Drain pipe - Schedule 40 Ultra Flexible PVC Pipe vs Spa Flex Tubing

univalreef · 11/14/2019, 09:15 AM

I am planning to move the sump to basement. Can someone provide information how to choose the material for drain pipe?

I was planning to use Vinyl tubing for saving time to build. I did more research and I found these 2 types of Pipe/Tubing.

univalreef · 11/14/2019, 09:20 AM

Actually, I am planning to replace my Rea Sea Reefer 450 sump with a bigger sum in basement.

Vinny Kreyling · 11/14/2019, 09:33 AM

PVC pipe is easiest & most widely used.

SantaMonica · 11/29/2019, 07:41 PM

I think one is thicker and more durable than the other. Less bendable too. FlexPVC.com should have all the details.

ca1ore · 12/10/2019, 07:24 PM

Doesn’t seem like the ultra flex (thinner walls but more likely to kink) is available from FlexPVC anymore, just the standard stuff. Really made very little difference though. Much better than vinyl hose. FlexiblePVC still carries the ultra flex.

laverda · 12/18/2019, 01:39 AM

The ultra flex is just much more flexible. If will not kink glues just like standard PVC and will bend in a much tighter radius then spaflex. I have a long piece I use for water changes. I ran over it with my full size pick up with 100 gallons of water in it and it only distorted the tube a little bit. Very tough stuff. Spaflex is so stuff it can be very hard to use. I love ultraflex. Not many places carry it. Marine Depot used to carry it. Not sure why they stopped. I suspect not enough people knew what it was which is a shame.

Malster1 · 01/07/2020, 02:30 AM

I just redid my 180 and switched from spa flex to ultra flex stuff I saw on homedepot’s site and then ordered via amazon.

Worked great as bending and no issues with glueing as it’s supposed to be true pvc.

TEKTUBE 1" Dia. X 25' - Black Schedule 40 Ultra Flexible PVC Pipe - Made in The USA

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

jerseyboy · 01/12/2020, 10:43 PM

pvc is best

EnderG60 · 01/15/2020, 09:56 AM

Why does it need to be flex? Why not just use straight pipe and long radius elbows?

11/14/2019, 09:15 AM	#1
univalreef Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Canada Posts: 110	Drain pipe - Schedule 40 Ultra Flexible PVC Pipe vs Spa Flex Tubing I am planning to move the sump to basement. Can someone provide information how to choose the material for drain pipe? I was planning to use Vinyl tubing for saving time to build. I did more research and I found these 2 types of Pipe/Tubing.

11/14/2019, 09:33 AM	#3
Vinny Kreyling Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Miller Place, NY Posts: 7,206	PVC pipe is easiest & most widely used. __________________ 250 gallon mixed reef, 2 Reefbreeder's Photon V 2, Deepwater BLDC 12, DAS EX-3 Skimmer, MTC mini cal, 2-3/4" Sea Swirls, Aquacontroller & 6 Tunze pumps.

11/29/2019, 07:41 PM	#4
SantaMonica Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Santa Monica, California, USA Posts: 2,511	I think one is thicker and more durable than the other. Less bendable too. FlexPVC.com should have all the details. __________________ Inventor of the easy-to-DIY upflow scrubber, and also the waterfall scrubber that everyone loves to build: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1424843

12/10/2019, 07:24 PM	#5
ca1ore Grizzled & Cynical Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Stamford, CT Posts: 17,319	Doesn’t seem like the ultra flex (thinner walls but more likely to kink) is available from FlexPVC anymore, just the standard stuff. Really made very little difference though. Much better than vinyl hose. FlexiblePVC still carries the ultra flex. __________________ Simon Got back into the hobby ..... planned to keep it simple ..... yeah, right ..... clearly I need a new plan! Pet peeve: anemones host clowns; clowns do not host anemones! Current Tank Info: 450 Reef; 120 refugium; 60 Frag Tank, 30 Introduction tank; multiple QTs

12/18/2019, 01:39 AM	#6
laverda Registered Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Anaheim, CA Posts: 6,902	The ultra flex is just much more flexible. If will not kink glues just like standard PVC and will bend in a much tighter radius then spaflex. I have a long piece I use for water changes. I ran over it with my full size pick up with 100 gallons of water in it and it only distorted the tube a little bit. Very tough stuff. Spaflex is so stuff it can be very hard to use. I love ultraflex. Not many places carry it. Marine Depot used to carry it. Not sure why they stopped. I suspect not enough people knew what it was which is a shame. __________________ 240G mixed reef, 29G SPS/LPS clam tank, 50G mixed reef Current Tank Info: 300g mixed reef, 50g cube

11/14/2019, 09:20 AM	#2
univalreef Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Canada Posts: 110	Actually, I am planning to replace my Rea Sea Reefer 450 sump with a bigger sum in basement.

01/07/2020, 02:30 AM	#7
Malster1 Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: San Francisco Bay, Pacifica CA Posts: 867	I just redid my 180 and switched from spa flex to ultra flex stuff I saw on homedepot’s site and then ordered via amazon. Worked great as bending and no issues with glueing as it’s supposed to be true pvc. TEKTUBE 1" Dia. X 25' - Black Schedule 40 Ultra Flexible PVC Pipe - Made in The USA https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1 __________________ __________________________________________________________________ Michael "No honey it's not a new coral, I just moved it to a new spot" "No honey it's not a new tank, I ah.... Just moved it to a new spot" Current Tank Info: 180g mixed reef, 60 Frag/shallow reef, 50g seahorse dedicated, 20g reef, and finally a 29g cube for the office

01/12/2020, 10:43 PM	#8
jerseyboy Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Posts: 53	pvc is best

01/15/2020, 09:56 AM	#9
EnderG60 Plumbing Engineer Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Atlanta GA Posts: 3,260	Why does it need to be flex? Why not just use straight pipe and long radius elbows?