flex plumbing

crankbait · 10/26/2011, 09:02 PM

Hey does anyone here use flexible hose for drains and returns? Im not real comfortble with pvc. Can this be done anyone have pics or anything to go by? Thread of a build useing some sort of flex?

SoLiD · 10/26/2011, 09:12 PM

They sell flex PVC at Aquacave.com. I used 3/4" and 1/2" on my new build. Woks with PVC cement just like standard PVC.

crankbait · 10/26/2011, 09:41 PM

Cool thanks

TheFishTeen · 10/26/2011, 09:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoLiD

They sell flex PVC at Aquacave.com. I used 3/4" and 1/2" on my new build. Woks with PVC cement just like standard PVC.

I was told you need to use a different type of cement, I was referred to, and Im now using, Gorilla Glue.

daplatapus · 10/26/2011, 10:01 PM

I used spa flex on both my return and supply lines and where I went to PVC all I used was the grey PVC cement. Never had any leaks and I'm running 1400 gph after 9' of head from my supply pump, so a fair bit of pressure.

SoLiD · 10/26/2011, 10:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheFishTeen

I was told you need to use a different type of cement, I was referred to, and Im now using, Gorilla Glue.

I was told never to use Gorilla Glue by another reefer. He showed me the MSD sheet and it said Gorilla Glue has some real bad stuff in it. I don't know much about that kind of stuff??? I'm not a scientist. But what he said made sense to me.

Neogenocide · 10/27/2011, 07:05 AM

I'll second not using gorilla glue, it's not what it was intented for. There is a special PVC cement to will bond the flex-PVC to reg PVC fittings. That being said I installed 40 ft on my 180g build. I have approx a 20ft run to and from my tank which is on the main floor, and the sump is in the basement. It can be a bear to work with at times, but I couldn't imagine trying to make the runs I did with hard line PVC....that would have been a nightmare.

crankbait · 10/27/2011, 07:29 AM

Yeah making long runs with PVC would be a nightmare and when you really think about it making very short runs doesnt seem ver efficiant to me either. I only have 1 overflow and 1 return......Id have to make 3 elbows just to go 28" up to the bulkhead. All that glue and chanse of leaks.....maybe im a over complicating it but I understand hoses better than I do PVC pipes

Dustin1300 · 10/27/2011, 07:31 AM

I think it all depends on the scenario. Hard PVC is so much cleaner and you don't have to worry about kinks...

Neogenocide · 10/27/2011, 07:56 AM

If that's all your doing, go with hard PVC, flex pvc will be a pain. You could do it with vinyl tubing, but then you have to use barbed fittings for everything, and it's prone to collapses, even the reinforced stuff. Hard is easy to work with, cut it to length, use primer, then glue. You'll have strong leak free plumbing that will last for years.

crankbait · 10/27/2011, 09:27 AM

Hahah i might have to call a plumber.

10/26/2011, 09:02 PM	#1
crankbait Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Tulsa ok Posts: 180	flex plumbing Hey does anyone here use flexible hose for drains and returns? Im not real comfortble with pvc. Can this be done anyone have pics or anything to go by? Thread of a build useing some sort of flex?

10/26/2011, 09:12 PM	#2
SoLiD -=Snake=- Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Corpus Christi, TX Posts: 999	They sell flex PVC at Aquacave.com. I used 3/4" and 1/2" on my new build. Woks with PVC cement just like standard PVC. __________________ -David 40 Gallon Breeder on Steroids!!! Current Tank Info: Where you'll find an Acan and Orange Ricordea Garden in Bloom...

10/26/2011, 10:01 PM	#5
daplatapus Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Port Alberni, B.C., Canada Posts: 895	I used spa flex on both my return and supply lines and where I went to PVC all I used was the grey PVC cement. Never had any leaks and I'm running 1400 gph after 9' of head from my supply pump, so a fair bit of pressure. __________________ 130 lbs Tonga LR, GFO and Carbon reactors, Tunze ozmolator ATO, 2- 20 gal QT tanks, Current Tank Info: 80 gal display 48L X 24H X16D, 2 MP-40's, Odyssea 2-250W MH 4-HO T-5 Actinic's, 80 lbs Aragonite sand, 4 - 150W titanium heaters, Reeflo Baracuda return pump, 150gal sump, Filter Guys Reef Miser 6 stage + 1 Dual RO/DI, LifeReef 48" Skimmer

10/27/2011, 07:05 AM	#7
Neogenocide Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Findlay, OH Posts: 851	I'll second not using gorilla glue, it's not what it was intented for. There is a special PVC cement to will bond the flex-PVC to reg PVC fittings. That being said I installed 40 ft on my 180g build. I have approx a 20ft run to and from my tank which is on the main floor, and the sump is in the basement. It can be a bear to work with at times, but I couldn't imagine trying to make the runs I did with hard line PVC....that would have been a nightmare. __________________ NorthWest Ohio Reef Association

10/27/2011, 07:31 AM	#9
Dustin1300 Reefaholic Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Carmel, IN Posts: 5,135	I think it all depends on the scenario. Hard PVC is so much cleaner and you don't have to worry about kinks... __________________ INDMAS President Check out my tank in the Large Tank Forums, "A Reefaholic's 1000+ Gallon Mixed Reef System Build"! Current Tank Info: 600 Gallon DT, 140 Gallon Grow Out Tank, 125 Gallon Sump, 90 Gallon Fuge, 200 Gallon Fish QT, 15 Gallon Frag QT

10/26/2011, 09:41 PM	#3
crankbait Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Tulsa ok Posts: 180	Cool thanks

10/27/2011, 07:29 AM	#8
crankbait Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Tulsa ok Posts: 180	Yeah making long runs with PVC would be a nightmare and when you really think about it making very short runs doesnt seem ver efficiant to me either. I only have 1 overflow and 1 return......Id have to make 3 elbows just to go 28" up to the bulkhead. All that glue and chanse of leaks.....maybe im a over complicating it but I understand hoses better than I do PVC pipes

10/27/2011, 07:56 AM	#10
Neogenocide Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Findlay, OH Posts: 851	If that's all your doing, go with hard PVC, flex pvc will be a pain. You could do it with vinyl tubing, but then you have to use barbed fittings for everything, and it's prone to collapses, even the reinforced stuff. Hard is easy to work with, cut it to length, use primer, then glue. You'll have strong leak free plumbing that will last for years. __________________ NorthWest Ohio Reef Association

10/27/2011, 09:27 AM	#11
crankbait Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Tulsa ok Posts: 180	Hahah i might have to call a plumber.

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