Has anyone used clear PVC for their system plumbing?

[Solo McReefer]

Any negatives to using clear pipes for under the tank?

Aside from cost

Personally, I think it would be a benefit for maintenance down the line

"Ahh, bunch of vermitids in that line. I should clean that out"

 

[Sisterlimonpot]

The only draw back for aquarium use would be that light penetration can promote algae growth on the inside of the pipe.

 

[Dburr1014]

Any negatives to using clear pipes for under the tank?

Aside from cost

Personally, I think it would be a benefit for maintenance down the line

"Ahh, bunch of vermitids in that line. I should clean that out"

Or algae, "ah, I can't see in my pipe anymore"
Light getting in would be a factor to consider.

 

[Pntbll687]

I can see light getting in and causing algae growth. And usually there's a biofilm that forms on the pipes, and that is visually NOT PLEASING to look at.

I've known exactly 0 reefers who have taken plumbing apart to clean it out for "maintenance".

I have had a snail block a full siphon drain, but then I added a strainer to the top and problem solved.

 

[mfinn]

I did this on a tank a few years ago( quite a few) and it did cloud up with algae. Turned ugly pretty fast.

 

[jmoneyyy703]

main issue would be algae growth from any light sources. You could do sections if you wanted visibility into a spot and use unions to be able to disconnect.

 

[jimfish98]

Hate the growth and visible build up. Used to use clear tubing on canister filters in my FW set ups and I would pull them off every 6 months or so and use a dowel to push a wad of paper towel through them to clear the build up out and make it look visually appealing again. Solid pipes I don't have to mess with that as out of sight, out of mind until flow rates drop.

 

[Solo McReefer]

Thanks for the reminder

Gracias