Comment

Comment by TCLynx on January 2, 2012 at 3:28pm

I don't think I've seen the rubber couplers in really small pipe sizes, only 1 1/4" and up.  (I use them a lot for my big systems)

For a barrel system I don't expect there to be many large pipes so union connections will probably be the way to make breakable connections for the smaller pipes.

Comment by Kellen Weissenbach on January 2, 2012 at 1:29pm

I would recommend using rubber couplers with pipe clamps for these types of situations TC.  Can remove and maintain all you want, and still much safer.

Comment by TCLynx on January 2, 2012 at 11:49am

I'd probably cement the pieces that you don't expect to change or need to open for cleaning, and a little bit of silicone in the joints that you do need to take apart for cleaning.

A union joint near the connection for the pump might be handy to make it easy to remove the pump for cleaning or replacement.

Threaded fittings are often hard to take apart once you have everything put together since you have to spin everything in order to take them apart.

Comment by Kellen Weissenbach on January 2, 2012 at 11:35am

Just glue them.  PVC is cheap, and if you need to change plumbing around a bit, a hacksaw, a little bit of extra pipe and a 40 cent coupler will have you back in business in no time. It is not a matter of if an unglued joint will fail but when.  Your fish and system are worth far too much to gamble with.

Comment by Suzanne Carter on January 2, 2012 at 10:50am

Thanks so much for all of your insight and advice - my system will be a 55gal drum type set up indoors in our basement so it sounds like the silicone or cement will be needed to be sure we don't have leaks... just a small setup to start until I can figure out how to do this! :D

Comment by Darlene Skellion on January 2, 2012 at 10:35am

Suzanne- we've set up a tote system based on Murray Hallam's DVD and did not glue the joints so we could take it apart if needed. It dripped in a couple of places but we were able to get them stopped. We have it set up in a greenhouse so water drips are not an issue - don't know where your system is but if it's inside I would definitely glue them - water on floors - not good. 

Comment by TCLynx on January 2, 2012 at 10:33am

I have lots of slip fit PVC that is not cemented together.  The trick here is to know where there is minimal/no danger of the pipes getting knocked apart and not enough pressure to blow them apart and those pipes I will only cement if they are leaking.

If I bury a pipe, I like to cement them or use the rubber couplings so they can't leak or come apart where I can't see them.

If there is pressure or a likely hook that a pipe can get knocked out, those should be glued or secured in such a manner to avoid the HSM (heart stopping moment when you wander out to find your fish tank has been pumped dry and the pipe is laying to the side.)

One trick that can be used when you don't want to cement the pipes but you need to make sure they don't seep and can't get knocked out is to use a little aquarium silicone and a stainless steel screw.  The silicone is to make sure the connection doesn't drip and the screw is to keep it from being knocked apart or blown apart under pressure.

For an indoor system where the pump is tiny (no real pressure to speak of) but I don't want any dripping since it's indoors, I'll use just the silicone.

Comment by Chi Ma on January 2, 2012 at 9:46am

Usually with slip fit PVC you would use PVC cement. Sometimes you can get away with no cement if your plumbing is not under pressure.

Comment by Suzanne Carter on January 2, 2012 at 9:21am

Hello all - I'm new to aquaponics and this forum so this may be a really dumb question but will the 'slip fit' PVC pipes hold together without leaking or should I get the threaded kind?
I read that you should be able to take the pipes apart for cleaning so I guess that means I shouldn't seal the slip fit type? Just worried about leaks and don't know anything about plumbing!

Comment by Sheri Schmeckpeper on December 30, 2011 at 8:00pm

Medhi,

You have some unique challenges, but with good planning and designing, you should be able to do quite well. What resources do you have (people, space, assistance devices, etc.)? Are you looking to do this for a business or personal use?

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