hose connections

[thefatman]

ok, after having to tear this stuff apart today, to save the fish, it has come to my attention that pvc is a pain in the butt.

i saw someone pics the other day (maybe flatfish?) where they had pvc ends, and joints, but instead of pvc pipe connecting it all together, they had clear hose connected to everything, to offer some flexibility and movement.

should i maybe try this. i just want a cleaner look, but the pvc is annoying. if i go the tubing route. should i use slip connectors inside the pvc ends and bulkheads, and then slip the hose over it.

what should the hose be connected with? hose clamps, if so, wont they rust? what about maybe heavy duty wire ties?

thanks. i know i'm being a pain today with the questions, but hey, that's what friends are for right

[karsco]

Fatman,

Well if you go with tubing you could use stainless steel or plastic hose clamps. For my tank I use the plastic clamps which holds my 3/4" tubing onto my Mag 7, and then I use the stainless steel clamps where the tubing attaches to my 3/4" sea swirl.

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...=6&pCatId=7900

[Prismaco]

When you start adding claps your more likely to have leaks, air bubles, ect. I have both on mine. PVC slips, threads and claps. 2 Claps fo the barb holders and the threaded PVC to screw the barb holder into. I do you have union fittings... ??? Also and luck on your critter..

-Paul

[thefatman]

hmm, not sure what you mean by union fittings. i have a male adapter that goes into the bottom of my overflow, which attaches to a female adapter inside the overflow (both threaded) then my wet/dry has an elbow permanantly attached, which has small piece of thin pvc that the drain line used to slip onto, but i attached a new elbow to that and then ran a piece of straight pvc between the overflow and wet dry. the overflow originally had the same type of thin pvc in the male adapter as well.

i'm thinking i can just use those, i'm not too worried about air bubbles at the moment, because the pvc isn't even glued, and there are no bubbles or leakes. if i did get bubbles, they would jsut be dropping into the wet dry anyway. so they wouldnt make it to the tank.

the fish seems fine and dandy i think i was more stressed about the situation than he was.

[Prismaco]

Use unions so that you can take your plumbing apart quicker and easier...I got 2 on my system so if anythign goes wrong, I close the valves and quick disconnect them....Just a suggestion....hope everything goes good....

-Paul