Does no one use flex pvc any more? Please help

[77bandit]

Like I've said, I've been out of the hobby many years and now have my new 400+gal 10'x30"x30"tank in place, but still don't have sump/refugium/other equipment. I used to use flex PVC with barbed fittings and marine grade hose clamps and ball and/or gate valves for returns, overflows, etc, but it seems that when I look at plumbing pics now, everyone has schedule 40(not flex) throughout.
Pluses and minuses to both would be appreciated before I start plumbing.

Thanks in advance for all responses

 

[trae]

[Welcome]

 

[LQT]

Many are hard plumbing with sch 40 or 80 PVC because it doesn’t restrict flow nearly as much as flexible vinyl hose and barbed fittings. Also with the growing trend of “display sumps,” people are hard plumbing with colored hard pvc pipe for aesthetic reasons as well.

 

[sbeason]

You can use spa flex found at many box stores...HD and Lowes. You use regular PVC fittings and glue it just like regular PVC without barbs.

 

[mcgyvr]

I just use sch40 because its cheap...

 

[ca1ore]

I think hard PVC is more popular because it is more easily found and cheaper. I still use flex PVC. The advantage over other flexible tubing options like vinyl hose is that you DON'T need to use flow-robbing barb fittings. As noted, flex solvent welds right into standard PVC fittings.

 

[tom obrecht]

I used it some 15 years ago on a system with a basement sump. I say if you liked using it go for it. I personally found it kind of hard to work with due to the stiffness of the pvc. Only reason I used it before was there were some funny angles going through the floor that was going to be hard to get to and the flexible pvc fit the bill. Personally if it was a pretty straight forward build I’d go with regular pvc. To each their own. Like mentioned above if you really want to make things look fancy go with colored pvc. It is eye catching.

 

[NanoReefWanabe]

My current build I used 1" schd40 PC, and I also used 1" silicone tubing and push lock fittings...