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There exist two types of tubing that we utilize in conducting experiments: flexible soft peristaltic (easily bendable) and inflexible hard tubing.
Peristaltic pump tubing is rubber and has sizes a special formulation (we use a formulation called PharMed) designed to be very flexible. The manufacturer labels the tubing arbitrarily with size designations of 13, 14, 16, 17, and 18. Rubber Peristaltic pump tubing can be connected to other types of tubing using a barbed fitting. Only put rubber peristaltic tubing on the barb. Note: If you put inflexible tubing on a barbed connector, you may never get it off again.
Simple rules to remember:
- Rubber soft tubing for peristaltic pumps with a barbed connector.
- Inflexible hard tubing goes with a push-to-connect connector.
- Other flexible tubing (tygon or PVC formulation) is useful in creating coils and bends for flocculators and can be put into a push-to-connect connector.
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When you make a connection utilizing a push-to-connect connector, ensure that you push the tube as is fully in as you can goengaged in the connector. The tube needs to slide inside of an o'ring seal in the connector. You should feel a pop, when the tube is fully in and is caught by the push-to-connect connectorslides inside the o'ring.
With rubber peristaltic pump tubing, ensure that the tubing tightly fits over the barbed part.
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