I made some lily pipes for my 12 long planted tank and decided to take some pics (bad ones). Lily pipes are commonly used in planted tanks for a cleaner look, they replace stock inlets and outlets on filters. I made mine out of 5/8 OD acrylic tubing for my rena xp1. This method can be used in any diy project requiring bent acrylic tubes. Your going to need acrylic tubing, salt, and a heat source.
This is the tank, the scape is a work in progress lol
and this is what I was trying to get rid of, I wanted the inlet and outlet to be on opposite ends
STEP 1
Get a rough estimate of how long you want the tube to be, it's hard to be exact because once you start to bend it you pretty much just let it bend itself.
Add a few inches to this estimate.
SETP 2
Place the first few inches of the tube over a stove, fire, heat gun, or any other sigificant heat source. Keep the tube rolling and occasionaly lift it away so that it doesn't burn. This will make the tubing maleable.
STEP 3
Crush the tip inward by pressing it onto a cutting board or table. Make sure it closes.
STEP 4
Get a funnel or make one out of paper. Pour salt in the tubing (salt mix works fine). Tap the tubing so that it settles down and is packed tight.
STEP 5
Repeat steps 2 and 4. This seals the salt inside the tubing, so that when you heat up and bend the tubing it doesn't just cave in.
STEP 6
Now you can pick any spot on the tube to heat up and bend. Remember to keep it rolling so that it doesn't burn. Use the edge of a cutting board to make 90 degree bends or u-bends.
this is the outlet, full of salt and bent
STEP 7
Cut off the ends to release the salt. Hand or electric saws work best, but you can also score it deep with a knife and snap the ends.
worlds ugliest inlet!
testing the outlet in the bath tub
this is how it looks now, im running the outlet under the substrate to the other side for a cleaner look. I also have a sponge on the inlet now, but there's ways of making slits on the tubing so that it looks like a normal inlet.
the outlet on the opposite side of the tank
Sorry for the pics, just thought that I would post incase someone found it useful. It's my first attempt, and I might make some changes later on, but it's serving it's purpose for now.
This is the tank, the scape is a work in progress lol
and this is what I was trying to get rid of, I wanted the inlet and outlet to be on opposite ends
STEP 1
Get a rough estimate of how long you want the tube to be, it's hard to be exact because once you start to bend it you pretty much just let it bend itself.
Add a few inches to this estimate.
SETP 2
Place the first few inches of the tube over a stove, fire, heat gun, or any other sigificant heat source. Keep the tube rolling and occasionaly lift it away so that it doesn't burn. This will make the tubing maleable.
STEP 3
Crush the tip inward by pressing it onto a cutting board or table. Make sure it closes.
STEP 4
Get a funnel or make one out of paper. Pour salt in the tubing (salt mix works fine). Tap the tubing so that it settles down and is packed tight.
STEP 5
Repeat steps 2 and 4. This seals the salt inside the tubing, so that when you heat up and bend the tubing it doesn't just cave in.
STEP 6
Now you can pick any spot on the tube to heat up and bend. Remember to keep it rolling so that it doesn't burn. Use the edge of a cutting board to make 90 degree bends or u-bends.
this is the outlet, full of salt and bent
STEP 7
Cut off the ends to release the salt. Hand or electric saws work best, but you can also score it deep with a knife and snap the ends.
worlds ugliest inlet!
testing the outlet in the bath tub
this is how it looks now, im running the outlet under the substrate to the other side for a cleaner look. I also have a sponge on the inlet now, but there's ways of making slits on the tubing so that it looks like a normal inlet.
the outlet on the opposite side of the tank
Sorry for the pics, just thought that I would post incase someone found it useful. It's my first attempt, and I might make some changes later on, but it's serving it's purpose for now.
