hard plumbing vs soft plumbing

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
For smallish setups, I definitely prefer soft tubing types. For large high-flow setups I would always feel safer depending on solvent welded PVC rather than some cheap Chinese made screw-clamp.
 
i was going to do flex hose but the thought of the stuff falling and spewing water all over my floor was scary.... i switched to hard CPVC (becuase PVC is hard to come by in canada apparently) and never looked back
 
fox3;4012616; said:
PVC for me. Tired of cleaning the algae build up from the clear and braided tubing. And the only thing that restricts flow more than a ball valve are barbs. Sorta like fast food, if you want it "now" go with barbs and tubing whatever floats yer boat. I still run a tank with tubing.

My last sump used 1-1/2 vinyl tubing and was as effecient as you could get it and my mag18 needed to be throttled just a tad. Moved the tank and went with 1-1/4 PVC and I needed to add a mag 7 to the mix and still could not satisify the drains. Just bought a Hy-Drive 3200 and the drains quieted up nicely, not sure why it flows better as the only thing I did was switch to PVC. I guess it was win win for me as I got more flow and less wattage pump(s).

I use spa flex where I need to make a gentle bend. Not sure why anyone would use a 90° bend when sweeps are available. If you gots some time to plan it right and a pool supply nearby for hard to find SCH40 fittings I would go PVC.
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Got Pix?
 
I got just one more question / comment about hose and clamps...
Does anybody have a car with a radiator, you know the kind that has a couple of hoses and a few CLAMPS? the kind that keeps the engine of the car from boiling over, you know like 212F and many pounds of pressure??!?

We are talking Aquarium Filtration, low pressure, 88f water at the most.... :screwy:

Conner;4012620; said:
Manifolds...... :D

http://www.flexpvc.com/cart/agora.cgi?product=PVC-Manifolds-Distributors
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I know huh...That place rocks man...I really REALLY, like those spiral hose clamps that cinch down in the spirals of the flex hose...PERFECT!!
 
zennzzo;4012897; said:
Got Pix?
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I posted one here last week but with the two mag drives and both b-valves closed 45° to quiet the drains. Do a search and you should find it. None with the vinyl tubing but still gots the stuff ... not clear any more.

Just set up the Hy- drive 3200 no pics of this setup yet but the drains did not change at all just increased the supply from 1" to 1-1/2" and added another 3/4" loc-line wye return.
 
Zennzzo, I think you did a great job at displaying a particular situation where soft hose worked better than rigid pipe... But I don't think that one situation proves that in all applications and in all situations soft is wonderful and hard sucks...

I appreciated reading your experience but at this point it feels like you are beating us up with your opinion...

I tend to favor PVC... but in some situatinos I use soft... I can also see there are situatinos I've yet to tackle that soft would work better as well... but that doesn't mean I'll give up on PVC in all cases...
 
zennzzo;4012923; said:
I got just one more question / comment about hose and clamps...
Does anybody have a car with a radiator, you know the kind that has a couple of hoses and a few CLAMPS? the kind that keeps the engine of the car from boiling over, you know like 212F and many pounds of pressure??!?

We are talking Aquarium Filtration, low pressure, 88f water at the most.... :screwy:

I know huh...That place rocks man...I really REALLY, like those spiral hose clamps that cinch down in the spirals of the flex hose...PERFECT!!
Click to expand...

Spot on zennzzo!

Are we really thinking logically here or are some people just putting points forward for arguments sake???

I'm sure everyone has attached a hose to PVC or plastic before, if not you must of done it at some stage with a canister - sometimes it can be quite an effort to get it on don't you think? Have you tried pulling it off without twisting it?? Pretty certain many of us can't get it off. Well, with a clamp on and no twist there is very very very little chance a correctly sized hose will come off! I think it is safe to say that the chances are just the same as a PVC pipe coming apart from a glued connection.
 
What do public aquariums use? I mean we are talking about bigger than normal setups here as this is MFK.

As for the example using the 212F, let's compare apples with apples. those parts, pipes and clamps are built for high performance and the cost relates to them. Most D.I.Y. stores (that I have been to) don't carry those kinds of clamps and hoses.

And on a saltwater setup? Which would be better? the saltwater humidity would severely rust clamps( as has happened in my setup).

Again just some thoughts from my side.
 
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