sort of loads on a 12 feet drop just glue the pipe and let it dry for 24-48 hours or untill the glue has turned clear for the strongest results..
I have used this stuff under huge amounts of pressure in a hydroponics system the end use for my tank water and i have use the raw output with grit from a swiming pool pump 1000 of gallons an hour and its lasted well you probly wont give it the same sort of loads on a 12 feet drop just glue the pipe and let it dry for 24-48 hours or untill the glue has turned clear for the strongest results..