PEX for plumbing vs traditional PVC

[fyrfytr]

I have a 36gal bowfront that I am geting ready to start designing the plumbing for my eventual sump/fuge. Looking at a 20gal tall or a DIY acrylic of unknown size. Thinking that the hard pvc maybe not for me (since there is a 3yr old and an 8 month old in the house )is it acceptable to use PEX for a future coral tank?

 

[Reef Breeders Verified Sponsor]

Not if you use brass connectors, a wersbo system would work, but only with a $500 tool

 

[jgraz]

Why can't you use PVC with the kids?
You could always go with vinyl tubing.

 

[Hudzon]

And you could use PEX with quick connects but that gets exspensive fast also.

 

[Reef Breeders Verified Sponsor]

And you could use PEX with quick connects but that gets exspensive fast also.

And the sharkbites have some brass in them

 

[sherita]

I'm not aware of any pex fittings available that don't have brass in them, whether it be the crimp ring style, or the push on style. They all have some (or a large amount) of brass in them, which is simply not acceptable for a reef tank of any kind. Even the screw on compression (qwest) fittings have metal in them, so not good there either (plus they are pricy as all get out). Vinyl tubing or pvc is the standard of choice in plumbing our tanks. I've seen some done in ABS as well, but finding it that small is a real challenge.

 

[fyrfytr]

Thanks for all the info.

@jgraz I worry about the rigity of the plumbing and if someone goes against the rules and gets beside/behind the tank and starts reaching

 

[Hudzon]

There are pleaty of non-brass John Guest fittings for PEX
John Guest® PEX Pipe and Fittings Category | PEX Pipe, PEX Pipe Fittings and PEX Fittings. | U.S. Plastic Corp.

 

[fyrfytr]

I guess I also didnt realise how expensive pex was

 

[Reef Breeders Verified Sponsor]

I guess I also didnt realise how expensive pex was

It is way cheaper than copper, but of course that doesnt apply to our tanks. The cheapest piping for a reef tank is vinyl, I prefer pvc, but vinyl is easiest.

 

[fyrfytr]

Vinyl?

 

[jgraz]

Vinyl?

Yep it was mentioned a few times in this thread

 

[fyrfytr]

I know it was, and I saw it each time...but I just cant wrap my head around vinyl for some reason...lol Whenever I think of it I think of kitchen floors, not spa hoses or tubing

 

[dallas reefer]

Since this post, has anyone tried pex? It's being used everywhere now instead of copper lines, due to cost. And the cool thing is, you can buy a flo-lock fitting to mate pex with PVC. .

 

[Rjramos]

I don't like vinyl tubing cause I really don't like the barbs and clamps that end up rusting even if they're stAinless steel. I looked into pex when it 1st came out years ago, and as mentioned above the fittings have metal and guest fittings, too expensive! PVC and Spa-flex is all I've used for builds. The spa-flex or flexible PVC as it also goes by is great! It glues into regular PVC fittings and offers flexibility for tight connections when needed. Not all hardware stores carry this stuff and it can be hard to find sometimes in all diameters. Your best bet is a plumbing type hardware store that deals with selling and connecting spas or jacuzzis. When I need rigidity standard PVC. When I got a tight connection to make spa flex.

 

[dallas reefer]

I know all about flex PVC. lol (irrigation)

The flo lock I'm referring to, is similar to a shark bite. But PVC. The lock ring is stainless and grabs to the outside of the pex. Below that is an o-ring. Pretty cool stuff. Especially when you need to mix it up or don't want to redo a whole lot more stuff.

 

[dallas reefer]

 

[Rjramos]

Spa flex and thin walled irrigation tubing(usually black) are 2 different things. I would never use irrigation tubing, it doesn't glue to PVC fittings and it works with barbs and clamps like vinyl tubing. An irrigation system with spa flex would be very expensive! That's why it's best used in tight quarters like around a jacuzzi, or in our application the cabinet of a fish tank. Hope this helps.

 

[jgraz]

And flexible PVC can be found very cheap on amazon. I 50ft of 1" super flex for just under $50.

 

[Rjramos]

And flexible PVC can be found very cheap on amazon. I 50ft of 1" super flex for just under $50.

Wow that's great at less than $1/foot! I've never gotten it that cheap at local plumbing shop. Thanks for the info!