"For uniseals two inches and larger I get them started by making a "press" with all thread or a pipe style bar clamp and a two inch piece of a larger pipe. I still have to bevel and smooth the end of the pipe going into the uniseal. …"
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Jon Baldwin
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Argh! Fittings!
Started this discussion. Last reply by Stephen Corbett Feb 18. 28 Replies 0 Likes
I've been trying to find the fittings that go through the wall of the tank that you can slide a 1 inch PVC pipe through. I could get by with two of those and one for a 2 inch PVC. You can see them…Continue
Rule of thumb for sumps?
Started this discussion. Last reply by TCLynx Jul 16, 2011. 1 Reply 0 Likes
If I have about 185 gal fish tank [bottom portion of IBC], and am starting with two 75 gal grow beds (sans rock) [top 12 inches of IBC]. Is there an equation to determine the correct size (how many…Continue
Small handful of noob questions...
Started this discussion. Last reply by Gary Lanning Mar 23, 2011. 4 Replies 0 Likes
I apologize if all of these questions have already been asked. I haven't had any luck searching the forum. If you can send me links that's fine, direct answers are even better!1.). Is there a cheaper…Continue
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Latest Activity
Shas Cho replied to Jon Baldwin's discussion Argh! Fittings!"Yes, I use inner tubes,
but those are not as easy to come by as they were 20 years ago.
I was hoping you had discovered a new miracle material ;-)"
M D Fowler replied to Jon Baldwin's discussion Argh! Fittings!"the hardware store sell sheets of 5"X5" rubber for that or i've hear of people using tire inner-tube. your right about the fitting, i had a 3" that wouldn't screw all the way down even though i tryed everything from…"
Shas Cho replied to Jon Baldwin's discussion Argh! Fittings!"What did you make your 'O' rings out of?
Some of those male/female fittings have nice square shoulders
which compress an 'O' ring nicely.
Others have shoulders like the Hulk,
sloping from the neck to the body
and requiring…"
M D Fowler replied to Jon Baldwin's discussion Argh! Fittings!"here is what i had to do...
1" male that screws in with "O" ring and 1" female that screws in with "O" ring. one on each side of tank and if it is NOT going to be under pressure you don't need to use…"
Shas Cho replied to Jon Baldwin's discussion Argh! Fittings!"All of which goes to show that there is no one way
to set up and maintain an aquaponics system!
As my grandma used to say,
anyway you get the skin off a cat is the right way!"
David Hart replied to Jon Baldwin's discussion Argh! Fittings!"The only thing more 'evil' then a uniseal, is a 'tee eliminator'. They look like a uniseal, but have threads inside them...designed to have a female adapter, screwed into them. Install a handfull , and…"
Gina Cavaliero replied to Jon Baldwin's discussion Argh! Fittings!"Even though the economy bulkhead is only $2 more, there is additional cost in at least one or quite likely 2 MIP or FIP fittings that you wouldn't have with the Uniseal. Plenty of lubricant is the key. We use them up to 3" in…"
George replied to Jon Baldwin's discussion Argh! Fittings!" I didn't think 2 inch uniseals were much trouble - beveled edge with sander and used spit lubricant.
"
joe replied to Jon Baldwin's discussion Argh! Fittings!"again, with a beveled pipe edge and silicone lube, 1.5" uniseal was a breeze. slipped right in with a gentle push/wobble. the other benefit is that the uniseal gives you a little bit of play just in case you didn't get your pipe…"
David Hart replied to Jon Baldwin's discussion Argh! Fittings!"I 'hate' uniseals...
Yes, they work. I've sucessfully have installed about 2 dozen. But if your trying to install any pipe bigger the 1 inch...forget that! What a pain in the ...wrist.
The picture that Rik shared, where the guy…"
joe replied to Jon Baldwin's discussion Argh! Fittings!"i love uniseals. they expand slightly when you stick a pipe in it to give you a solid seal. bevel the edge of your pipe slightly using a utility knife at a 45-degree angle. apply a decent amount of silicone plumber's lube to the rubber seal.…"
Shas Cho replied to Jon Baldwin's discussion Argh! Fittings!"If you can afford uniseals
they are the bee's knees.
Here are the best prices I've found-
http://www.aquaponiclynx.com/products/uniseal
You may even recognise the seller!"
Chris Cates replied to Jon Baldwin's discussion Argh! Fittings!"You can use a shower pan drain. I was looking at these things in lowes the other day. I already used bulkhead adapters I ordered here, but these would have worked for my fish tank fittings and were a little cheaper. Item # 253153…"
Raychel A Watkins replied to Jon Baldwin's discussion Argh! Fittings!"Those things are called uniseals. Mostly I get them at Aquatic Eco Systems out of Florida. If you have a place that does Koi ponds or things like that they may have them"
Shas Cho replied to Jon Baldwin's discussion Argh! Fittings!"Even a pair of simple PVC couplers can make a fine "bulkhead" fitting:
Simply cut a short nipple of PVC pipe
such that the couplers bump together when they are joined over it.
Drill a hole in your tank such that the nipple can just slide…"
Profile Information
- How did you find us?
- referral from another website
- If you found us through a referral or a newsletter, which was it?
- Sylvia at aquaponics source
- Are you an aquaponic gardener already?
- No
- Please tell us something else about yourself.
- Avid mushroom farmer, always interested in finding more/better ways to produce my own food and learn the sciences and best practices behind them.
If you watch the video on this page, this is the stuff I used to dream of before finding Sylvia's blog...
http://www.openblueseafarms.com/market_opportunity/blue_revolution....
...well, that and raising an orphan army.
Comment Wall (6 comments)
- At 9:41am on December 30, 2011,
Tawnya Sawyer said… HI Jon-
If you still have the IBC tanks, we could use them for a school project we are setting up around the first of the year. Let me know, tawnya@coloradoaquaponics.com, or 303-232-4938
- At 5:25pm on June 23, 2011,
Dan Wulff said… - Hi Jon, welcome to the herd. Let me know if you need help or advice when you start building. I hope it goes well for you.
- At 8:11pm on June 22, 2011,
LogicalHydro said… Hey Jon,
Nice to see another local grower!
- At 10:52am on April 4, 2011, Tawnya Sawyer said…
Hi Jon-
When you use the 1/3 of the IBC for a grow bed, you have to include the metal frame around it. They are flexible and will retain some shape until you fill them and then they bulge out. We also build a wooden stand for the IBC so that is doesn't have to be totally supported by the cut part of the tank, but there are various different designs for this.
Hope this helps.
- At 4:24pm on February 23, 2011,
Sylvia Bernstein said… - Glad you iPad is now getting along with the site...or is it the reverse? Were you at the Denver Botanic Garden volunteer appreciation night? I"m betting we have a connection somewhere...
- At 8:09am on January 28, 2011, Sylvia Bernstein said…
Hi Jon,
Did we meet at the Denver Botanic Gardens event? Your name is very familiar.
Thanks for joining the Aquaponic Gardening community! I hope you find it a fun place to explore aquaponics. There is a real blend of experienced and new aquapons in this community, so please don’t hesitate to get in there and start asking questions. Everyone is quite happy to help out new members – no question is too basic.
A great place to start is to read the “How to Use This Site” link on the upper right corner, “Start Here” section of the Main page. You might also find the “Aquaponic Gardening Rules of Thumb” guidelines helpful. And join the Colorado Aquapons group!
Please add a profile image, participate and check in with us every day! We are constantly posting news about aquaponics and the good food movement.
Thanks again for joining us, and I look forward to getting to know you.
Sylvia
© 2012 Created by Sylvia Bernstein.
