[tclipse]

I've heard a few mentions of alternate tubing to the rigid lines that come with the system, i.e. someone who "had a friend in the hydraulics biz".... has anyone tried any alternatives? Just looking at my options, because I'm setting up my system and might have some stuff laying around the house, and I'd like to get it all hooked up this afternoon while I have time.

If you don't respond soon, I may be found dead face down in an electrified pool of RO water, because I'm going to dive in headfirst and try some stuff out. If necessity is the mother of invention, impatience is apparently its weird uncle... The one who sits by himself at the family barbeque, telling his pet mouse Pinky (whom he keeps in his coat pocket) that the world will soon be his.... and then gets too drunk and breaks a leg trying to walk down the stairs.

Anyways, enough about my future, thoughts/experiences/ideas/concerns?

 

[Pumilo]

Rain Drip brand 1/4" tubing from Lowe's is exactly the same product if all you are looking for is the tubing. The roll I found came in white.

 

[Scott]

That said - I'd keep tubing black. I'd keep EVERY tube associated with a misting system black, and I'd try to make the reservoir as opaque as possible.

Why you ask?

Algae. Algae will grow in this system if you let it. It will THEN clog up your misting heads.

Keep the light off of the water in your system as much as possible.

s

Rain Drip brand 1/4" tubing from Lowe's is exactly the same product if all you are looking for is the tubing. The roll I found came in white.

 

[Pumilo]

That said - I'd keep tubing black. I'd keep EVERY tube associated with a misting system black, and I'd try to make the reservoir as opaque as possible.

Why you ask?

Algae. Algae will grow in this system if you let it. It will THEN clog up your misting heads.

Keep the light off of the water in your system as much as possible.

s

Even if the tubing is completely opaque white, Scott? Or are you thinking of the cloudy white-ish line like is used in refrigerator hookups?

 

[Scott]

I think opaque white is more likely to pass light than black.

Hard to say for sure though.

s

 

[Seth K.]

I have wondered about using that white hp hose too. I also noticed a black one that looks a little bit more flexible than mistkings. I haven't checked it with a misting head to see if it is the right diameter though?

Has anyone used the white hp hose with their systems?
If so, what were the results?

 

[tclipse]

I have wondered about using that white hp hose too. I also noticed a black one that looks a little bit more flexible than mistkings. I haven't checked it with a misting head to see if it is the right diameter though?

1/4" is the size you need, it's printed on the nozzle.

 

[nschmitz06]

Has anyone ever thought of buying some "beer line" hose instead? Its much more flexible is available in solid black for no light penetration and should be able to hold hold a decent amount of pressure... Just an idea--

Here is one brand that is selling 50' sections of 1/4" ID (inside diameter) tubing

http://www.micromatic.com/part-pid-548b600.html

 

[frogfreak]

That said - I'd keep tubing black. I'd keep EVERY tube associated with a misting system black, and I'd try to make the reservoir as opaque as possible.

Why you ask?

Algae. Algae will grow in this system if you let it. It will THEN clog up your misting heads.

Keep the light off of the water in your system as much as possible.

s

I've had a clear line on my Leuc tank for 3 years. It's still going and no algae. I'm not saying it can't happen, but hasn't in my case.

 

[tachikoma]

I have wondered about using that white hp hose too. I also noticed a black one that looks a little bit more flexible than mistkings. I haven't checked it with a misting head to see if it is the right diameter though?

Has anyone used the white hp hose with their systems?
If so, what were the results?

I just tried to use the rain drip flexible one from Home Depot. It did not work at all, water was spraying everywhere at the connection to the pump, I think it's too soft and the pressure squeezes the tube pretty easily. I repeat stay away from the softer vinyl one! lol Luckily the entire roll only cost $3.50, otherwise I would be pretty bummed.

 

[Pumilo]

I just tried to use the rain drip flexible one from Home Depot. It did not work at all, water was spraying everywhere at the connection to the pump, I think it's too soft and the pressure squeezes the tube pretty easily. I repeat stay away from the softer vinyl one! lol Luckily the entire roll only cost $3.50, otherwise I would be pretty bummed.

I've been using some of the white and also the black, Rain Drip brand from Lowe's, for months without a single drip.

 

[Ed]

Even if the tubing is completely opaque white, Scott? Or are you thinking of the cloudy white-ish line like is used in refrigerator hookups?

At the zoo before I got them to switch over to black tubing they had the opaque white tubing that came out with the original misting kits and right from the beginning it was a continual fight to keep the lines and misting heads clear of cyanobacteria. The mats would form and plug up not only the line but the misting heads which required them to be disassembled and cleaned (often more than once a week). I would have to blow the lines clean almost weekly.
Once it happens, it is very very difficult to get rid of without switching over to all solid black lines.

Ed

 

[J Teezy]

i'm wondering why you want flexible hose. The rigidness of the mistking tubing makes it less likely to kink a hose

 

[tachikoma]

I've been using some of the white and also the black, Rain Drip brand from Lowe's, for months without a single drip.

Is yours the soft vinyl one? My original mistking tubing is very rigid.

i'm wondering why you want flexible hose. The rigidness of the mistking tubing makes it less likely to kink a hose

I don't have a preference, it's just what they had in stock at my Home Depot.

 

[J Teezy]

you can get tubing from Josh's Frogs, and if you need some other supplies too and cant get 50 bucks worth of stuff shipping is free

 

[tachikoma]

you can get tubing from Josh's Frogs, and if you need some other supplies too and cant get 50 bucks worth of stuff shipping is free

Yeah I ended up ordering 50 ft of it last night from Josh's Frogs, but I had to pay for overnight shipping because I am going on vacation for 2 weeks this Saturday, and my frogs need their mist! haha

 

[Pumilo]

At the zoo before I got them to switch over to black tubing they had the opaque white tubing that came out with the original misting kits and right from the beginning it was a continual fight to keep the lines and misting heads clear of cyanobacteria. The mats would form and plug up not only the line but the misting heads which required them to be disassembled and cleaned (often more than once a week). I would have to blow the lines clean almost weekly.
Once it happens, it is very very difficult to get rid of without switching over to all solid black lines.

Ed

Thanks Ed. Are we talking about the completely solid white tubing that cannot be seen through at all? That is what I used but I'll strip those pieces out if it's a potential problem.

Is yours the soft vinyl one? My original mistking tubing is very rigid.

My bad. It is not Rain Bird. I am using ORBIT brand Dripmaster line. It seems to be as rigid as my original MistKing line. Possibly VERY slightly thinner walled but it is definitely rigid.

 

[Ed]

Thanks Ed. Are we talking about the completely solid white tubing that cannot be seen through at all? That is what I used but I'll strip those pieces out if it's a potential problem..

That is the stuff I'm referring to... I won't use it at all at home (I threw it all away) and have long since upgraded to the Mistking tubing..


Ed

 

[kgb]

usplastics.com has the same exact tube as mistking. 100ft. Cheap.

 

[Pacblu202]

I think opaque white is more likely to pass light than black.

Hard to say for sure though.

s

not sure if this is relevent or not but i know for a fact white, like in cars bounces more lights off since it is the "anti-color" so to speak. It reflects all the light. black would then be a color that absorbs it all. I dont know if this would be the same for light passing though but thats my 2cents