Need thoughts on overflow hoses

[kmellon]

Hey everyone. I was starting to get stoked with the build out of my 120 until last night.

Over the weekend I hooked up the sump and a couple of return pumps and mounted my pc4 and finally got the tank wet. I realized that i went over the top with my dual return pumps and knew i needed to sort that out, but not a big deal.

However,

When i got home last night, i found a little pool of water in the bottom of the cabinet and it looks like it is coming from either the overflow or return lines or possibly the bulkheads. Clearly not enough to empty the tank quickly so not an emergency at this point, but I am realizing that i might just need to replace the bulkheads with something that fits better and possibly switch over the connections to pvc instead of the hoses that are currently being used. I have already had one overflow hose split both of it's ends and just happened to have a spare one sitting around.

Here are a few pictures.
The first hose split on both ends. I found this before I filled the tank.

The second hose has split up on the bulkhead but the side on the sump seems ok.

Should i ditch the hoses and go with hose from home depot or Lowes? Has anyone else had problems with these types of stock hoses that come with sumps?

View attachment 13837 View attachment 13838

Any thought would be greatly appreciated.

 

[TexSun]

Re: Need thoughts on overflow hoses

Ditch the stock hose. Home depot has what you need. Good luck!

 

[FinsUp]

PVC is the way to go, imo. Much more secure than hoses.

 

[CRW Reef]

Re: Need thoughts on overflow hoses

Silly question I'm sure but did you have those spa flex hoses inside the bulkheads or slipped over the male barbed end of a bulkhead?

 

[kmellon]

they seem to be barely larger than both the builkhead and the slip going into the sump. So i didn't even try to squeeze them into the bulkhead or the sump fitting. Not to mention that i wouldn't be able to clamp them down at all if they were on the inside. they slid on and were very tight, but it looks right.

Silly question I'm sure but did you have those spa flex hoses inside the bulkheads or slipped over the male barbed end of a bulkhead?

 

[kmcmurtry]

Just had the same happen to me but could not figure out how to get a good seal with the end of spa flex hose like you get with the end of my eshopps hose and when I get back pressure could have some leaks. Thankfully the other end of my eshopps was ok. I plan on ordering some extras in case but would like to know how others attach spa flex with no leakage.

 

[daverf]

Are you certain the bulkhead isn't leaking? Did you get knew ones? A wise man (I think Chad ) once advised that all bulkheads should be replaced after each tank move. Just to be sure.

PVC is the way to go, imo. Much more secure than hoses.

+100. I wouldn't risk anything but hard plumbing everywhere. While you're at it, since you have to drain the tank a little to do this so you can get the PVC in, you could address the bulkhead issue. Or if you're not replacing, you could at least run a bead of aquarium silicone around all bulkhead lips (let it dry).

 

[kmellon]

I agree, but I hate the idea of taking this tank back down so that i can move it away from the wall to get to the bulkheads and then running the hard lines.

PVC is the way to go, imo. Much more secure than hoses.

 

[jahmic]

Re: Need thoughts on overflow hoses

Edit: Nevermind...just saw this is on a new build...knock it out the "right way" for peace of mind.

 

[kmellon]

Agreed. of all the items i've been trying to keep ahead of, i didn't expect to have a problem with these hoses.

Edit: Nevermind...just saw this is on a new build...knock it out the "right way" for peace of mind.

 

[kmellon]

I can't easily get back there to be 100%, but the bulkheads held while I was running the initial wet test a few weeks ago. Don't get me wrong, they are still suspect, but the initial running of the system seemed fine until this split shows up.

Are you certain the bulkhead isn't leaking? Did you get knew ones? A wise man (I think Chad ) once advised that all bulkheads should be replaced after each tank move. Just to be sure.



+100. I wouldn't risk anything but hard plumbing everywhere. While you're at it, since you have to drain the tank a little to do this so you can get the PVC in, you could address the bulkhead issue. Or if you're not replacing, you could at least run a bead of aquarium silicone around all bulkhead lips (let it dry).

 

[Andrew_bram]

Need thoughts on overflow hoses

I would hard plumb personally

 

[09bumblebee]

I would hard plumb personally

+1

 

[daverf]

Hard plumb = way better sleep for years and years. Worth doing now!

 

[WatercolorsGuy]

Re: Need thoughts on overflow hoses

I would hard plumb personally

+1

 

[FinsUp]

Yeah, I know it's a pain, but you will be a lot happier with it. A little work now means no stress later about hoses failing. There's enough other stuff that can go wrong in this hobby to keep you busy. Don't let flex tube add to that.

I agree, but I hate the idea of taking this tank back down so that i can move it away from the wall to get to the bulkheads and then running the hard lines.

 

[MuralReef]

Biggest mistake I made was not enough valves when I hard plumbed mine. Make sure you install enough so you can shut things down and make changes when you need to. Plus using true union valves you can make changes more easily.

 

[kmellon]

I'll post a picture of my water changing station when i'm done with it. It currently has 4 unions and 6 valves with two of them being plastic gate hose barb type to access water by the gallon for my nano tank. I finally received my order from BRS wtih the uniseals that i needed to finish that project. But yes, i'm big on being able to take things apart if I need to.

Biggest mistake I made was not enough valves when I hard plumbed mine. Make sure you install enough so you can shut things down and make changes when you need to. Plus using true union valves you can make changes more easily.

 

[kmellon]

Cindy, are you saying that you are happier running hard pipe than soft hose?
Just kidding. Thank you for your input. I don't have the space that you have in your basement and i am quite envious of your setup. It looks very well laid out.

Yeah, I know it's a pain, but you will be a lot happier with it. A little work now means no stress later about hoses failing. There's enough other stuff that can go wrong in this hobby to keep you busy. Don't let flex tube add to that.

 

[kmellon]

Dave, finally getting around to usign that rock i picked up from you last year. This has been a very long process for me, but i am determined to have this tank up and running now.

Hard plumb = way better sleep for years and years. Worth doing now!