HERESEY.... Why PVC

MnFish1 · Oct 26, 2017

OK - so I've seen a bunch of (really totally awesome) pics of tanks with (beautiful/wonderfully) colored PVC. But - Why not just use a Good quality Silicone tube..... Besides looking at the 'plumbing'. There is all this questioning about PVC and tin. There is all of the issues about re-plumbing if you need to move something. Just seems to me that tubing is much easier - but not as 'sexy'. That said.... Responses?

tdileo · Oct 26, 2017

IME the tubes just will fill up with algae since they are clear and end up needing to be rinsed every few months to keep good flow through.
The issues with re-plumbing PVC can be solved by installing a few unions.
I personally use silicone tubing for 95% of my return and hard plumbed all of my overflow.

vertigo01 · Oct 26, 2017

After going through the effort to have a nice stand, canopy or sump. Why not go through the time and effort to have nice plumbing to match?

DSC reef · Oct 26, 2017

I use all tubing, no pvc piping at all. Never had and algae issue. Only pvc is the durso drain that came with the tank in the overflow.

MnFish1 · Oct 26, 2017

vertigo01 said:
After going through the effort to have a nice stand, canopy or sump. Why not go through the time and effort to have nice plumbing to match?

Its a valid point. Probably the same reason we dont do it for plumbing in houses - its not that important. And - dont get me wrong - I look at the pics of some of the pictures of the plumbing and say - wow - I must be a moron - that looks awesome - so I see your point without question

- just - is it practical?

tdileo · Oct 26, 2017

DSC reef said:
I use all tubing, no pvc piping at all. Never had and algae issue. Only pvc is the durso drain that came with the tank in the overflow.

It’s clear tubing and you have a refugium light? Pretty crazy you have no algae then, what’s your secret lol!

MnFish1 · Oct 26, 2017

tdileo said:
It’s clear tubing and you have a refugium light? Pretty crazy you have no algae then, what’s your secret lol!

There is tubing that is not clear

for one

ca1ore · Oct 26, 2017

Cannot speak to any tin issues, though I've used hard PVC on my tanks for decades without apparent issue. Problem, as I see it at least, with tubing is the flow-robbing barb fittings; and with silicone in particular the tendency for it to kink. Best of both worlds, in my view, is ultra flex PVC. I've gradually replaced most of my hard PVC with flex.

Fritzhamer · Oct 26, 2017

I was totally with you. I plumbed with vinyl tubing and thought that the soft sweep was a million times better than several 90s from PVC. I recently redid my sump and decided to hard plumb it with some colored pvc like you mentioned.

I was getting about 300 GPH from my return at max with the vinyl 3/4" tube. My current orange and grey 1" PVC return is pushing 500 GPH at the same max setting and wattage. I was also able to route the return plumbing behind some stuff and out of the way. The vinyl was where it was, there wasn't much option for placement.

ca1ore · Oct 27, 2017

My only remaining vinyl run is, ironically, my main pump return line. I use a PW200 that is designed for pressure, but through barb fittings, etc., im only getting about 975 gph. Doing a tank changeover this weekend and will be swapping that return line for 1 1/2" flex PVC. Im anticipating a better gph, though exactly how much remains to be seen - 1,100 maybe.

MnFish1 · Oct 27, 2017

ca1ore said:
My only remaining vinyl run is, ironically, my main pump return line. I use a PW200 that is designed for pressure, but through barb fittings, etc., im only getting about 975 gph. Doing a tank changeover this weekend and will be swapping that return line for 1 1/2" flex PVC. Im anticipating a better gph, though exactly how much remains to be seen - 1,100 maybe.

UPdate

Donovan Joannes · Oct 27, 2017

To be frank, I don't have money to buy those nice and colorful PVC pipes and fittings. I will buy what I need, that work best for what it should be doing, and most importantly it doesn't interrupt my spending to put foods on the table. Be it a silicone hose, reinforced flexible pipe or cheap grey colored PVC pipes. In the end, what matters most is it served it's purpose and I still have some extra cash for future usage.

DSC reef · Oct 27, 2017

tdileo said:
It’s clear tubing and you have a refugium light? Pretty crazy you have no algae then, what’s your secret lol!

No refugium

tdileo · Oct 27, 2017

DSC reef said:
No refugium

Mine receives a light of light from my refugium and general sump light (both are on max settings 24/7) but I’m sure if it didn’t there wouldn’t be that algae issue lol

theMeat · Oct 27, 2017

Pvc spa flex can give you the best of both worlds. Can't use primer on it, must use cleaner instead. More expensive than pvc.

For me, when it comes to the display tank it's all about looks. When it comes to sump it's all about function and tubing is better in just about every way.

Pex tubing has its place too. And can be molded/bent to shape with heat.

DSC reef · Oct 27, 2017

Another thing to consider is that I clean all the tubing yearly. While I don't get algae I do get build up of gunk and with the tubing I can see what I need to clean.

ca1ore · Oct 27, 2017

I'm always impressed, and a bit amused truth to tell, when I see folks' colored PVC all perfectly aligned and parallel. My sump room is functional, but it's an aesthetic disaster. See ....

ca1ore · Oct 27, 2017

MnFish1 said:
UPdate

I have a tank build here on R2R (if that's what you were asking) - Simon's 450. Also a longer thread on that other site, CT450 Build. Move is happening tomorrow