Pumps

Well while changing water today I decided to break down the main pump and clean. Now more powerful then ever I may add.

Then I broke down the rio 800 which goes to the refugium and after cleaning it I could not figure out why the water was not making it to the refugium.
So I broke down the tubing and connections and spray bar. Come to find out I had hair algae plugging the in side of the spray bar. Once cleaned it works great.

I have heard of some people using black electrical tape around the clear tubing so the lighting will no grow the algae inside the tube. Has anyone ever tried this?

I would be worried the sticky stuff on the tape would harm something.

[Phil5613]

Is it rigid or flexible tubing, Can you get black from home depot to replace it?

Needing to be flexable vinal tubing Obie One Tang.

[Phil5613]

What size tubing? If you go to a lfs they can order black flexible tubing from Penn Plax. they use it for thier canister the Cascade line. If not I have some and we can figure out how to get it too you if it is the right size.
As far as electical tape it shrinks with age and I don't know how it would affect anything. One thing I thought of was what if you used Pvc primer on it and let it dry? It would cover it and block the light. It is astaining agent not a paint so I don't think it would wear off.

[tdevil]

i know some people that used the purple primer method the Phil mentioned, they havent had a problem so far

electrical tape will also harden with time and lose its sticky paste, FYI

td

[NUGIO]

I just thought of something [smiley=inquisitive.gif] I have dyed vinyl tubing in the past for some other application.What I did was bought some RIT dye the kind for clothes.then filled the tube w/plain water so it doesn't float then capped the ends to keep the dye out .follow the directions on the package,and voila black tubing.just make sure you rinse the tube in cold water when done.

Some nice ideas,
I think I would rather clean the darn thing and not have the headache of switching tubing.
The dye thing would scare me alittle as it would have to be under water in some parts of the sump.