pvc vs flex tubing

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eric b 125

Guest
i guess this is a form vs fuction deal. i like that with hard plumbing i can have more control over the use of cabinet space but i also dig the ease of flex tubing and the idea of less water pressure lost in elbows. what do you use, why, and what are the benefits/problems?
 
xcali1985

xcali1985

Active Member
In limited space and tight spots i use flex, but in open areas PVC. I can bet most people have a combo, especially on their return lines.
 
cranberry

cranberry

Active Member
Flex PVC is not as flexible as one may think. It was very hard to work with in the diameter we were using (1").
 
cranberry

cranberry

Active Member
Ah.
Well, I have miles of flex PVC and rigid PVC in my garage and flexible tubing on all my tanks. They just go where ya want them to go, have black color for sexiness and cuts down on vibration noise.
 
trouble93

trouble93

Member
I had to use Flex tubing because my sump is on the side of the tank. From the over flow it goes to the back of the sump so it had to be flexible enough to go from the over flow to the sump with pvc it would have been a mile of piping and a ton of elbows.
 
xcali1985

xcali1985

Active Member
If you use PVC for your 90s use two 45s will be less restrictive. Also will require slightly more room.
 
oscar1129

oscar1129

Member
I started out with hard pluming, then switched to flex. My tank is in my bedroom so noise was a huge concern of mine. When my tank was hard plumed the water would hit an elbow and make lots of noise (Kinda like a waterfall hitting a rock). After I switched, my tank become a purring kitten.
I'll show ya my set up in a bit when the camera is up and going. I would try both! See what you like. Building either is relatively cheap when compared everything else you will spend money on.
For me, hard pluming = noise.
 
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eric b 125

Guest
i hear what your saying. i've heard that hard plumbing creates noise and friction loss.
do you use flexible tubing on just your return or your drain as well?
I was thinking of hard plumbing all the lines from the tank to the height of the stand, then from there using flexible tubing. that way, from the outside perspective, everything is clean and two-dimentional, but under the cabinet it's another story.
 
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