Type of Pipe to use in Plumbing?

[Patrick Cox]

I am starting a 100G aquarium and need some input on the type of pipe to use. My current tank has schedule 40 PVC and I remember I had trouble getting some of the angles cut right so on this tank I am considering using some flexible PVC or more reinforced vinyl tubing. I do plan to have a gate valve below my main drain (bean animal) so I am thinking I will start the drain with schedule 40 PVC and then switch to something more flexible. (either the vinyl or maybe flexible PVC.)

And then not sure what to do on the returns other than I know I will start with vinyl off the return pump but not sure if I stick with that all the way to the return output or switch to something else. I will need to split the return as I have two returns into the tank.

Thanks for thoughts on this.

Pat

 

[gus6464]

Use silicone tubing instead of vinyl. Mcmaster carr has all you need in that regard. You can hard plumb everything but using silicone tubing from the return pump to the manifold helps with vibration noise.

 

[ca1ore]

Just avoid the barb fittings. They significantly restrict flow.

 

[fernalfer]

Use silicone tubing instead of vinyl. Mcmaster carr has all you need in that regard. You can hard plumb everything but using silicone tubing from the return pump to the manifold helps with vibration noise.

I'm in same boat. So your saying Silicone tubing from return pump into PVC? I also have 2 overflows. What is the best way to split out to the 2 overflows and also do you place a check valve or something to control waterflow?

 

[gus6464]

I'm in same boat. So your saying Silicone tubing from return pump into PVC? I also have 2 overflows. What is the best way to split out to the 2 overflows and also do you place a check valve or something to control waterflow?

I have a DC pump so my flow is controller by that and a gate valve on the siphon drain of my herbie overflow. And yes to the silicone tubing going from return pump to PVC. As for the overflows I would just hard plumb them to the sump. So both are inside the same display?

 

[Patrick Cox]

Just avoid the barb fittings. They significantly restrict flow.

Why is that? And how do you connect soft tubing without barb fittings? Thanks.

 

[MiddletoM]

Why is that? And how do you connect soft tubing without barb fittings? Thanks.

Because it creates a bottleneck. A flexible tube with a 22mm internal diameter will need a barb with an outer diameter of 22mm but this barb will have an internal diameter of around 16mm (as an example). so the whole system would be 22mm apart from this barb. Hopefully that makes sense.

Some flexible tubing can be solvent welded like hard PVC piping. Im not too clued up on this though.

 

[Patrick Cox]

Because it creates a bottleneck. A flexible tube with a 22mm internal diameter will need a barb with an outer diameter of 22mm but this barb will have an internal diameter of around 16mm (as an example). so the whole system would be 22mm apart from this barb. Hopefully that makes sense.

Some flexible tubing can be solvent welded like hard PVC piping. Im not too clued up on this though.

Is this really something to be worried about? I mean I didn't think a super high rate of flow through the sump is really necessary with modern day Display Tank powerheads. And flexible/soft tubing is much easier to deal with and even replace if needed.

Thanks for further comments from anyone.

 

[ca1ore]

Is this really something to be worried about? I mean I didn't think a super high rate of flow through the sump is really necessary with modern day Display Tank powerheads. And flexible/soft tubing is much easier to deal with and even replace if needed.

Thanks for further comments from anyone.

Well, think about it. You'd run a larger pump than you need to overcome friction. If I have to use barbs, I oversize them to prevent back pressure. I stopped using vinyl hose in favor of flex PVC which can be solvent welded into regular PVC fittings with no restrictions on flow.

 

[Patrick Cox]

Well, think about it. You'd run a larger pump than you need to overcome friction. If I have to use barbs, I oversize them to prevent back pressure. I stopped using vinyl hose in favor of flex PVC which can be solvent welded into regular PVC fittings with no restrictions on flow.

Where do you buy Flex PVC?

 

[Jone]

Ultra-Flex PVC,read down the thread for this product,,use no barbs but regular pipe fittings and pvc glue
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2554881