Air line, they don’t make it like they used to…

[Magnum Man]

When I had tanks 25 years ago, I don’t really remember having to replace air line… yes, the old vinyl got hard, but remained functional, until you wanted to change something… last night, I spent an hour replacing several air lines, that had reduced function ( I have vinyl, clear silicone, and black silicone lines ), and I had to replace chunks of both the vinyl, and clear silicone… maybe the black is better, but in fairness, I’ve not had that very long… not sure if it’s the newly, more cheaply, manufactured tube wall thickness, or the materials, but I’m experiencing hardness, and kinking, even from non sharp 90 degree bends, over time ( the 2 years I’ve had some of these going )… so I find myself straightening bends, and cutting off ends, and thinking about buying more black silicone tube, even though, that may have the same issues with age…

Anyone else have a complaint with air line currently available??? Or specific recommendations??? I would think, once you route lines, they should at least remain functional, until you want to change something

 

[Colin_T]

Air line, they don’t make it like they used to…

Yeah back in the old day you could hang someone with the old airline. It was strong and lasted for years (wasn't biodegradable). The new stuff has to break down in the environment so it degrades a lot faster and you have to keep buying more. It's the same with anything plastic now

 

[emeraldking]

True. Also overhere we can not buy that older quality anymore. Nowadays, it's plastic or silicon. Even the silicon can harden after a while.

 

[Oldspartan]

NOTHING is made like it once was!!!

I will be using plumbing pipe. either CPVC or SharkBite when I run air lines into the fish room. A double pipe reverse Monoflo system just like I used to design for hydronics. Not certain yet about final connections to sponge filters but will figure that out with a fitting catalogue. I am fed up with small air pumps. They seem to need new diaphragms every three or four months, (Tetra).

The big air pump in my pond has been running nonstop for about 18 months without issue. I took it apart and put a rebuild kit into it a couple weeks ago but pretty sure it was unnecessary, just did not want a breakdown in an ice storm.

Anyway, there must be a better material than the cheap vinyl used for air pumps. I have a friend, retired, who used to work on plastic extrusion machines. I will inquire when I see him later today.

EDIT .... Perhaps the medical grade "hose" used on oxygen machines would be better?

 

[MaloK]

Try Penn-Plax Deluxe.

 

[Colin_T]

I will be using plumbing pipe. either CPVC or SharkBite when I run air lines into the fish room. A double pipe reverse Monoflo system just like I used to design for hydronics. Not certain yet about final connections to sponge filters but will figure that out with a fitting catalogue. I am fed up with small air pumps. They seem to need new diaphragms every three or four months, (Tetra).

It's not just Tetra air pumps, it's virtually all of them. Most pumps have a lot of back pressure, which reduces the life of the rubber diaphragm in them. Add lots of heat from the coil in the pump, and movement from the L shaped arm on the diaphragm, and they break.

I always went for bigger pumps than were recommended by the manufacturer and that helps them last longer.

I used plastic multi-coloured airstones that can be taken apart and cleaned. They produce bigger bubbles and put less back pressure on the pump.

In the end though they all break and I ended up getting a blower style air pump. I got a 20 watt version (used 20 watts of power) and that was about 1/3 the power I used from all the other pumps I had. It put out about 5 times the air of all the other pumps put together and it ran for years. I had a spare diaphragm and air chamber kit for it just in case but never used it.

 

[WhistlingBadger]

Ah, nostalgia ain't what it used to be.

 

[Magnum Man]

I put this in my cart...

https://www.amazon.com/PENN-deluxe-silicone-airline-tubing/dp/B003UTLLLA/ref=sr_1_9?crid=2DRLRSKL0Q6YJ&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.uKAWMcNdK9lFSKnvrolYAW88cOr3Zk2TF7jK12nLbR68aqAAYEax99oEb_5cfdZmBbdKWzi74zAvkMuXgIEdwi1hWF3eIRXj5BRVfGLLuYajhvKJkjW2V8FFSXB9MnMRJPn2Vl4dii0tjKWbuF5gpdEY3alWOuk8kKw0HDhpBJa4kyzmJgl0wGA5kf1WLkEe4jcdkh2b7SogfTkObDk0AOxIZ6MJqkHXKxIXtoxn79U6YN7oKrDp613FPGkHKMdAvDzw0OWMp5Ov7_vB2jw-kpbrUju5Qc3YIPol5IVxTwo.PaWhIJMphNwBqxITO7_3kwVxymZQyXgDMZmIKccC43M&dib_tag=se&keywords=Penn-Plax+Deluxe+aquarium+air+line&qid=1730225776&sprefix=penn-plax+deluxe+aquarium+air+line%2Caps%2C212&sr=8-9

I'm not sure the difference, other than it's silicone ( my current clear silicone gets hard, & suffers from the heat, from my piston air pump )... maybe thicker tubing wall???

 

[MaloK]

Silicone is naturally heat resistant and should resist, Some oven mitts are made of it. I never had heat problems tho. It still become hard when submerged for a long time. but it didn't cause issues for me.

 

[fishorama]

I don't remember if it was black silicone tubing that seemed extra flexible to the point it could almost cut off the air flow instead of just bending in a nice gentle curve. We were used the old airline tubing so we didn't get the difference for a while. I probably have some ancient (likely useless) tubing in a box of fish treasures we haven't used for many years (see recent UGF thread), lol.

I don't recall what the so called "CO2 tubing" is made of, If I have some, it's in my stash of fish stuff I was given. I need to clean out the garage someday...

 

[lottabubbles]

if you think air lines are bad, try finding some decent rubber bands.

 

[Magnum Man]

I've been using silicone rubber bands for a few things in the aquariums, with pretty good luck

 

[Magnum Man]

… Oh man, another failed air line, blew a leak on a tank I haven’t had to touch for 6 months… on my bubble waterfall in my South American tetra tank… leaking badly enough, it’s effecting my others ( lack of pressure ) I’m going to have to shut that line off, while I’m at work today, and have to work on that later, going to require some re-scaping to fix.

 

[Back in the fold]

The worst thing with vinyl air line these days is it isn’t the right inside diameter . It doesn’t fit the filter and pump outlets . I heat it and expand it with something and then it’s fine . That silicone airline is for the birds . I’ll never buy that stuff again .

 

[Oldspartan]

OK, I spoke wit Rich about extruded "pipes". He said the airline we use is likely made from nonvirgin resins. Medical extrusion is a virgin resin of the highest possible equality. He suggested line used for Hospital IV, anesthesia and such or gas lines for the highest quality They are also subject to far more quality control scrutiny. . He doubted home oxygen lines were much better than what we currently use. He then waded into technical jargon and my eyes glazed.