Hard plumbing V soft

[Waters]

I have had dozens of salt water tanks over the last 30+ years all plumbed with soft line and never seen or heard of cracked soft hose, not saying it couldn’t happen but can you post any links to such issues? I would also think if you have a young child messing with stuff in your sump pulling on your soft line would be the least of your worries .. this is not meant to be negative or degrading just wondering about any absolute positives with hard line.

You seem very pro soft plumbing lol. I do not have any links...just referencing my personal experience. I just feel safer with a glued PVC joint that cannot move. Regarding the cracks on hoses, it obviously depends on the material used. I have not had the soft tubing crack........just the stuff that is included with wet/dry filters (like your first picture on the right). I just don't see any positives to using soft over hard other than if it is needed based on location, where hard plumbing is not feasible. There has to be a reason you cannot use soft tubing to plumb a house right? Actually I have no idea if that is even true....just sounded good to support my argument

 

[Retro Reefer]

We debate a lot about what is the BEST thing to ...............
I run my life on cheap and good enough. It has been

good enough.

My stuff works. that is all I need it to do.

I couldn’t agree more, my middle name is cheap and easy (see my build thread.. lol) again this is not meant to be degrading or negative to people using hard line, just curious about all the perceived benefits of each.. just like everything else in reefing what works for you is all that really matters.

BTW.. did you change your screen name @Nurse Ned ? Thought it was WV Ned We are hopefully selling our house next year and if I can talk Mrs Retro into it we will be moving to the other side of the mountain looking at property in wardensville

 

[Retro Reefer]

You seem very pro soft plumbing lol. I do not have any links...just referencing my personal experience. I just feel safer with a glued PVC joint that cannot move. Regarding the cracks on hoses, it obviously depends on the material used. I have not had the soft tubing crack........just the stuff that is included with wet/dry filters (like your first picture on the right). I just don't see any positives to using soft over hard other than if it is needed based on location, where hard plumbing is not feasible. There has to be a reason you cannot use soft tubing to plumb a house right? Actually I have no idea if that is even true....just sounded good to support my argument

Yes I am pro soft plumbing because it’s all I have ever used but I’m really not trying to come across like my way or the highway with this thread, just looking for definitive examples of positives and negatives of each.. I would agree for long term permanent installations hard line would most likely be best but with most of our sump under tank systems replacement of soft line is fairly simple.. for me it boils down to the simplicity and ease of installation, super low cost and unrestricted flow.

* Just sounded good to support my argument .. sounds like me, lol ;Hilarious

 

[WVNed]

I couldn’t agree more, my middle name is cheap and easy (see my build thread.. lol) again this is not meant to be degrading or negative to people using hard line, just curious about all the perceived benefits of each.. just like everything else in reefing what works for you is all that really matters.

BTW.. did you change your screen name @Nurse Ned ? Thought it was WV Ned We are hopefully selling our house next year and if I can talk Mrs Retro into it we will be moving to the other side of the mountain looking at property in wardensville

My wife had surgery. I posted call me nurse Ned for a while in the Good Morning thread.
and poof my wish came true.
She is doing fine.

 

[Captain Quint]

.....................BTW.. did you change your screen name @Nurse Ned ? Thought it was WV Ned ....................

it was ... hahaha

 

[Captain Quint]

My wife had surgery. I posted call me nurse Ned for a while in the Good Morning thread.
and poof my wish came true.
She is doing fine.

Actually, it was 'Call me Nurse Ned for 3 weeks'

 

[WVNed]

I got 1 inch ( I think) flex PVC and made the return I am using right now.
It may flex but it like wrestling an angry boa constrictor. You have to really clamp it down of it moves back to shape and then you have crooked sideways returns or your pump against the side of the sump.
My next setup will have 8 inch flex sections below a union so I can get the pump out. The rest will be hard plumbing.

 

[WVNed]

it was ... hahaha

I thought the shark ate you.

 

[WVNed]

I think in straight lines and shortest distances when I design. And I played with Lego blocks a lot as a kid.
So hard plumbing comes natural to me.
I can see where people that think "This has to connect to that" would be attracted to flexible plumbing.

 

[JoshH]

One thing I feel is missing here is the flow restriction of barbed fittings. They are not without restriction and while there are much less fittings involved with soft plumbing. They still exist and they still restrict flow. You can, if talented and patient enough, bend solid PVC as well which can almost negate the soft plumbing advantage there. To me, the only advantages soft plumbing truly has over hard is ease and speed of installation and cost. And to someone who does there research hard plumbing can be almost as easy to install, certainly not anywhere near as fast but there's nothing that can make up for that. Cost to me is irrelevant, obviously not the case for everyone but in a hobby where we spend thousands of dollars what's a few extra hundred for some solid pipe that atleast looks good?

Hard plumbing also offers you the opportunity to add valves and manifolds wherever and whenever you like. You can do the same with Soft plumbing but the manifold itself should be hard PVC and with the addition of a barbed T you're once again adding restrictions.

At the end of the day, both solutions will work and get water to the tank and back down which is all that really matters. What material we use is ultimately up to the person doing the build and if there's one thing we are all famous for is having different opinions

 

[hart24601]

I use a mix, although I think hard looks cool over the years I have had more issues if an elbow or something starts to leak it's a real pain or if you need to move or adjust the sump or pumps if all hard you need to cut and glue but having some soft in there (even spa flex) is more forgiving.

Honestly if I had to pick one I would go with soft if one can count spa/ultra spa flex. If I was concerned about fitting restrictions I would just oversize the plumbing as well. Like I said I use both, but I bet if one really wanted they could make soft look really nice with brackets and such.

 

[fish farmer]

I use both. I have hard unions connecting soft hose with barbed fittings. I never really gave it much though when designing my tank. I use hard plumbing for the the return manifold with soft hose going to the sump pump, which now has more hard plumbing with a Tee for mini reactor. I hate using the reinforced soft plumbing, my home tank has smaller stuff. I have the big stuff on a big tank I maintain and it has been in service since 2001...I don't dare touch it. I like a mix so I can easily cut hose and or move stuff easier that if it was all hard. I lot of my plumbing is in tight hidden places, easier to cut a hose and fish it through a small area than pulling out hard plumbing.

I could see myself using more hard pipe in certain applications.

 

[Retro Reefer]

My wife had surgery. I posted call me nurse Ned for a while in the Good Morning thread.
and poof my wish came true.
She is doing fine.

I need to check in on the Morning thread more often, I missed that glad your wife is doing ok.

I think in straight lines and shortest distances when I design. And I played with Lego blocks a lot as a kid.
So hard plumbing comes natural to me.
I can see where people that think "This has to connect to that" would be attracted to flexible plumbing.

Phfff .. I still play with LEGO’s We have a huge LEGO store near us that’s has individual pieces in bulk bins you can buy by the pound.. since I retired I’ve rekindled my love of LEGO’s and have been building a collection of military vehicles out of them.

 

[Even Further]

I used a combination of spa flex and hard, with unions here needed. Worked great for me.

 

[MnFish1]

I’m curious as to why people use hard plumbing v soft plumbing, sure hard plumbing looks cool but other than that what what do you think are the benefits? Personally I can think of many negatives of hard plumbing but other than maybe incorporating a manifold into your sump l see no real positives.. let’s debate, what do you use to plumb your tank and why?

I use clear soft plumbing - its not pretty - but its easy to replace - its easy to troubleshoot - and there is no other reason. I've heard manifolds are wrought with problems - and I get around that by buying quality pumps that take care of anything that I need to pump into 'other areas'. Its a good question. If you've seen tie videos of people with worms that have totally taken over their 'pvc plumbing' you may rethink this question.

 

[MnFish1]

I used colored PVC on mine. I really like the look of hard plumbed. To me it just has this cleaner look to it. I did use the rubber hose in the past, and my biggest issue was with the nylon braided stuff. It sort of had a mind of it's own, you had to heat it up to get the band out of it from being coiled up. Plus with PVC there is literally 0 chance it will bend or kink if you're working around the tank. And unless you buy the colored soft plumbing, most of the time it's clear or see through, and has the potential to grow algae. So I choose hard plumbing

I love the look as well - I also love the look of those people that take pictures of their cords hidden behind drywall - with no access - or even just a panel - but - the problem is - ease of maintenance (to me). Painting PVC LOL. The look awesome.

 

[MnFish1]

You seem very pro soft plumbing lol. I do not have any links...just referencing my personal experience. I just feel safer with a glued PVC joint that cannot move. Regarding the cracks on hoses, it obviously depends on the material used. I have not had the soft tubing crack........just the stuff that is included with wet/dry filters (like your first picture on the right). I just don't see any positives to using soft over hard other than if it is needed based on location, where hard plumbing is not feasible. There has to be a reason you cannot use soft tubing to pMy feelihglumb a house right? Actually I have no idea if that is even true....just sounded good to support my argument

My feeling - if you can see through the tubing - you know there is no flow problem Anyone with a hard PVC connection meh.... There are lots of reports of leaks with hard PVC - part of that - of course - might be poor installation. That said - if I dont tighten the clamps on my clear tubing enough - I can tighten it - I dont want to completely tear down / dry my PVC to re-seal it in case it wasn't dont properly in the first place. Both are good ways - if done correctly on installation.

 

[ludnix]

Ive always been a fan of hard plumbing but after using some silicone tubing from the brew supply store I am in love. No training needed, retains shape and can be sterilized with boiling water. Its super easy to put on hose barbs and and clamp them down and I never have to fight the tubing again like with vinyl.

 

[MnFish1]

I used a combination of spa flex and hard, with unions here needed. Worked great for me.

You're absolutely correct 99% of the time both work fine ..... its the hassle of when there is a problem. Funny - I have no valves whatsoever in my system - dont see a reason - or a need.. If I want to shut something off - I use the APEX. its the same as a valve. Or>?

 

[ludnix]

Depending on your drain setup you may not want any valves. If you run a Herbie or bean animal they are necessary for siphon adjustment but undesirable on a durso drain.