Over Flow- HELP ;)

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S

socalsurfer

Candiru
MFK Member
Feb 12, 2006
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So Ca
Ok so I got me a wet dry going. I purchased one of those ready made overflows. Everything seemed to be working good, until I noticed I'm getting a small leak where I have my Hose connected to the overflow. The overflow came with a 1" pvc pipe for connection of hose. Someone told me I should use that 1 1/4" spa hose. SO I had to make the 1" expand to 1 1/4". That all worked fine. The problem is that the hose leaks from where I have it connected to. I bought the insert for it, and I basically have the same set-up stuff going into the sump and it doesn't leak. My question is, do I really need that huge 1 1/4" hose??? Should I just try to use pvc all the way to the sump? Or maybe go with a smaller hose? Also is PVC primer really bad for the fish? The primer really shouldn't even come in contact with the water... Here is a pic of the connection I'm talking about. I even siliconed the Hell out of it. Still leaks and it's really pissing me off! Did I mention I'm on the 2nd floor of an Apt. So I can't have this thing leak! Oh lastly Yes I did have it clamped and it didn't do a damn thing!

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I would suggest using Spaflex hose with a barbed type fitting. They sell both at Lowes. The hose you are using looks kind of flimsy which may explain the leak. Good luck.
 
???

Make sure that that is really where it is leaking from. Overflows don't have that much pressure on them, with all that silicone on there it shouldn't leak. I'd suggest disassembling & cleaning it and starting over, making sure you get silicone on the inside of the joint and rotating it so silicone flows evenly.

As far as needing 1.25" vs 1" you didn't say what your target flow rate was, the reducer coupling will hamper that. So unless you are pushing the overflow to its limits, you could go back to the manufacturers 1" pipe/hose size.

Keep us posted on what you find,

Dr Joe

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I really don't have a target/goal of how many gph I want it to do. I already have an XP3 so basically I want to add better filtration. The clamp is away from the connection because it really didn't help. I checked all connections from the the overflow to the hose. It seems the only place to be leaking. I'll check it again. I did use barbed connections for the hose.
 
socalsurfer;1219305; said:
I really don't have a target/goal of how many gph I want it to do. I already have an XP3 so basically I want to add better filtration. The clamp is away from the connection because it really didn't help. I checked all connections from the the overflow to the hose. It seems the only place to be leaking. I'll check it again. I did use barbed connections for the hose.
Click to expand...

Try the "Spaflex" brand. Your hose looks a little flimsy, as in not rigid. I think this could be causing a bad seal around the barb leading to a leak. Spaflex is about $2 per foot at Lowes. Another advantage to using Spaflex is that it won't allow algea to grow inside because of total lack of light.
 
Wrap strips of paper towel around each joint to find where it's leaking (easier with small leaks than trying to see them).

Is that tubing spiral or just flexible (spiral doesn't work well with barbed hose fittings).

Dr Joe

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Forget the hose,plumb the whole thing in pvc.A little more work but cheaper and less likly to leak in the long run
 
Dr Joe;1219616; said:
Wrap strips of paper towel around each joint to find where it's leaking (easier with small leaks than trying to see them).

Is that tubing spiral or just flexible (spiral doesn't work well with barbed hose fittings).

Dr Joe

.
Click to expand...
Spiral, I believe. I did buy it from Lowes, in the section where they have all kinds of hose. I do think it is that spiral spa hose. But I don't remember a name brand. Anyway I'll try the paper towel around all the joints to find it exactly. Never thought of that ;)
 
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