Any canister supply/return hoses that don't collect gunk?

[beviking]

I noticed my hoses on my XP3 getting a little tan-ish color so I pulled them off. When I ran a brush through them, I couldn't believe the gunk that built up in there! Obviously I'll have to do this more often but I was wondering if maybe a different material is less prone to this build up? I know there's a lot of different tubing and hose materials out there, but I've only played with...uh, used... what I have... so I don't know how the others perform. :o

Also posted this in DIY

[BluEyes]

I have a Fluval - same problem.

The only thing I can think of is to get solid-color tubing (as opposed to clear/translucent). Less light might discourage some of the buildup. Of course, then you can't tell when things get gross...

[amy]

I wonder if coating the inside of the the tubes with Teflon would help?

Seems like a great marketting opportunity if someone could figure out how to do this cheaply....

[NJ Devils Fan]

I would recommend just cleaning the hoses each week. That will stop giant build-ups from occuring.

[Ronne]

You can buy after-market tubing that isn't ribbed like the tubes normally supplied with the filters. The flat stuff doesn't trap debris as much as the ribbed.

[Fedorov]

I would have to disagree with the flat tubing not collecting gunk . I have two Magnums with smooth tubing and they get full of this stuff . You just have to clean them up , even thought it is very gross .

[NJ Devils Fan]

Yea, like I said, just do weekly hose cleanings and you will be fine.

[Ronne]

I agree that the smooth tubing will collect debris, but in my experience it definitely reduces the amount collected versus the ribbed tubing, especially if you have a decent flow of water passing through your filter.

[BluEyes]

I believe the XP3 comes with smooth tubing, though.

I wouldn't exactly call it debris, it's more of a sludge buildup/growth that I experience on my cannister (smooth tubes as well).

[Skittyfish]

Eheim hoses are green and smooth. They still collect gunk. I only clean mine about every 4-6 weeks though. I have a little brush that runs all of the way through and cleans it perfectly.

[Mrditty]

Who ever said this stuff is bad. Could be just more bacteria breaking down waste products. This would be a good thing to have.

I clean mine out when I replace the tubes every 4 years or so. hasn't caused me a troubles. running 3 canisters.

[NJ Devils Fan]

All that build up is bad because it will reduce water flow and your filter won't clean as effeciently as it should be.

[Mrditty]

Please I have never had more than a coating of a few microns thick at the most. I doubt this effects the performance of the filters in the lest and if it is a beneficial bacteria witch I expected it is it is actually helping the filter.

[NJ Devils Fan]

Its common sence, if something gets in the way of the intake, obviously there is going to be a reduced flow and less water will get filtered.

[beviking]

Yes XP3 has smooth bore hoses. I hadn't cleaned them since I set it up about 2 months ago so it was more than a thin film! Plus it was very stinky! I'm sure beneficial bacteria do reside inside the tubing, but whatever this was wasn't beneficial. I also have the flow turned down b/c it's on my 55g with an AC 300. The slower flow and the fact that I can't find my 3rd Otto may be to blame? Hmmm?

NJ Devils Fan, could you just say it one more time? Please? "Clean the hoses each week." I think I can go for a few weeks, but I'll keep my eye on it.

AND, amy, since you brought it up, there is Teflon lined tygon tubing available! We happen to have a United States Plastic Corp. catalog (www.usplastic.com) and they carry a variety of tubing. Tygon with Teflon liner is only sold in 50ft rolls and I only see 1/2" I.D. so it's too small. It's only $208.37 for the roll though! There are other Teflon tubings too but nothing over 1/2" I.D.. They carry Tygon Beverage tubing advertising "...smooth, non-porous bore inhibits particle entrapment,..." that is only $1.96/ft for 1/2" and $3.44/ft for 3/4" with sizes up to 1-1/2" I.D.! Now I'll have to measure my filstar's tubing (seems like its 3/4 or 5/8 ish), maybe make a phone call, and then decide it's too expensive!! Then I'll log back online to re-read NJ Devils Fan's advice AGAIN!:D

[NJ Devils Fan]

Here's something no one else suggested, clean the hoses every week. ;)

[d_b]

beviking the hose you talk about is what I'm running on my diatom. A few guys (8) went together and purchased a role for water cooling are computers. I ended up with a little over 30', like I stated I'm using it on my diatom and just to let you know it's not anti gunk proof. How often were we suppose to clean the tubes ???

[Jared]

One way to cut down on the amount of buildup in the tubes is to use a prefilter on your canister intake in place of the basket. This can be a simple media sponge or a true prefilter. We use the FilterMax III on our Eheim. It's an excellent, inexpensive prefilter with a replaceable sponge and adaptors that let you fit it to any intake.

Jared

[superstein61]

Unless this is inhibiting your water flow significantly, I do not see it as a problem. And sorry NJ - but the clean your hoses once a week isn't always applicable.

there are numerous folks - especially in the saltwater realm - who run large tanks with sumps. They plumb from their tank to their sump with either hard PVC or the wider tubing. Given the length of the plumbing, elbows, angles, etc - and how they are all connected, I can assure you they don't clean their pipes / hoses once a week.

If the buildup significantly degradiates your pump performance, then yes those tubes need cleaned - but if you are moving lots of gallons per hour with your pump, it is gonna take an awful long time to reach that point

[JSchmidt]

I think the risk of a leak from regularly disassembling your filter every week would far outweigh the loss of flow from the buildup of film in the tubes. Cleaning every 4-6 months would seem more than sufficient to me.

Jim

[NJ Devils Fan]

HEY!!! I'll come over there and show you how to clean those **** hoses!!! ;) :p

[beviking]

NJ, you do mean hoses right? You're not going to show them how to "clean their pipes" I hope. Then again, it doesn't matter to me, I just know that you're not going to clean MY pipe pal!:p

d_b, you're using the teflon coated tubing? Or the food & beverage tubing?

[Gumby7]

Originally posted by JSchmidt
I think the risk of a leak from regularly disassembling your filter every week would far outweigh the loss of flow from the buildup of film in the tubes. Cleaning every 4-6 months would seem more than sufficient to me.

Jim

That would be my concern. Also replacing the hoses with a different material and perhaps slightly different size or wall thickness would seem like a recipe for disaster. (Most Eheim (metric hose) fittings are a form of compression fitting. The "nut" backs up over the hose end to compress it and clamp it onto the barb securely. I know because the LFS tried to sell me a third party hose ribbed which I refused.)

The prefilter sponge is an excellent way to mitigate detritus.

Gumby

[d_b]

Originally posted by NJ Devils Fan
HEY!!! I'll come over there and show you how to clean those **** hoses!!! ;) :p

Nothing good can come from this.:)

[NJ Devils Fan]

:::crawls into barrel and rolls down mt. everest:::