Replicating connectors by machining PVC
posted Apr 21st 2010 9:00am by Mike Szczysfiled under: home hacks
[Alex] bought a hang on tank filter for his aquarium. Unfortunately it was made for a different water level than he was using and didn’t have the ability to adjust that he needed. Add to that the non-standard pipe sizing which compounded the problem by making it difficult to extend the intake and output tubes. He overcame this by machining PVC pipe to match the stock connectors. After turning the PVC on a lathe he added a neoprene o-ring and painted the assembly black. The new connector allows standard size PVC fittings for easy changes in the future, and it keeps his turtles healthy and happy.
Don’t forget to give that paint PLENTY of time to air out before you place it in a fish tank; those critters can be very sensitive to contamination.
Nice work.