Willapa Posted August 26, 2018 Share Posted August 26, 2018 I need about 30' of 1/2" ID tubing to run from my water change station to my tank. The standard vinyl tubing is kinda stiff and wanted something like what the python water change tubes are made out of. It's really supple and rolls up nice without any memory. I don't think it's silicone. The silicone tubing is nice but super $. Any ideas? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bevo5 Posted August 26, 2018 Share Posted August 26, 2018 Yeah Python tubing is the best - don't know why but the other stuff you can buy is so stiff. Anyway - I have a lot of this tubing and I found that the difference in price isn't really that much. You'll probably save 15 buying regular tubing vs. just buying an extension for the python....which in the long run isn't that much to worry about if it's the better tubing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xmas_one Posted August 28, 2018 Share Posted August 28, 2018 I’ve had good luck with “Lee” brand tubing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krux Posted August 28, 2018 Share Posted August 28, 2018 try searching for home brewing equipment on craigslist, 1/2" silicone tubing is commonly used in that hobby, and will pop up from time to time for like $1/ft Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willapa Posted August 28, 2018 Author Share Posted August 28, 2018 Thanks! I'll try those ideas. Part of me is leaning towards running a few permanent pex lines between the water station and tank. One for fresh saltwater, one for top off, and another hooked to my manifold for emptying tank water. Sure would eliminate dragging buckets around.Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuncrestReef Posted August 28, 2018 Share Posted August 28, 2018 5 minutes ago, Willapa said: Thanks! I'll try those ideas. Part of me is leaning towards running a few permanent pex lines between the water station and tank. One for fresh saltwater, one for top off, and another hooked to my manifold for emptying tank water. Sure would eliminate dragging buckets around. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk I set up my system from day one with 1/4" tubing inside a conduit running from my sump through the wall to my mixing station in the garage for automated water changes and ATO. That was probably the smartest thing I did in my whole setup. Aside from when I first filled my tank and did a 100% water change after cycling, I've never needed to drag a hose or buckets into the house. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willapa Posted August 28, 2018 Author Share Posted August 28, 2018 I set up my system from day one with 1/4" tubing inside a conduit running from my sump through the wall to my mixing station in the garage for automated water changes and ATO. That was probably the smartest thing I did in my whole setup. Aside from when I first filled my tank and did a 100% water change after cycling, I've never needed to drag a hose or buckets into the house.You use that Apex dosing pump for the water changes? How does that work, does it feed fresh saltwater as it empties the tank? Do you have to change more than you normally would since the freshwater is getting diluted with tank water as it's running? Yea, I would love to kiss buckets goodbye!Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuncrestReef Posted August 28, 2018 Share Posted August 28, 2018 (edited) 10 minutes ago, Willapa said: You use that Apex dosing pump for the water changes? How does that work, does it feed fresh saltwater as it empties the tank? Do you have to change more than you normally would since the freshwater is getting diluted with tank water as it's running? Yea, I would love to kiss buckets goodbye! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk The Apex is programmed to run one pump on the DOS to drain 1.5 gallons of water from the sump between 9am - 10:30am through the black tubing into the utility sink. Then at 10:30am - noon the other DOS pump adds 1.5 gallons of new saltwater back to the sump through the orange tubing from the 75 gallon storage tank on the left. During this whole time, the Apex has the ATO pump disabled so it doesn't try to top off the missing water. The ATO pump is located inside the 75 gallon RO/DI tank on the right in that photo and feeds fresh water through the blue tubing. I have optical sensors in each of the 75 gallon storage tanks so the Apex can alert me when either one is low. It will disable the auto water change if there is insufficient saltwater to complete the cycle. During the water change process the water level in my sump return chamber drops about 3 inches, but there's still plenty of water for the return pump to run. Edited August 28, 2018 by SuncrestReef 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willapa Posted August 28, 2018 Author Share Posted August 28, 2018 The Apex is programmed to run one pump on the DOS to drain 1.5 gallons of water from the sump between 9am - 10:30am through the black tubing into the utility sink. Then at 10:30am - noon the other DOS pump adds 1.5 gallons of new saltwater back to the sump through the orange tubing from the 75 gallon storage tank on the left. During this whole time, the Apex has the ATO pump disabled so it doesn't try to top off the missing water. The ATO pump is located inside the 75 gallon RO/DI tank on the right in that photo and feeds fresh water through the blue tubing. I have optical sensors in each of the 75 gallon storage tanks so the Apex can alert me when either one is low. It will disable the auto water change if there is insufficient saltwater to complete the cycle. During the water change process the water level in my sump return chamber drops about 3 inches, but there's still plenty of water for the return pump to run. Oh gotcha. Just small, frequent changes. I'll check it out, thanks!Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuncrestReef Posted August 28, 2018 Share Posted August 28, 2018 1 minute ago, Willapa said: Oh gotcha. Just small, frequent changes. I'll check it out, thanks! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Yes, at 1.5 gallons per day, that's about 10% per week for my system. It's been working flawlessly for months. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pdxmonkeyboy Posted August 30, 2018 Share Posted August 30, 2018 I use food grade vinyl tubing from hydroponic stores. it is flexible and usually doesn't kink too much. plus its black so it doesn't grow algae in it.If you go to bloom, tell them you are buying it on the devils lettuce or kilowatt account. we have a wholesale plus 10% account.Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
albertareef Posted August 31, 2018 Share Posted August 31, 2018 9 hours ago, pdxmonkeyboy said: I use food grade vinyl tubing from hydroponic stores. it is flexible and usually doesn't kink too much. plus its black so it doesn't grow algae in it. If you go to bloom, tell them you are buying it on the devils lettuce or kilowatt account. we have a wholesale plus 10% account. Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk Cool of you Brian. I will have to remember that next time i need some tubing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pdxmonkeyboy Posted August 31, 2018 Share Posted August 31, 2018 that stuff is the bomb! that is what I use on my mixing and draining stations. Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willapa Posted August 31, 2018 Author Share Posted August 31, 2018 I use food grade vinyl tubing from hydroponic stores. it is flexible and usually doesn't kink too much. plus its black so it doesn't grow algae in it.If you go to bloom, tell them you are buying it on the devils lettuce or kilowatt account. we have a wholesale plus 10% account.Sent from my SM-G930V using TapatalkCool, thanks man! I'm sure I could pick up some other things too!Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trailermann Posted August 31, 2018 Share Posted August 31, 2018 13 hours ago, pdxmonkeyboy said: I use food grade vinyl tubing from hydroponic stores. it is flexible and usually doesn't kink too much. plus its black so it doesn't grow algae in it. If you go to bloom, tell them you are buying it on the devils lettuce or kilowatt account. we have a wholesale plus 10% account. Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk Uhh, who/what/where is the bloom you refer to? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willapa Posted September 1, 2018 Author Share Posted September 1, 2018 Uhh, who/what/where is the bloom you refer to?https://www.bloomgardensupply.comSent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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