henward Posted December 4, 2008 Report Share Posted December 4, 2008 i am setting up a sump for my RTG tank. i am using as an outlet from the return pump in to the tank, pvc pipes and pvc bends. now, the friction and the amount of hold it has should be enough to hold it up hanging by the side of the tank, but i am unsure of this, to make sure should use adhesive? should i use silicone to bond the bends and links together? and make sure its leak free? or should i use super glue? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted December 4, 2008 Report Share Posted December 4, 2008 You use the pvc plumbing glue stuff. I don't know the proper name for it, it's in the plumbing section of any hardware store. Just let it set for a few hours before putting it into use. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henward Posted December 4, 2008 Author Report Share Posted December 4, 2008 yeah, the guy said i shouldnt they dont know if it emits residue because its used for sewage pipes and not drinking water. they said that for drinking water - they dont use any glues Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted December 4, 2008 Report Share Posted December 4, 2008 Everyone uses it all the time in hundreds of thousands of tanks around the world. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted December 4, 2008 Report Share Posted December 4, 2008 I asked the retired plumbing inspector who suggested that the person in the shop should get a new job writng fiction novels. The adhesive used is a solvent glue which is basically PVC disolved in a solvent (smells like metyl-ethyl ketone ) which dissolves the material being glued and welds the two together. It is used in sanitary plumbing all over the world and is safe when the solvent has evaporated in about 24 hours. RTV will not glue PVC. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David R Posted December 4, 2008 Report Share Posted December 4, 2008 Agree, use the proper PVC glue, and let it dry for at least 24 hours before putting any water thru it. I used that for my return plumbing, but the overflow is just pushed together. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Navarre Posted December 4, 2008 Report Share Posted December 4, 2008 I have done something like David Rs plumbing and have never had a problem. Be WARNED though Plan and pre assemble before gluing as once on this stuff holds in SECONDS I have but screw together flangy bulhead thingees in my lines so if I need to take it down I can. HTH Navarre Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted December 4, 2008 Report Share Posted December 4, 2008 PVC water reticulation pipes are under mains pressure and are glued. Waste pipes are not under the same pressure so you can get a range of fittings as suggested by navarre. Also as stated, you only get one go at glueing so get it right. You should make sure the joint is clean and dry, remove any dags and give the joint one quarter turn as you make it to get the joint together properly. Requires careful planning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henward Posted December 4, 2008 Author Report Share Posted December 4, 2008 i see ok cool then no problems i wil get that pvc glue. its all pre-assembled now, ready to go up. ill go get the glue then:D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henward Posted December 4, 2008 Author Report Share Posted December 4, 2008 might sound strange can someone give me a picture of a pottle they used im really paranoid on this one cos i dont trust hardware store people lol or a name? or a description? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henward Posted December 4, 2008 Author Report Share Posted December 4, 2008 http://www.aqualine.co.nz/cement.html i called them and asked of all their PVC cement products and they said "we are advising you that it is toxic and may and can harm your fish. Do notuse our products or anything thats not sewage or spouting" .... solicone it is lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David R Posted December 4, 2008 Report Share Posted December 4, 2008 Plan and pre assemble before gluing as once on this stuff holds in SECONDS Yep. I cut and do a dry pre-assemble , then mark the angles by drawing a like across the joins that I can line up when glueing and assemble it outside because the glue stinks!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted December 4, 2008 Report Share Posted December 4, 2008 Henward-- I am a retired Envirnmental Health Officer, Plumbing and Drainage Inspector, Building Inspector etc. I am telling you that they are giving you bad advice. Silicone (RTV) will not glue PVC. You must use PVC glue. It is used in all PVC installing in waste pipes, stormwater and cold water supply pipes throughout the world. It is available from all hardware stores. Tell them you want adhesive for PVC used in cold water supply reticulation. It is probably used in the cold water system in your house, it is in mine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henward Posted December 4, 2008 Author Report Share Posted December 4, 2008 cool i just bought it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David R Posted December 4, 2008 Report Share Posted December 4, 2008 Pressure Pipe (the skinny stuff you use for returns) is used for tap water isn't it, and is held together with that glue?? :-? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henward Posted December 4, 2008 Author Report Share Posted December 4, 2008 ok yeah fair enough i used marleys pvc glue and ill use tha tin the future seems that a few people here have used that that wasalso recommended by hollywood Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livingart Posted December 5, 2008 Report Share Posted December 5, 2008 don't you be sniffing it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henward Posted December 5, 2008 Author Report Share Posted December 5, 2008 wow that stuff is potent, i feel light headed:D kidding! no, its completely fixed on to the joints now, wow its strong! but ill wait a day and rinse it and soak it in water a little bit to get rid of any possble residue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warren Posted December 5, 2008 Report Share Posted December 5, 2008 I wouldn't bother washing up. I've used this stuff many times before for aquarium plumbing. A couple of time in an emergency from broken pipes or leaks I've glued the pipes together above or below the tank, waited 30-60seconds for the glue to bite and then turned the pump straight back on. A bit of a smell comes off the water surface for a few hours but it didn't seem to hurt the fish at all. The tank was medium sized though at 1200L with around 200 dwarf cichlids in it. No casualties at any time from the glue. Of course, I'm not certain the solvent didn't hurt the fish long-term but it was leak all over the floor or have fumes in the water - fumes won... The stuff leaves no harmful residue so no need to rinse or scrub afterwards. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richms Posted December 7, 2008 Report Share Posted December 7, 2008 I have used some lacquer thinners to join PVC in the past - did an alright job of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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