Cadlights plumbing help

AlexR · 03/19/2019, 04:24 PM

I've searched and searched and could not find anything definitive.
I have a 125g cadlights artisan tank. The overflow has 3 drilled holes. Re-driling is not an option for me.

Seems the original fittings were all uPVC and metric. Lowes or HomeDepot do not have fittings that fit. I have ordered bulkheads off bulkreefsupply and amazon which did not fit, now i have a extra part bucket filled with bulkheads i can never use.

Does anyone that have one of these tanks know which fittings i can get? Seems cadlights does not stock these anymore and when i spoke to them they confirmed they did not have any in stock.
I would prefer to convert it to standard if that possible without drilling.

Right now im running the tank with a tiny leak which drips down into the refugium. Not good. Mainly i need to re-plumb the main return line and the emergency line. The drain line is fine.

Has anyone done this before with a cadlights 125g?

The tank is beautiful. The plumbing is not good.

mcgyvr · 03/20/2019, 06:38 AM

Make it easy... fill in the blank
Diameter of drilled holes = ___________

AlexR · 03/20/2019, 10:25 AM

It looks like the main return is 3/4” and the emergency drain is 1/2”.

But it’s Upvc and metric. Regular bulkheads that size will not fit.

JoeTSI · 03/20/2019, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlexR

It looks like the main return is 3/4” and the emergency drain is 1/2”.

But it’s Upvc and metric. Regular bulkheads that size will not fit.

I had the same dilemma. Did you not receive bulkheads from Cadlights? If not, call them. Otherwise you can find "close" sizes at Bulk Reef Supply, normally a little smaller than the diameter of those holes but have to make SURE the bulkhead is centered and tightened.

AlexR · 03/20/2019, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoeTSI

I had the same dilemma. Did you not receive bulkheads from Cadlights? If not, call them. Otherwise you can find "close" sizes at Bulk Reef Supply, normally a little smaller than the diameter of those holes but have to make SURE the bulkhead is centered and tightened.

The originals broke. I contacted them and they don’t have any in stock and it’s unknown when they will.

Can you tell me which exactly you used?

JoeTSI · 03/20/2019, 10:31 AM

Fairly certain I used a 1/2" bulkheads and a 1/2" barely fit for the other. Going off memory as it's been a few years but I hard plumbed everything.

AlexR · 03/20/2019, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoeTSI

Fairly certain I used a 1/2" bulkheads and a 1/2" barely fit for the other. Going off memory as it's been a few years but I hard plumbed everything.

Thanks I went ahead and placed an order for the sched80 bulkheads 1/2” and 3/4” just to be sure.
I’ve read the schedule 80 fits better.

Hopefully I don’t just add more to my pile.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

mcgyvr · 03/20/2019, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlexR

It looks like the main return is 3/4” and the emergency drain is 1/2”.

But it’s Upvc and metric. Regular bulkheads that size will not fit.

Is that the diameter of the actual hole drilled in the tank?
I wanted to know the exact dimensions of the drilled holes so we can suggest proper bulkheads without guessing..
Measuring those requires that you remove the bulkheads..

AlexR · 03/20/2019, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcgyvr

Is that the diameter of the actual hole drilled in the tank?
I wanted to know the exact dimensions of the drilled holes so we can suggest proper bulkheads without guessing..
Measuring those requires that you remove the bulkheads..

I’ll measure using a caliper when I get the bulkheads I ordered from BRS.
For now I’m not ready to take it apart yet.

Four drachma · 03/20/2019, 08:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlexR

I've searched and searched and could not find anything definitive.

I have a 125g cadlights artisan tank. The overflow has 3 drilled holes. Re-driling is not an option for me.

Seems the original fittings were all uPVC and metric. Lowes or HomeDepot do not have fittings that fit. I have ordered bulkheads off bulkreefsupply and amazon which did not fit, now i have a extra part bucket filled with bulkheads i can never use.

Does anyone that have one of these tanks know which fittings i can get? Seems cadlights does not stock these anymore and when i spoke to them they confirmed they did not have any in stock.

I would prefer to convert it to standard if that possible without drilling.

Right now im running the tank with a tiny leak which drips down into the refugium. Not good. Mainly i need to re-plumb the main return line and the emergency line. The drain line is fine.

Has anyone done this before with a cadlights 125g?

The tank is beautiful. The plumbing is not good.

This is a simple, and fun fix...buy a bigger tank, one with the right fittings...problem solved!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

AlexR · 03/20/2019, 10:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Four drachma

This is a simple, and fun fix...buy a bigger tank, one with the right fittings...problem solved!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Believe me, it crossed mind.

Seriously though. This tank is really nice. Definitely show room quality. But the plumbing leaves something to be desired.
I’m happy overall. It’s lasted for many years. But now that I’m upgrading equipment and finally taking my hobby more seriously I need to get the plumbing fixed.

03/19/2019, 04:24 PM	#1
AlexR Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Palm Coast, FL Posts: 574	Cadlights plumbing help I've searched and searched and could not find anything definitive. I have a 125g cadlights artisan tank. The overflow has 3 drilled holes. Re-driling is not an option for me. Seems the original fittings were all uPVC and metric. Lowes or HomeDepot do not have fittings that fit. I have ordered bulkheads off bulkreefsupply and amazon which did not fit, now i have a extra part bucket filled with bulkheads i can never use. Does anyone that have one of these tanks know which fittings i can get? Seems cadlights does not stock these anymore and when i spoke to them they confirmed they did not have any in stock. I would prefer to convert it to standard if that possible without drilling. Right now im running the tank with a tiny leak which drips down into the refugium. Not good. Mainly i need to re-plumb the main return line and the emergency line. The drain line is fine. Has anyone done this before with a cadlights 125g? The tank is beautiful. The plumbing is not good.

03/20/2019, 06:38 AM	#2
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	Make it easy... fill in the blank Diameter of drilled holes = ___________ __________________ Who me?

03/20/2019, 10:31 AM	#6
JoeTSI Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Huntsville, AL Posts: 257	Fairly certain I used a 1/2" bulkheads and a 1/2" barely fit for the other. Going off memory as it's been a few years but I hard plumbed everything. __________________ Joe 210 Gallon; Vortech MP40x2; Maxspect Gyre 280; 2xKessil AP700; Tunze ATO with custom 15 gallon acrylic top off tank; BRS Dual Media Reactor

03/20/2019, 10:25 AM	#3
AlexR Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Palm Coast, FL Posts: 574	It looks like the main return is 3/4” and the emergency drain is 1/2”. But it’s Upvc and metric. Regular bulkheads that size will not fit.