Did you know that airline tubing stiffens with age?

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Danny-O

How do I change my user title?
Mar 4, 2006
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Pittsburgh, PA
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I didn't until today. I had to disassemble some today (part of my old-skool UGF) temporarily during a deep cleaning of the lid. When I went to put it back together, it wouldn't go! I surely didn't remember it being this hard to work with when I set it up originally. Finally the light dawned...after a blister. I snipped off the stiff ends and was back in business.
:duh:
 

mykidsmylife

Princess of Peons
Aug 26, 2005
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Indiana, U.S.A.
Yup. There is a silicone tubing you can buy that isn't suppose to get brittle like the plastic. I haven't used it long enough to test it. Lol


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mykidsmylife

Princess of Peons
Aug 26, 2005
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Indiana, U.S.A.
Silicone tubing oxidizes and gets hard too - if it's under water.
The lines to the tank stay flexible a lot longer than vinyl.
Thank you. That's good to know and makes sense. Hmmm...I wonder why they don't put that on the packaging. lol
 

BE_n_BT

AC Members
Feb 29, 2012
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NY
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Peter H
Ultraviolet light does it to vinyl in about a month. What I do with my overly stiff tubing is snip off the part causing the problem, then splice in a fresh piece. The stuff away from the lights seems to last for years.
 

kj5kb

KEEPER OF CATS, FISH AND CATFISHES
Mar 1, 2007
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Spring Hill Kansas SW of Kansas City
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Don
yup...it does that...I just make my airlines extra long so i can slice the ends off when needed.

I bought some black airline probably Lee's Stealth...it stays flexible a lot longer.
 

Fozzybear

wocka wocka wocka!
Mar 16, 2011
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Alaska
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Ellis
actually that is kindof funny, i just moved an airstone for the first time in close to a year and it held the shape so well that i was just able to hang it in my closet by the stiff hooked end where it hooked up to the control valve.
 
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