Many hobbyists use airline tubing for their aquariums but those with CO2 setups should pay special attention for this. However there is merit to use the right material for a project like this as normal airline tubing can lose up to 20% of CO2 through its membrane. Silicone tubing reacts w/ CO2 and render it less efficient (thus the silicone hardening over time under CO2 usage). The chart below lists various materials and how much co2 loss coefficient. All of these are available for sale from http://www.coleparmer.com so please check them out.
Standard aquarium tubing is 3/16″ ID (4/6mm ID/OD)
Tubing Selection Guide
Use the “Tubing Selection Guide” below to help you select the appropriate tubing for your application. The Chemical Compatibility guide and the chemical resistance summary in the table below are only guidelines. Chemical resistance and tubing wear may vary according to use—always test the tubing you select under the actual conditions.
Tubing Selection Guide
Chemical Resistance Classifications
A—No damage after 30 days of constant exposure.
B—Little or no damage after 30 days of constant exposure.
C—Some effect after 7 days of constant exposure. Effects may include: cracking, crazing, loss of strength, discoloration, softening, or swelling. Softening and swelling are reversible in some cases.
D—Not recommended for continuous use. Immediate damage may occur.
“_” Test data unavailable or not applicable.
Formulation Operating
temperatureResin
certification(s)Durometer Chemical resistance summary Permeability (approx)†
Units: {cc-mmsec-cm2-cm Hg } x 10-10Acids,
weakAcids,
strongBases,
weakBases,
strongOzone UV
lightCO2 H2 O2 N2 Bev-A-Line® IV -60 to 160°F
(-51 to 71°C)FDA, USP, USDA, 80 (D) B D B B D — — — — — Bev-A-Line® V -60 to 200°F
(-51 to 93°C)*National Formulary 80 (D) B B B B D — — — — — Bev-A-Line® XX -60 to 160°F
(-51 to 71°C)FDA*, NSF* 55 (D) C D C D C A — — — — C-FLEX® -100 to 275°F
(-73 to 135°C)FDA, USP, USDA, GMP 50 (A) A A A A — B — — 150 — Chemfluor® 367 -400 to 450°F
(-240 to 260°C)FDA 58 (A) A A A A A — — — — — Copper -60 to 400°F
(-53 to 204°C)None — D D C C A A — — — — EPDM food-grade;
PTFE-lined;
wire-reinforced-40 to 300°F
(-40 to 148°C)FDA, USDA, 3A — A B A A — — — — — — ETFE -150 to 302°F
(-101 to 150°C)GMP 75 (D) A A A A A A — — — — FEP -454 to 400°F
(-270 to 205°C)FDA, USP, GMP 55 (D) A A A A A A 5.9 1.3 14 2.0 Gum rubber -15 to 158°F
(-26 to 70°C)GMP 35 (A) A D A B C D 1311 492 307 118 Hypalon® 40 to 220°F
(4 to 104°C)None 70 (D) — A — — — — — — — — Kynar® -40 to 260°F
(-40 to 127°C)FDA, USP, USDA 80 (D) A A A A A A — — — — MFA -103 to 482°F
(-75 to 250°C)USP 59 (D) A A A A A A — — — — Norprene® -75 to 275°F
(-60 to 135°C)GMP 61 (A) A B A C A B 1200 — 80 200 Norprene® food-grade -60 to 275°F
(-51 to 135°C)FDA, NSF, GMP 61 (A) A B A C A B 1200 — 80 200 Norprene® pressure -60 to 275°F
(-51 to 135°C)FDA, 3A, NSF 61 (A) A B A C A B 1200 — 80 200 Nylon -60 to 200°F
(-51 to 93°C)None — A D A C C D 20 19 5.4 1.1 PEEK Up to 212°F
(Up to 100°C)None — A A A A A A — — — — PFA -320 to 500°F
(-195 to 260°C)FDA, USP, GMP 60 (D) A A A A A A — — — — PFA-450 high-purity -320 to 500°F
(-195 to 260°C)FDA, GMP 60 (D) A A A A A A — — — — PharMed® -75 to 275°F
(-59 to 135°C)FDA, USP, NSF, GMP 64 (A) A B A C A B 1200 — 80 200 Polyethylene -100 to 175°F
(-73 to 80°C)FDA, USDA 50 (D) A D B B B A 280 — 60 20 Polyethylene,
FEP-lined-100 to 175°F
(-73 to 80°C)FDA, GMP — A A A A A A 5.9* 1.3* 14* 2.0* Polyimide -418 to 896°F
(-250 to 480°C)USP, NEMA — A A A A A A — — — — Polypropylene 32 to 250°F
(0 to 121°C)FDA, USDA 75 (D) A D B B C D 90 — 25 4 Polyurethane
(clear, aqua-tint)-40 to 180°F
(-40 to 82°C)None 95 (A) B D B B A — 395 66 10.5 17.1 Polyurethane
(red, green,
blue, black)-70 to 185°F
(-57 to 85°C)None 95 (A) B D B B A — 395 66 10.5 17.1 PTFE -400 to 500°F
(-240 to 260°C)FDA, USP, GMP 50 (D) A A A A A A 6.8 — — 1.0 PTFE
color-coded-400 to 500°F
(-240 to 260°C)None 50 (D) A A A A A A 6.8 — — 1.0 PVC 10 to 140°F
(-12 to 60°C)None 65 (A) A A A A A A 6.8 — — 1.0 PVC Bubble® -5 to 180°F
(-21 to 82°C)None 55 (A) A D A D B D 1305 — 1345 — PVC food-grade 10 to 140°F
(-12 to 60°C)FDA, 3A, USDA 65 (A) A A A A A A 6.8 — — 1.0 PVC reinforced -5 to 180°F
(-21 to 82°C)FDA, USDA, NSF, 3A 65 (A) A D A A B D 36 — 36 — PVC
wire-reinforced25 to 150°F
(-4 to 65°C)FDA, USDA, 3A, NSF 70 (A) A D A A B D 36 — 36 — Silicone,
peroxide-cured-60 to 460°F
(-51 to 238°C)FDA, USP, GMP 50 (A) B D A A A — 20,132 6579 7961 2763 Silicone,
platinum-cured-60 to 460°F
(-51 to 238°C)FDA, USP, USDA, GMP 50 (A) B D A A A — 20,132 6579 7961 2763 Silicone
reinforced,
peroxide-60 to 400°F
(-51 to 204°C)FDA, USP, GMP 60 (A) B D A A A — 20,132 6579 7961 2763 Stainless steel, 316 -65 to 550°F
(-53 to 289°C)None — A B A C A A — — — — Tygon®,
FEP-lined-40 to 180°F
(-40 to 82°C)FDA*, USP*, GMP 67 (A) A A A A B B 5.9* 1.3* 14* 2.0* Tygon®
fuel/lubricant-35 to 165°F
(-37 to 74°C)GMP 57 (A) B C C D A A 100 — 12 22 Tygon®
food/beverage-49 to 165°F
(-45 to 74°C)FDA, NSF, 3A 63 (A) A B A B B D 270 — 30 60 Tygon®
high-purity-94 to 125°F
(-70 to 52°C)FDA, USP, GMP 72 (A) A C A A B B 745 — 135 45 Tygon®
high-purity reinforced-94 to 125°F
(-70 to 52°C)FDA, NSF, GMP 72 (A) A C A A B B 745 — 135 45 Tygon®
lab; vacuum-58 to 165°F
(-50 to 74°C)FDA, GMP 55 (A) A D A D B D 360 — 40 80 Tygon®
LFL-58 to 165°F
(-50 to 74°C)FDA, USP, GMP 56 (A) A A A B — — — — — — Tygon®
pressure-47 to 165°F
(-44 to 74°C)FDA, 3A, NSF 65 (A) A A B A — — 2700 — 600 300 Tygon®
sanitary
silicone pres.-112 to 320°F
(-51 to 160°C)FDA, USP, NSF, GMP 70 (A) B D A A A — — — — — Tygon®
silicone-112 to 392°F
(-80 to 200°C)FDA, USP, NSF, GMP 50 (A) A C A A B B — — — — Tygon®
ultra
chemical-resistant-108 to 125°F
(-78 to 52°C)GMP 72 (A) A C A A B B 4840 — 980 350 Tygothane®
pressure-100 to 180°F
(-73 to 82°C)FDA, NSF 82 (A) C C B D A — 1680 — 180 60 Vinyl -45 to 180°F
(-43 to 82°C)GMP 67 (A) A D A A C D 360 — 40 80 Viton® -25 to 400°F
(-32 to 204°C)GMP 75 (A) A A C D A A 79 — 15 4.3 *Based on liner
†At 25°C
Bev-A-Line—Reg TM Thermoplastic Processes, Inc.
Bubble—Reg TM Sherwood Medical Industries Inc.
Chemfluor, Norprene, PharMed, Tygon, Tygothane—Reg TM Norton Performance Plastics Corp.
C-FLEX—Reg TM Consolidated Polymer Technologies, Inc.
Hypalon, Viton—Reg TM DuPont Dow Elastomers L.L.C.
Kynar, Superflex—Reg TM Elf Atochem North America
PTFE—Reg TM E. I. DuPont de Nemours & Co.
Resource: www.coleparmer.com/TechLibraryArticle/700
Thanks for reading
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