Hey just wanted to show some pics of the latest set of UGJ I built for the 55. Unfortunetly you can never seem to take enough pictures but I hope this gives the general idea on how to set them up.
What is not shown is the purchase of a 6' piece of 1/2" pvc pipe,all the elbows,fitting,angled pieces and the cutter used to cut pvc pipe. Make sure you purcase them as they are cheap and make cutting pvc a breeze. This time I did not make any template but it might be suggested but I will tell you that in doing this my first attempt was not perfect and neither was my second as I had to do 3 of 4 test fits.
This first shot is of the Maxi jet and pond filter set up I purcased at Home Depot. We found these in the pond section(duh) and it came with two filters and a cover to fit over the end of the intake side of the maxi-jet. It did not fit real tight but I know with the suction it makes it should not fall off.
This is a are shots of the adapter I purcased and they fit real tight over the output side of the maxi-jet and it screwed into the 90degree threaded end of pvc.
As you can see it has some form of compression ring in it and it had a release on the outside(hard to see the release in either shot).
Here is the 90degree double open fitting with the threaded inside where the adapter get screwed into place.
A shot of some of the pieces used.
More pieces.
This shot show the short piece of pvc that forms the jet.
The short pvc pieced is boiled for about 3-4 minutes and then lifted out with a set of tongs and I used the pliers in the shot to first squeese the ends together and when it was close I squeezed the side to have it keeps it shape while it cools. Cooling was fairly quick and we have found if you dont work the pvc fast it will really not take the shape you want. We also discovered if you don't like the shape you want you can real boil the pvc and it will go almost fully back to its original shape and you can bend it again till it is right.
Here is what it looked like before I put it all together.
Here is what it looks like before being placed in the tank. Look at the ends as they have been shaped at this point to make the jets!!! Also I have never used any pvc glue as the connections seem to be more than adequately tight. Sometimes I needed pliers to help grip the pipes to get enough leverage to take them apart for any refitting.
Once you know it will fit into the tank and all the jets are where you want them add your sand then water. The couple of times I have made these and intstalled them I had to fight to keep them from floating up. But once there are down they dont seem to want to come up at all.
