standard PVC vs Flex PVC

[crimsoncoral]

I need opinions. Which is better to use, standard PVC or Flex PVC? This is going to be used for exhaust(outake from tank to sump) and return plumbing.

 

[Jeff Hood]

I have a 50 foot roll of the flexable PVC in my garage waiting for me to hook up my tank. I would spend the extra in the flexable especially if you are connecting to a bulkhead directly to a glass or acrylic sump. The flexable line will take the stress off of the joint. If you use rigid pipe then I would use some flexable hose right at the connection to be sure you don't stress the side wall of your tank and cause a crack.

I would also install unions so you can remove them from the sump etc... incase you need to take the sump or pump out for a repair or cleaning.

The flexable PVC pipe feels like a rubbery compound and is white. I ordered my pipe online for 1.75 per foot and here local it would have cost around 2.75 per foot. I don't remember what I paid in shipping but I know I saved money for sure. I think it was around 40 bucks for the whole order and I ordered a lot of stuff.

Jeff

 

[crimsoncoral]

With the flex PVC can you glue it into a slip union or a slip ball valve like you can standard PVC?

[ December 29, 2001: Message edited by: crimsoncoral ]</p>

 

[esmithiii]

I used rubber tubing myself.

E

 

[HARRISON]

You can glue most of the flexable stuff just like it were PVC pipe. I am not really sure I agree that the flexable releives the pressure though. I helped Barry (Toptank) with his plumbing and we had a lot of pressure with the flexable pipe. When I plumbed my tank I used hard pipe and I don't think I have a whole lot of stress on it. I know I don't have as much as Barry, but that might have to do with the way we both set up our plumbing too. Now my main return line is a flexable hose. Now that small of a diameter I agree will be little pressure. The exit pipe is like 3 inch though I think. Pretty heavy...

Thats just my opinion though.

 

[Jeff Hood]

The main thing I worry about with the rigid pipe connected directly to a sump with out any type of flex pipe is not necessarly the connection itself. If you measured and cut your pipes correctly there should not be any stress. The real problem comes when or if something gets moved.
You are right the flexable PVC is only modestly flexable. As the diameter of the flexable PVC goes up the radius of the maxium bend also goes up with it. So my 2 inch tubing can not make as tight a turn as my 1 inch tubing. The one thing it helps you with is it allows you to have some flexability in your design and placement of components in tight places. I have always used the rigid pipe then added hose nipples at the ends and connected PVC hose to the sump. With my larger setup the flex line will make my setup much easier to install.

good luck.

Jeff

 

[platylover]

I used both 1.5" spa flex and sch40 pvc when setting up my new tank. The 1.5" spa flex was 10x more expensive than the sch40 pvc. I bought locally since I only need a small amount of flex pvc. I think I paid about 3.50/ft for 5 feet and the 10foot length of 1.5 pvc was 3.50 for the entire length. Since the bulkheads from my tank to the sump was straight down, I used rigid pvc. I only used the flex for the pump return.

The spa flex was a PITA to use since it comes coiled and likes to retain that shape. The spa flex will fit into slip fittings, especially after it has been lubricated with some cement.

 

[newreefman1]

i used flex pvc on my first tank with a sump. This time, I used thick braided tubing from a LFS. 2" diameter. It was reasonably priced, does the job and flexes great when I have to move it.
The flex pvc worked great for me before but as mentioned, the thicker, the less give ya get. It also is quite expensive

J

 

[Jeff Hood]

Wow! 3.50 a foot. I ordered it on line at 1.75 a foot and you can order it in any length at that cost. Shipping was not bad if you order enough. If you just need a few feet then it would not be worth it at all. I ordered 50 foot of the 1.5 inch and 10 feet each of 1 inch and 2 inch.

Jeff

 

[MandarinFish]

Hey Dan,

Any chance I can get pics or a diagram of your manifold?

I'm working on plumbing now too (need to build a manifold?).

I was recommended by Jeff at Lifereef to do a manifold, and use basic flexi-acrylic tubing for the output to the sump.

He said that while clear, flexi tubing collects algaes, it is worth it to be able to see if there are obstructions in the line and the flexible is easier to work with, maintain, keep from having problems, etc.

 

[livingstone]

I used a combination of the two types. For example, when I built a "manifold" for the distribution of my return pump's output, I used regular schedule 40 PVC but for long curved runs and for applications where I was concerned about joint stress, I used flex PVC. It worked great! I have no elbows in my system at all.

 

[livingstone]

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by MandarinFish:
<strong>Any chance I can get pics or a diagram of your manifold?</strong><hr></blockquote>

Such as it is. Pretty simple design really. Actually it was MattM of Inland Reef Aquaria that drew it out for me initially.