The pond dig has begun!

[CountryEscape]

T'Mann, a friend suggested the rubber gasket in a tube, too, but they fit really tight, like so tight that it's hard to pull them apart. I could cut out a rubber gasket from my liner, too. I know I need to seal the pipe coming out of the bottom of the filter container with gasket, silicone, whatever will work. Do you think a gasket on the two pieces of PVC pipe (or is it Schedule 40??? ... the white pipe is what I'm talking about, not sure if I called it the right thing)? I obviously don't want them working apart on a hot day or something, and draining my pond. I do, however, now have my pump up higher than before, as it is on a milk crate, and in the 42" section, not the 48" section, so that still doesn't leave much water for the fish, but I guess enough for them to survive in a tragedy if something started to leak while I was gone to work.

 

[addy1]

Country tmann is talking about the flexible rubber connections to hold your pipe together, no glue just a screw driver or a nut driver and you can take your pipe apart. We have our pump plumbed in using them.

http://www.homedepot...s&storeId=10051

Here is what they look like, mine are black, come in different sizes

 

[CountryEscape]

Well, huh .... never seen them before! I will have to ask today when I go back into Menards. They are getting real used to me in there. LOL Or, maybe Rural King, but RK doesn't have as much stuff, not all the fittings. So, maybe I could find a flexible tube like that to connect the 2 pieces of PVC/Sch 40 pipe, which would be good. Do the links come in lengths, too, or just connection length? Wondering if they would be long enough to flex or if that's asking too much. Amazing the things you learn when you ask questions! I def like the idea of tightening the connection with rubber and clamps. Thanks!

 

[CountryEscape]

Just re-read what you wrote, Todd, and what Addy commented, and realized that this rubber gasket will work better for me than the piece of plastic clear tubing, which is VERY difficult to get back off of the connectors. Going to see about replacing the 2 that are where my line tees off to the fountain and waterfall, since I had to replace the fittings ... evidently they cracked in the weather. Will take the assembly in next winter.

 

[addy1]

Country they come in a standard length, sort of around 5-6 inches long, (guessing) They do flex, if you don't push the pipes all of the way in you can make a flex. Also they come with built in angles. I don't recall the angles, will take a look for you. I know I bought one that was 45 degrees. They are usually in the pvc or plumbing section of the store.

 

[CountryEscape]

Great! 45 is what I want, so if they have that angle, that's what I will get. Glad I didn't put the parts together yet, as sounds like I'm still improving on how it will run. Wonder why no one offered me this solution before??? Stupid people. LOL
Have you ever used some type of "blue" silicone? Another friend said it's often in the automotive area, and that it's really flexible, and I could use it to push the hard pipes together, to help seal them, but that I would be able to twist and break the seal to take the pipe apart later on.

 

[addy1]

Great! 45 is what I want, so if they have that angle, that's what I will get. Glad I didn't put the parts together yet, as sounds like I'm still improving on how it will run. Wonder why no one offered me this solution before??? Stupid people. LOL
Have you ever used some type of "blue" silicone? Another friend said it's often in the automotive area, and that it's really flexible, and I could use it to push the hard pipes together, to help seal them, but that I would be able to twist and break the seal to take the pipe apart later on.

We used silicone like that when I did a lot of atv riding, sealed well but also came off. I recall blue and black silicone that my late hubby used a lot.
If you can't find them there, but you should be able to, I could buy you some and ship them to you, the rubber connections. They are great for being able to take your pvc apart for cleaning, moving pumps, rearranging your lines etc, no cutting and gluing lol

 

[CountryEscape]

Thanks a bunch Addy! That's so nice of you to offer. Hopefully they will have them at Menards, I was probably not in the right area or something. I will ask them specifically this time and go right to that area. Yes, they would be MUCH easier to take everything apart for the winter.

 

[addy1]

The ones I have are made by fernco and american valve. The 2 inch ones is fernco 1056-22

 

[taherrmann4]

CE check home depots web site out, they have all sorts.

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/cat...d=10051&catalogId=10053&Ns=None&Ntpr=1&Ntpc=1

 

[addy1]

CE check home depots web site out, they have all sorts.

http://www.homedepot...e&Ntpr=1&Ntpc=1

thanks tmann, for some reason my search was not showing the ones that angle, that is what she could use.

 

[koiguy1969]

My PVC joints are all just sealed with aquarium silicone. so are my connections thru my filter walls...no problems. and i ve taken them apart a few times.because i use my basement filter as a water change basin for the outdoor pond. the rubber hose unions are commonly called "fernco couplers", even the off brands...if you ask at a plumbing place for a fernco coupler they will know exactly what you need. they make them to adapt between different pipe sizes as well. very handy for ponding!! rubbing just a touch of vaseline on the inside before inserting the pipe makes them come apart easily.

 

[CountryEscape]

Thanks for the clue about the vaseline on the inside of the rubber fittings, KoiGuy! I'll be sure to do that.
I found the 45 degree angle one, Addy, and got all my parts ... or thought I did. LOL I was buying for 2" pipe, and I have 1.5" pipe. Oh well! I will get a 2' piece of the 2" and be ready to go, since I'd rather have the drain as large as possible, not go smaller.
So, you use the aquarium silicone for the seal on the rubbermaid or whatever container, huh, Mark? I have some of that, too! I cut some rubber gaskets and used them in the connector that goes through the filter. I should fill it up and see if it leaks. I could put it in my bathtub to check it. LOL Now would be the time to check it, rather than when it is full and not as accessible.
No place had the rubber connectors (fernco) small enough for my fittings that I have now for where the pump tubing comes out, then tees to the fountain and waterfall. I have 1" tubing and connectors between the valves, and then 1.5" going to the waterfall. So, guess I will use the clear tubing pieces since it's just there. And, if I use the vaseline there, too, I bet they will come right apart this next winter, too!

 

[addy1]

I used the frenco on my one inch line, just plumbed in a bushing, took the 1 inch pipe added a 1.5 inch bushing, so the 1.5 inch frenco would work. This was for my deck pond, we need to be able to pull the pump in winter and pull the pond pickup to clean off and on.

 

[CountryEscape]

Heading outside on this sunny chilly (45 or so) day to get my filter put together finally and hopefully see no leaks so I can get the waterfall and fountain running finally. Once I know that the water is flowing properly on the waterfall, I can put rocks back in place, then will take pics. Reworking the plumbing of the drain on my filter has caused tons of problems, as I'm not too keen on figuring this all out. LOL But, with the help of my fellow ponders, I think I have it straight now, and will see when I get it together. Crossing fingers my liner "washers" will give me the water tight seal I need at the bottom hole, as the rest will be either glued or screwed for seal.