Plumbing habits

[basile]

Flex PVC has the same rating as hard schedule 40 PVC. The rating of schedule 40 far exceeds pressure in our tanks. I have used flex PVC for plumbing returns and other things with pressure. I like it for coming off pumps because it dampens any vibration from the pump.

Yes my UltraFlex is rated 200PSI so its more than adequate for any tank plumbing and absorb vibration at the same time. Plus with the wall clamp i used for the flex its very solid. Every clamp srews i used holds 57lb this plumbing isn't going anywhere. I'll complete the plumbing later on with some hard parts to accomodate the valves and such, but no more than necessary.

 

[jservedio]

I hard plumbed everything and use about 6" of oversized vinyl between the return pump and return plumbing to prevent flow restriction on the barb valve. For my drain, I have a herbie and used fixed plumbing (3/4"), but for the last foot of the drain, I used 3/4" loc-line to make it super easy to remove my filter socks (no contorting the filter sock and holder, simply move the drain out of the way).

The loc-line gives you the flexability that flex-pipe has, but it won't bend or move when you don't want it to like flexible tubing does. Definitely super cool. Props to MetroKat on nano-reef for giving me the idea.

Definitely go with a full-siphon drain if the sump is in a living area, it is so so so so much quieter. The Durso had me pulling my hair out with the constant bubbles - no matter how perfectly you tuned it, it STILL made a trickling sound.

While Schedule 80 looks super sexy, it is way more expensive and the inner diameter is smaller than schedule 40. If you can get black schedule 40 (you usually can online) I would go with that just for the cost aspect, I have never heard of anyone having pressure greater than schedule 40 can handle on a fish tank. Also, you can use schedule 80 fittings with schedule 40 pipe, so if you wanted a heaver fitting for a key area, you can get it.

 

[Flameback Pair]

A mixture of reinforced vinyl tubing and PVC. Over the last couple decades I have found it quieter than all PVC and relieves the stress on pumps and bulkheads due to slight misalignments.

I oversize all the vinyl tubing one size so the inside diameter of the barbed nipples do not cause any restrictions.

I do these two things as well. In the past Ive used clear vinyl tubing and it gets a dark brown coating inside over time. From now I'll use either black or green Eheim.

I also went from white schedule 40 to grey sch. 80. It looks much nicer imo. I'm also using more sch. 80 bulkheads. I broke a sch. 40 bh just by turning a ball valve on the same line. I just could not believe it broke the bulkhead.

 

[glb]

I think some have a point when they talk about the look. For myself, i have custom made tanks and steel stands and because they're black powder coated and the tanks are rimless i went with black UltraFlex . The way the tanks are set too was a factor. i couldn't hide the plumbing. so i made it part of the over all look and gave it a them. So black steel, black pipes, tubing, the Borg came to mind . with green strip LED lighting it will be coo looking. Thank God its not in my living room but my PC room, and my cats room lol. take a look.I'm not finished yet still lots to do. no connection and no returns. The 150 g is not even done .The top one is the 75 starfire display refugium.

A Borg tank. I love it!

 

[philr]

I have been useing hard pvc for several years. If I could start over today I would look into the pex flexible material. It is easier to work with and doesnt require the pvc cement.