Flexible PVC bend radius

[pnosko]

Jon, I'm wondering of you have or know where to find the bend radius for 3/4" flexible PVC. http://www.plumbingsupply.com./ has it for other sizes.

[Snailman]

I should have put this table in my article but I did not think of it. :(
1/2" & 3/4" have a 3' bend radius
1", 1 1/4" & 1 1/2" have a 4' bend radius
2" has a 5' bed radius

I get my flex PVC from www.aquaticeco.com and www.savko.com also has it so you may want to compare prices before you buy.

[pnosko]

You're close, but more conservative that the numbers mentioned at http://www.plumbingsupply.com/spaflex.html. A 3' bend radius for 3/4" tubing is a six foot diameter if I need to make a 180 degree turn, right? If that is true, it ought to be called SomewhatFlexibleButReallyVeryStiff PVC. :rolleyes: Is it just me, or do the pictures of this stuff rolled-up in your Feb issue article and at Savco make it seem like you can use this stuff for shoe laces?

I want to plumb the output of a vertical Quiet One pump into the base on an Ocean Clear canister filter (for a FW tank). Ideally, I'd like to have a union and ball valve in this line (you can see a picture of my setup in this post (http://archive.reefcentral.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?s=&postid=395944#post395944). Any suggestions?

[Snailman]

The bend radius I gave you is from the people that sell it but I can say when they ship it to you it is coiled up in a box that is no where near 6' across. It is nothing like a shoe lace but it is not unworkable either. I don't have any 3/4" right now or I would try a bend test for you.

[pnosko]

Well. I ordered some 3/4" and 1/2" flexible PVC from Savko. It arrived coiled up in a 12" square box, so a 6" radius seems to be possible unless this is not recommended due to some restriction or loss in pressure. The 3/4" seemed to fit at about its limit, but the 1/2" wasn't even stressed.