here's a tip for straightening that curved vinyl hose!

[Vincerama2]

If you get a cork and stick it in one end of the vinyl hose, then pour in boiling water (carefully, of course!) the hose straightens up and loses that brutal circular curve that it has when you get it from the store!

I had some hose that I was plumbing my SCWD with but even the small section I of hose I was using would bend my project out of shape...then I was making some tea when my girlfriend called, so as I spoke with her, the idea hit me and I tried it out. It works great!

V

Completely irrelevant sidenote: I had a pack of corks in my drawers and the funny thing is that the reason I bought is was because my ex-girlfriend bought a 20 gallon drilled tank for use with freshwater 5 years ago. I had no idea about reefs or salt tanks, so I bought the corks to plug up the annoying standpipe that was built into the tank so she could put freshwater plants in it! And now...years later, the corks come to rescue again! She moved to Hawaii a year and a half ago and offered me the tank, which I declined. And now I'm running a 10 gallon nano with a homemade weir overflow, instead of a 20g reef ready tank. If only I'd known that I was going to be a reef adict!

[Freed]

I put my vinyl hose and air line in the oven at 180' for about 15 minutes. No joke. It works but be careful when you take it out. It can be handled but not for long. Just enough to yank it out and throw it on the floor to straighten it out. Make sure it doesn't touch the heating elements in the oven though. Freed

[Racer1]

I would be very careful placing any plastic in an oven, "fumes" and/or "ignition" could result. Acrylic is also a high risk if placed in a kichen oven. I would be more partial to the first method. Just FYI.

[hubris007]

Nice tip Vince. I'll definately keep that in mind next time i replumb the ghettofuge.

[Vincerama2]

Yeah, I just tried it on a piece of flattened, curved 1 inch hose which I cut my overflow drain with...it's actually round again! Man, I wish I figure this out before. I did try to soak it in a hot bath, but I guess it wasn't hot enough.

V

[Jamesurq]

35 minutes in the microwave in a metal bowl works great too!

Seriously though - I sterlize my phytoplankton bubbling airlines and rigid tubing by nuking them in water for a while. I don't have any curving issues with them after that....

[TacoKing]

Awsome idea. I'm going to have to try it.
-TK

[Racer1]

Originally posted by Jamesurq
35 minutes in the microwave in a metal bowl works great too!

Seriously though - I sterlize my phytoplankton bubbling airlines and rigid tubing by nuking them in water for a while. I don't have any curving issues with them after that....

I like the way you think!!! Where do you get the curving Phytoplankton though? :lmao:

[Penfold]

Since I burn anything I put in the oven. And the idea of me trying to place boiling water into a time 1/2" tube is all to laughable ( I have some sort of "Tim the Tool Man Taylor" syndrome). I simply place the tubing (a couple of feet at a time, if I have to) into a large pot of boiling water. Take it out (with a pair of tongs, trust me) in as little as 10-20 seconds and it will take on its original shape as it cools. I always do this now as the stuff from Lowe's/HD is always flat and squirrelly.

Bonus: you can take the tubing and strecth it when its warm. I have a 3/4" tube coming from my return pump going to a 1" PVC pipe (1 1/4" OD) and it fits super snug, but it works.

[H20ENG]

I'll say again, HEAT GUN :D

[JB NY]

Also you can dip the tip of the vinyl hose in hot water for about 30 seconds if you are having problems getting the hose over a barbed fitting. After the hot water the hose slips on very easily.

[hubris007]

Wish i'd have known that 2 months ago.