Return line

[scar_11]

Has anybody used the new water line hose they are useing in houses as a return line?

[sphelps]

Pex?

[globaldesigns]

I do believe that line would be too thin for an overall return. If you are trying to pump 1800G/h with a pump, I do think there would be too much resistance to the thinness of the line and it just would work well. I could be wrong though.

[scar_11]

You can get it 3/4 inch

[e46er]

I think he ment wall thickness of it

[sphelps]

I'm not sure why someone would use pex over other alternatives but if you don't use the copper fittings then you could use it.

[cordeiro]

im sure the line is to thin, i do reno's so i know pex very well, and if i were you i would just use the lines thats made for it...

[hillegom]

I am not a plumber, and do not have this pex. However, if it is in a house as a water line, does it not have to withstand 125 psi? Thats well below anything my pumps put out.
Maybe with thin walls, it might kink?

[The Grizz]

Main factor to consider is the psi rating of the pex and the psi of the pump. If it is anywhere close to the same DO NOT USE. PVC is the best thing to use.

[outacontrol]

hillegom: "I am not a plumber, and do not have this pex. However, if it is in a house as a water line, does it not have to withstand 125 psi? Thats well below anything my pumps put out.
Maybe with thin walls, it might kink?"



Pex does not have thin walls that will kink and I don't think you have any pumps putting out 125 psi of water pressure.
Pex pipe should be fine to use, but why and how? It is not rigid or very flexible and most of the fittings that are used in houses with Pex pipe are copper, so obviously no good for reef tanks.

[The Grizz]

There is a line of fitting's that are made out of the same material as the pex but are they expensive. It would probably be cheaper to just use PVC.

[mark]

wall thickness not a problem but 1/2" hooked to a Barracuda might not be the best.

[cordeiro]

i heard from a buddy of mine, and hes doing up a 140g and he said somthing about the return line should not be smaller then 1".... pex is 3/4"... its your tank but i would go with the pvc pipe even if its a bit more.... the tanks (reef) aint cheap, and not somthing to mess with, and yes.... you can get the fittings out of pex, but you still need to crimp the line with a copper ring... and lets say some how theres a small pin hole in the line/ or not crimped on tight and u dont see it and water passes the copper ring and drips in the sump

[cordeiro]

and the crimping tool can run you $100.00+... and the plastic fittings have blowen off befor... cheap ways aint the best...

[scar_11]

Thanks guys I am going to go with PVC