Gurgling Overflow

[UncommonSense]

I agree, the stainless steel have all stayed snug and were obviously holding, plastic is more finicky

I’ve even taken to ordering these plastic hose clamps from places like McMaster-Carr from time to time just so I can see a listed maximum and minimum clamping diameter for each one, instead of just “fits 1” tubing”…

 

[Wandering Albatross]

Hard plumbed is the way to go. But that doesn't mean what you have can't work. I've, only ever, had to heat tubing to get a fit I can trust. Tank stuff, fuel lines- everything that needs to seal. Normally have to cut it off to remove. Try heating it and force it onto the next size up. You might have to use both hands and press it into the floor while hot, but it certainly won't come off; and will offer more flow. I've even used lighters to keep it hot while pressing. A couple times, I've even put pvc cement on it and light on fire(exercises extreme caution at your own risk), but I don't think you'll need to do all that.

I'm considering hard plumbing this section at this point, but that means more pvc, more cement, more connectors, at least one union, another delay, and trying to contort myself up under the stand. The sump cannot move more than a couple inches or so in either direction, and it can't come out. There's very little room to work under there, so I was hoping this was just simple user error that I could get resolved before resorting to such measures.

 

[Wandering Albatross]

I’ve even taken to ordering these plastic hose clamps from places like McMaster-Carr from time to time just so I can see a listed maximum and minimum clamping diameter for each one, instead of just “fits 1” tubing”…

I ordered a kit of these in 6 different sizes, 6 per size, to ensure I had wiggle room for that exact reason lol. They just don't like the tubing it seems.

 

[Reefering1]

I'm considering hard plumbing this section at this point, but that means more pvc, more cement, more connectors, at least one union, another delay, and trying to contort myself up under the stand. The sump cannot move more than a couple inches or so in either direction, and it can't come out. There's very little room to work under there, so I was hoping this was just simple user error that I could get resolved before resorting to such measures.

The soft tubing connected to the pump is good for sound/vibration isolation. My tank is hard plumbed with reinforced tubing connecting to the pump(which hangs from this tube so it's not even touching the glass of the sump. I think you need to use the next size up barbed fitting. I highly suggest trying to heat a piece of tubing and get it on. As much as I like the idea of hard plumbing, I would still want tubing connecting to the return pump.

 

[UncommonSense]

I ordered a kit of these in 6 different sizes, 6 per size, to ensure I had wiggle room for that exact reason lol. They just don't like the tubing it seems.

Well, the easiest bet would be a hardware store run with pump in hand to see if the pump’s outlet threads are NPT, and possibly get a replacement length of tubing in braided vinyl, silicone, or black rubber…

if you can find a superior barbed fitting and the pump is indeed 1” NPT on the outlet, you can do both a better barbed fitting, and a type of tubing which the hose clamps might work better with (softer/harder material, thicker/thinner tube wall)!

Or, just stretch 1” tube over a 1.25” fitting and call it a day!

 

[Wandering Albatross]

Well, the easiest bet would be a hardware store run with pump in hand to see if the pump’s outlet threads are NPT, and possibly get a replacement length of tubing in braided vinyl, silicone, or black rubber…

if you can find a superior barbed fitting and the pump is indeed 1” NPT on the outlet, you can do both a better barbed fitting, and a type of tubing which the hose clamps might work better with (softer/harder material, thicker/thinner tube wall)!

Or, just stretch 1” tube over a 1.25” fitting and call it a day!

Well, I managed to force the 1.25" fitting in the tubing, through much struggle and some unladylike language. We'll see how it holds. But now that I can't trust it again, my trip tomorrow is canceled. Can't bring a test coral home if I can't trust the tank not to flood my floor while I'm gone for hours to Seattle. Might even have to shut it down for half the day when I go to family dinner.

 

[UncommonSense]

Well, I managed to force the 1.25" fitting in the tubing, through much struggle and some unladylike language. We'll see how it holds. But now that I can't trust it again, my trip tomorrow is canceled. Can't bring a test coral home if I can't trust the tank not to flood my floor while I'm gone for hours to Seattle. Might even have to shut it down for half the day when I go to family dinner.

Haha I’m glad it went together! This can be an exercise of inventing new profanities!

Well, in my experience… when you stretch a tube over a barbed fitting this forcefully; it often literally cannot be removed without actually cutting the tubing!

I think you’ll see what I mean if you attempt to pull the tube off again! — this might provide some peace of mind!

 

[Wandering Albatross]

Haha I’m glad it went together! This can be an exercise of inventing new profanities!

Well, in my experience… when you stretch a tube over a barbed fitting this forcefully; it often literally cannot be removed without actually cutting the tubing!

I think you’ll see what I mean if you attempt to pull the tube off again! — this might provide some peace of mind!

It would if this thing didn't pop off in the first place. I swear its doing it on purpose now lol. What make this whole situation even better, after I fought it that long to get the fitting in, the screw that holds the fitting to the pump, the one that came with the pump itself, didn't fit on the pump...

 

[UncommonSense]

It would if this thing didn't pop off in the first place. I swear its doing it on purpose now lol. What make this whole situation even better, after I fought it that long to get the fitting in, the screw that holds the fitting to the pump, the one that came with the pump itself, didn't fit on the pump...

Hmm… that’s strange too… examine the threads on both parts; look for plastic thread damage, a crack, or foreign debris!

 

[RedReefer]

Can these clamps withstand pressure? The pump at level 3 is starting to push the hose, zip ties and all, off. 1 and 2 seem stable with the zip ties. I have very little head pressure, the sump is right under the tank, and has two 90s in that distance. Is the relative weakness of the hose-to-pump seal just something I'll have to try to compensate for with extra clamps? Is there anything else I could do with this in addition to the clamps? I'd be willing to glue the insert to the tube if I could. I don't want the hose blowing off again...maybe worse next time if I'm not right there tuning it.

Yes if installed correctly the clamps are way stronger than zip tirs.

 

[Wandering Albatross]

Hmm… that’s strange too… examine the threads on both parts; look for plastic thread damage, a crack, or foreign debris!

It's just too big. Which again I call BS cause it was provided to go with the pump and fit that larger barbed fitting...

 

[Reefering1]

Did you have to heat it, to get it on the 1 1/4" fitting? Does it feel tight? I think you'll be good to go! You can still put a clamp on it..

 

[Wandering Albatross]

Did you have to heat it, to get it on the 1 1/4" fitting? Does it feel tight? I think you'll be good to go! You can still put a clamp on it..

I had to heat it multiple times in water just under boiling, use a butter knife to pry on it, knead it, put my full weight on it against the floor, and invent new curse words. I looks and feels snug., but the last one did too. And it lasted for a couple days. And I checked, my largest plastic clamp no longer fits at this size.

I fully accepted coral and fish losses as likely at some point in this hobby, perhaps even some equipment failure. I even have a few fish I'll try at some point that I expect to lose, given their various difficulties. But I didn't think something so dumb in my mind would halt my whole process lol.

 

[UncommonSense]

I had to heat it multiple times in water just under boiling, use a butter knife to pry on it, knead it, put my full weight on it against the floor, and invent new curse words. I looks and feels snug., but the last one did too. And it lasted for a couple days. And I checked, my largest plastic clamp no longer fits at this size.

I fully accepted coral and fish losses as likely at some point in this hobby, perhaps even some equipment failure. I even have a few fish I'll try at some point that I expect to lose, given their various difficulties. But I didn't think something so dumb in my mind would halt my whole process lol.

Here’s a thought… second smaller return pump (if you have one laying around) lazily plumbed with tube to hang on the tank rim…

Run both your new return pump and the secondary return pump at the same time while you’re away for redundancy while you get a bit more comfortable with the new plumbing?

The only question is how to prevent the new pump from shooting water in the air if it does pop off… — I immediately think of some kind of plastic sheet material to cover the interior top of the return chamber… maybe with a hole cut/drilled in it for the 1.25” barbed fitting and 1” tube to go through…

Thoughts?

 

[Wandering Albatross]

Here’s a thought… second smaller return pump (if you have one laying around) lazily plumbed with tube to hang on the tank rim…

Run both your new return pump and the secondary return pump at the same time while you’re away for redundancy while you get a bit more comfortable with the new plumbing?

The only question is how to prevent the new pump from shooting water in the air if it does pop off… — I immediately think of some kind of plastic sheet material to cover the interior top of the return chamber… maybe with a hole cut/drilled in it for the 1.25” barbed fitting and 1” tube to go through…

Thoughts?

Certainly a thought, I'm still considering at least a partial cover anyway, just wasn't as pressing as getting things stable and reef ready. Of the times between the two pumps that the pipe has popped off, it has sprayed the underside of my stand and started to gurgle onto the floor. Thankfully I've been nearby to catch it before it got worse. But I can't always be here, and plumbing a whole second pump at this point will delay my tank by another week or better. I just find it frustrating, as it shouldn't take this much redundancy. I purposefully went for as reasonably simple as possible for this setup.

 

[UncommonSense]

Certainly a thought, I'm still considering at least a partial cover anyway, just wasn't as pressing as getting things stable and reef ready. Of the times between the two pumps that the pipe has popped off, it has sprayed the underside of my stand and started to gurgle onto the floor. Thankfully I've been nearby to catch it before it got worse. But I can't always be here, and plumbing a whole second pump at this point will delay my tank by another week or better. I just find it frustrating, as it shouldn't take this much redundancy. I purposefully went for as reasonably simple as possible for this setup.

I don’t blame you at all for being frustrated!!

these plumbing parts shouldn’t have so much issue fitting together… some of it might be relative to the tubing itself, but the barbed fittings are also questionable!

It never used to be this way…. At least that I remember… — then again, I bought lot of overpriced schedule 80 PVC barbed adapter fittings years ago that I keep reusing… (at least these expensive, thick grey plastic fittings are still very well made, dimensionally speaking!)