Return Pump: PVC or Braided Nylon Tubing?

[Jokes]

Need a little help. I read somewhere that it is good to use nylon tunjng to reduce vibration from the pump. Would there really be that much vibration if I just plumbed the return pump only with PVC?

 

[PSU4ME]

I believe so...... It is much quieter if you use the tubing.

 

[wdebenedettojr]

Yes it is. That's why I try to avoid PVC as much as possible

 

[reefstarter]

Yep at least a 6 inch pice of the tubing will help dampen the vibration noise . also placing the pump on some rubber pads will help too .

 

[Jokes]

Alright. It was just tough using the tubing because it has that hard curve on it.

Yep at least a 6 inch pice of the tubing will help dampen the vibration noise . also placing the pump on some rubber pads will help too .

 

[delta]

Spaflex (flexible PVC) will do the same also put your pump on a piece of foam insulation, rubber pad or bag of sand. And do not put it in a corner

Some of the noise is vibration some is just the noise of the pump resonating

 

[fishmommy]

I use a length of silicone tubing to connect my pump to the pvc plumbing. it's dead quiet.
dampening the vibration is important, not just for noise, but it stresses the bulkheads and that's bad news.

 

[Old Glory]

I used flex because it was easy to work with. My pump is on an old neoprene mouse pad.

 

[myram]

Alright. It was just tough using the tubing because it has that hard curve on it.

Run hot water thru it before you use it, that will soften the tubing and it will bend/form much easier.

 

[cilyjr]

My pump is on an old neoprene mouse pad.

This is a good idea as well. Also those new silicone mats to take stuff out of the oven work well

Run hot water thru it before you use it, that will soften the tubing and it will bend/form much easier.

This works well too

 

[Jokes]

Haha, just figured that out last night after trying for an hour to heat it slowly with a lighter. Genius move.ride:

Run hot water thru it before you use it, that will soften the tubing and it will bend/form much easier.

 

[myram]

Or lay it out in the driveway on a sunny day..............it will soften up quick that way too

 

[JohnK]

Remember to use clamps on the tube. Even though it can be difficult to get over the barbs now, over time the tubing will harden and lost it's elasticity some and eventually can start to leak.

Stainless steel automotive clamps work, but the plastic ones made for fish applications are better IMO. (you can also use two zip ties with the connector ends opposite each other).

 

[Bobbofin]

I hard plumb my tank with PVC and put a 6" of vinyl tube between the tank and the sump as a precaution. That way if I'm fiddling with the plumbing and filter sock in the sump I'm not putting any pressure on the bulkhead fitting in the tank because of the flex. I probably don't need the hose clamps because the tubing is pretty tight, I had to soak the 1-1/4" ID tubing in hot water to get ot on the 1" pipe. I've had this same set up for 10+ years without an issue.

About the tubing being curved when you buy it, just soak it in real hot water for 10 minutes and straighten it out.

 

[myram]

The new soft silicone pipe is super soft and flexible..........but at $10/foot for 1" and $8/ft for 3/4" it's gets a bit expensive to use it.

 

[Jokes]

Nice. That's pretty slick. Thanks for sharing.

I hard plumb my tank with PVC and put a 6" of vinyl tube between the tank and the sump as a precaution. That way if I'm fiddling with the plumbing and filter sock in the sump I'm not putting any pressure on the bulkhead fitting in the tank because of the flex. I probably don't need the hose clamps because the tubing is pretty tight, I had to soak the 1-1/4" ID tubing in hot water to get ot on the 1" pipe. I've had this same set up for 10+ years without an issue.

About the tubing being curved when you buy it, just soak it in real hot water for 10 minutes and straighten it out.

 

[Spudsly]

Does anyone have a good place to go for soft PVC tubing or silicon tubing? Do they sell it at Home Depot/Lowes? I'd happily order it from BRS but they don't carry 1.5 inch.

 

[this is me]

Have you tried FW Webb?

 

[dz6t]

Homedepot do carry large diameter vinyl tubing. I bought 1.25 inch ID tubing there but not sure they have 1.5 inch. But they don't carry silicon tubing with large diameter.

 

[Jim Tansey]

If its necessary to heat the tube to make a bend it will do little to absorb vibration, a short length of silicone tube works great.

Jim