Vinyl or Spaflex?

[VeeDub]

We now have a plethora of pumps and I would like to try a get some more of the plumbing items that we need.
I am trying to decide whether to go vinyl tubing or spaflex.
Vinyl would certainly be easier to manipulate but I found a place that has the spaflex for a reasonable price.

Anybody use spaflex and have routing troubles to dual overflows?

I remember picking up some of the larger diameter size for a non related item and it was very difficult to work with.

Chris

[dow]

... I remember picking up some of the larger diameter size for a non related item and it was very difficult to work with.

Chris

Spa-flex can be straightened, but it either takes heat or constant pressure. I hung mine (1-1/2") from the rafter of my workshop for about a month or more with heavy jack-stands hanging on the bottom to get the curve out. Not completely straight, but definitely workable. After that, I just made sure to align the remaining bend in the direction I wanted it to go.

HTH.

[Dozer]

I think it really depends on what you're using it for. I use vinyl sometimes, spa-flex sometimes and hard pvc sometimes. Vinyl is the easiest to work with as you said, but on the downside it kinks very easily so it's not realistic for places where you need to make even a remotely sharp turn. Spa-flex doesn't kink, but it is harder to handle. Hard PVC is great for some things, but too many elbows and things can decrease your flow, and you have to mess with glue and primer and all that fun stuff.

Fwiw, in my case, I'm using vinyl as the return from my sump, vinyl as the lines in and out of my canister filter, hard pvc on my "over the top" closed loop, black spa-flex as closed loop return nozzles inside the tank and white spa-flex as the drains from my overflow box to my sump underneath the tank.

[Polkster13]

I am using spa-flex on "The Beast" skimmer. See pictures of it under the "Vendor Experiences" forum.

[alexwolf]

i love spaflex. To straighten it, heat the oven to around 250deg and put it in there for a few mins. It gets very flexible, and it will dry in the shape you want it.

[CD]

heat the oven to around 250deg and put it in there for a few mins


Alex - did you put anything under the spaflex, or just straight on the racks? And then what...just check the flexibility every minute or so until it's malleable?

Wendy

[alexwolf]

on the rack, dont let it go too long. Keep an eye on it until it gets malleable!

[Dozer]

I did the oven method too, worked great. Kept an eye on it and then took it out and put a broomstick inside of it to keep it straight and let it sit around and cool.

Also, we're very quickly approaching that time of year where you can simply throw it out in the sun for a little while.