PVC vs Vinyl plumbing..

[RoryJ]

Any suggestions or opinions on this?..My LFS is really pushing for me to to vinyl tube plumbing..I am curious if this is the right or wrong way to go?..My setup will be a 110 FOWLR with a wet/dry system

 

[Oscar47f]

you can certainly use the soft tubing method if you plan on not doing much with the system, however hard plumbing is less prone to breaking and leaking, its usually a safer option but it does cost more..

 

[mcarroll]

I used vinyl tubing for my current system.

It hasn't been too bad, but I do wish now that I'd used PVC. At most I'd use vinyl for the pump connection, and it'd be a suitably large diameter to support maximal flow through the PVC.

Mostly I wish this is because I would have used a larger diameter and gotten quite a bit more out of my pumps and been able to use smaller pumps. 3/4" tubing is the most common and it's effectively 1/2" on the inside, once you factor in the fittings – quite restrictive for most pumps.

I think more folks have breaks and leaks with PVC than vinyl, but that's not really a reason I'd use to go one way or the other since that has more to do with user error.

Another bonus for PVC is that the fittings are generally easier to find. At least in my area, supply of barb fittings in very inconsistent.

If you have lots of curves to go around in getting your water from Point A to Point B, the you might have additional argument for using some tubing....but there really is nothing to can't do with ordinary PVC.

 

[mcarroll]

BTW, I wouldn't use anything smaller than 1.5" plumbing for your return on a system that big. 1" at a bare minimum, but it'll still be significantly more restrictive at the flow rates you'll be looking at. (Dictating a larger pump than necessary.)

 

[RoryJ]

BTW, I wouldn't use anything smaller than 1.5" plumbing for your return on a system that big. 1" at a bare minimum, but it'll still be significantly more restrictive at the flow rates you'll be looking at. (Dictating a larger pump than necessary.)

thanks for the tip..I will be using an AquaExcel dc5000...i think with a return rate of 1300gph

 

[mcarroll]

Hm....at most you should need a Mag 7 ($90).....or Sicce Syncra Pro 3000/800 ($99). You could get by on smaller.

If I was going to spend 50-100% more on a return pump for any reason, it'd be for an Eheim 1260.

The DC5000 is way, way overkill, even if you wanted to stick with that brand/that style of pump.

(I would stick with tried and true for the return.)

 

[RoryJ]

Hm....at most you should need a Mag 7 ($90).....or Sicce Syncra Pro 3000/800 ($99). You could get by on smaller.

If I was going to spend 50-100% more on a return pump for any reason, it'd be for an Eheim 1260.

The DC5000 is way, way overkill, even if you wanted to stick with that brand/that style of pump.

(I would stick with tried and true for the return.)

Is general rule of thumb 10x turnover per hour?

 

[RoryJ]

Any other opinions???

 

[sbash]

Use the size of pipe recommended by the pump manufacturer. For example, my Mag 7 only has a 1/2" outlet, and they recommend twice the size pipe for optimal throughput, thus I used 1" pipe. My Mag 12s have 3/4" outlets, so I used 1.5" piping.

Flexible vinyl pipe is very easy to install, cut and use in general, however it comes at a higher cost. I also finde it less prone to leaking over PVC threaded connectors.

PVC piping is less forgiving on the installation (measurements have to be fairly precise), there is more work involved on the installation. However, the cost is dramatically lower.

Personally, I would make this decision based on the size and complexity of the install. Flexible tubing is very handy on your return pump. It makes it very easy to remove the pumps for maintenance.

 

[JEREMY82]

If u decide to use pvc,you may want to add a union for easier maintenence.If you use vinyl I use the dark hose so algae don't grow in it .good luck