PVC purple Primer/Cement Combo vs. GE Silicone I clear caulking???

[Adam Page]

I have a question in reguards to what type of waterproof sealing I would be able to use to fit my PVC piping together. The piping is used for flow from the main tank to my 30g refugium and then back up to the tank. Also my protein skimmer is using similar piping. I would like to use the clear caulk due to it's ease of installation, and there is also no ugly purple primer showing... Which method should I use? Any advice would be helpful. Please and thank you.

 

[JohnK]

Definately use the PVC cement. FWIW you can order clear PVC primer, IIRC either glass-holes.com or bulkreefsupply.ccom carries it. Keep in mind that PVC cement is permenant, so make sure everything is how you want it before using the cement. Also, it's a very good idea to include unions in strategic locations so that you can take the plumbing apart for cleaning without needing to cut anything.

Silicone won't do much of anything to seal up your plumbing.

Edit, adding link. Here's clear primer;
http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/store...ch-80-glue/clear-pvc-primer-weld-on-p-70.html

 

[littlefish09]

if you dont want to order or see the primer just dry fit the plumbing and mark where the fittings end and dont go past the mark with the primer

 

[Adam Page]

Thank you for your posts... Unions and ball valves are what I have incorporated already. Definitely going to go ahead and use my primer carefully as to not leave any purple areas... Thank you to the both of you... Happy reefing!

 

[Jim Tansey]

You can get the clear primer at just about any place that sells plumbing supplies. The only reason for the purple primer is so plumbing inspectors can see that primer was used in the joints, I agree it's ugly.

Jim

 

[JohnK]

keep in mind when test fitting PVC parts, the pipe ususally won't seat all the way into the fittings until you have applied the primer/cement, so test fitting can be misleading.... Not saying not to test fit, just saying be aware that the pipe will usually seat deeper on final assembly.

To be safe, you can measure the depth of the fittings and reality check by that before final cutting and cementing.

 

[Adam Page]

All done

While priming and cementing the PVC pipes I realized that I was making a mountain out of a mole hill... Very quick and easy to do... Primed and cemented... now its already dry... Thanks for all your help guys... more questions will be coming...

 

[smartfish]

You can use masking tape after you dry fit and remove the tape after it is dry.

 

[Conlius]

You know they sell clear pvc cement right?

 

[MikeG]

You know they sell clear pvc cement right?

Pretty sure everyone in this thread is referring to the primer not the cement being purple.

 

[Jim Tansey]

It,s not the cement but the primer that is colored.

Jim

 

[stingythingy45]

Oddly enough ift he primer sits for a couple years it turns clear anyways.At least mine did.
And it still works fine.

 

[onefish]

you could also lightly sand away the purple primer too, that is, if it bothers you that much. if your going to that point, you mine as well spray paint it black.