hard vs. soft tubing

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rhidien

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 20, 2005
Messages
82
Location
seattle
I’m curious, how come most people here seem to use ridged pvc plumbing as opposed to flexible pvc tubing? I’m planning to run a line from my hob overflow down to a sump I’m setting up. I’d like to use flexible pvc (often found for hot tubs in the hardware store) so that I can easily move slightly my small 10 gallon sump cabinet to get better access to my power cords. I’m just wondering, looking at everyone’s ridged plumbing schemes, what the disadvantages would be?
 
The main disadvantage is the cost, and also that flex PVC is a pain in the rear to work with. Other then that it is pretty great.
 
When I was doing research on plumbing my new 120 gallon system the only disadvantage I could find on spa-flex was cost.

I used spa-flex on about 80% of my new plumbing just because it made it so much easier and also you have a lot less elbows. It did cost me quite a bit more as I think I paid 2.00 a foot for 1.5" spa-flex and conventional PVC is only a few cents per foot.

I found it pretty easy to work with. The trick though is to warm it up and it will bend easily otherwise it's a pain and wants to retain it's shape.
 
Cool, thanks for the tips...yeah, it was almost 3 bucks a foot for 1 1/2" at home depot, but I only need about 3 feet. Being able to move the sump cabinet will be worth it to me!
Thanks
Matt, I'm assuming you got your tank all moved, hopefully not to many causulties?
 
Yeah, the little 60 gallon made the move. I did crack it though....stupid me. I moved it on a dolly and didn't support it all the way across the bottom like I should've. Well it cracked along the top front down about an inch. I just superglued it! :) so far it's not leaking. I lost a couple corals because I didn't acclimate them well enough but besides those two everything else made it fine. It took me 3.5 hours from start to finish to move it and I did it by myself. :) and yeah, that is probably the reason I lost two corals.

The 120 should be up in a few months....or less, I hope. I need to buy a skimmer and live rock and then I'll be able to cycle it.
 

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