Leaky hose connection

Discussion in 'New to Reefing' started by JustKeepSwimming, Sep 30, 2012.

  1. JustKeepSwimming

    JustKeepSwimming

    Joined:
    Aug 29, 2012
    Messages:
    20
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Crofton, MD USA
    I just hooked up a new sump with overflow box and 350 gph return pump hooked to the 5/8" green vinyl hose supplied by Eshopps. The hose connects to a J-shaped return sprayer with a barbed end. When I turn on the system, that connection leaks like crazy. I've tried cutting the end off the hose and reconnecting the fresh end, but it still leaks. I've also tried putting an o-ring around the hose at the connection to hold it tighter, but it still leaks. Any suggestions? This is making me crazy!:frustrat:
     
    JustKeepSwimming, Sep 30, 2012
    #1
    1. Advertisements

  2. JustKeepSwimming

    FishyReef Broke Reefer!

    Joined:
    Jan 1, 2012
    Messages:
    3,074
    Likes Received:
    342
    Location:
    Boston
    FishyReef, Sep 30, 2012
    #2
    1. Advertisements

  3. JustKeepSwimming

    JustKeepSwimming

    Joined:
    Aug 29, 2012
    Messages:
    20
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Crofton, MD USA
    If you're talking about a metal hose clamp with a screw on the side, I tried that too, and it still leaked. I may not have tightened it enough, but I didn't want to break or flatten the plastic J tube. Maybe it would work if I really tightened that screw as hard as I could.
     
    JustKeepSwimming, Sep 30, 2012
    #3
  4. JustKeepSwimming

    Waddi Shenanigans? VIP Member

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2010
    Messages:
    3,862
    Likes Received:
    488
    Location:
    NS, Canada
    Hose clamps dont fix leaks. They hold stuff in place. Other than that, I dont know how to help ya on that one bud.
     
    Waddi, Oct 1, 2012
    #4
  5. JustKeepSwimming

    Bifferwine I am a girl

    Joined:
    May 13, 2006
    Messages:
    46,915
    Likes Received:
    5,889
    Location:
    Lynnwood, WA and missing Tucson, AZ
    Silicone it?
     
    Bifferwine, Oct 1, 2012
    #5
  6. JustKeepSwimming

    bjohanson1234 .........

    Joined:
    Sep 4, 2006
    Messages:
    11,001
    Likes Received:
    1,103
    Location:
    Palos Heights, IL
    can you post a picture of what you have? It might help us make recommendations.
     
    bjohanson1234, Oct 1, 2012
    #6
  7. JustKeepSwimming

    cvcdrk

    Joined:
    Jun 5, 2012
    Messages:
    817
    Likes Received:
    80
    Location:
    Drexel Hill, PA
    Use some sort of sealant I think....
     
    cvcdrk, Oct 1, 2012
    #7
  8. JustKeepSwimming

    bjohanson1234 .........

    Joined:
    Sep 4, 2006
    Messages:
    11,001
    Likes Received:
    1,103
    Location:
    Palos Heights, IL
    The thing is, you shouldn't need sealant on a barb connection. I am guessing that the hose is too big for the connector. You might need to use a different sized hose.
     
    bjohanson1234, Oct 1, 2012
    #8
  9. JustKeepSwimming

    Ted Living one day at a time

    Joined:
    Jun 14, 2009
    Messages:
    3,722
    Likes Received:
    447
    Location:
    San Antonio, TX
    My fish guy helped me on this issue just last Saturday. The molded plastic sometimes has a ridge from the molding process. This need to be taken off. Then put a little pvc cement on the barbed end push it on and presto I had no more leaks....
     
    Ted, Oct 1, 2012
    #9
  10. JustKeepSwimming

    RockStacker

    Joined:
    May 31, 2012
    Messages:
    945
    Likes Received:
    111
    Location:
    CA-USA
    It could be a size mismatch like BJ said.
     
    RockStacker, Oct 1, 2012
    #10
  11. JustKeepSwimming

    Ted Living one day at a time

    Joined:
    Jun 14, 2009
    Messages:
    3,722
    Likes Received:
    447
    Location:
    San Antonio, TX
    Speaking of which what hoses did it come with? My sump came with some crap hoses so I bought new ones cost me all of 15 bucks.
     
    Ted, Oct 1, 2012
    #11
  12. JustKeepSwimming

    JustKeepSwimming

    Joined:
    Aug 29, 2012
    Messages:
    20
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Crofton, MD USA
    The hose Eshopps provided was 5/8", but I'm sure my last freshwater aquarium set-up included a 1/2" hose for the tank return. I'm going to get some 1/2" hose at my LFS and try that.
     
    JustKeepSwimming, Oct 1, 2012
    #12
  13. JustKeepSwimming

    bjohanson1234 .........

    Joined:
    Sep 4, 2006
    Messages:
    11,001
    Likes Received:
    1,103
    Location:
    Palos Heights, IL
    Take the piece with you. You will be able to get the right size for sure then.
     
    bjohanson1234, Oct 1, 2012
    #13
  14. JustKeepSwimming

    poksal Well? .. I AM trying VIP Member

    Joined:
    Sep 26, 2012
    Messages:
    1,181
    Likes Received:
    75
    Location:
    DFW, TX
    I had a hose that kept leaking, finally I heated the end of the hose with a heat gun to soften the material and then quickly put it together and tightened the dreaded hose clamp over it.. no leak since. I think it helped the two parts mate up better.
     
    poksal, Oct 2, 2012
    #14
  15. JustKeepSwimming

    Civicdemon Go Big Or Go Home !

    Joined:
    May 22, 2012
    Messages:
    1,224
    Likes Received:
    70
    Location:
    Moreno Valley, Ca. USA
    Take a lighter and put the hose on, then run the flame from the lighter up and down the tube right where it connects, to warm it up but not to long or it will burn. Usually the rubber hose will shrink a bit with heat.
     
    Last edited: Oct 2, 2012
    Civicdemon, Oct 2, 2012
    #15
  16. JustKeepSwimming

    Big K

    Joined:
    Jul 2, 2012
    Messages:
    700
    Likes Received:
    167
    Location:
    Nashville, TN
    Use a hair dryer, that's much safer than a lighter. It takes about a milisecond to screw up a hose with a lighter.
     
    Big K, Oct 2, 2012
    #16
  17. JustKeepSwimming

    JustKeepSwimming

    Joined:
    Aug 29, 2012
    Messages:
    20
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Crofton, MD USA
    So I bought some 5/8" tubing from my LFS, and it is definitely smaller than the green tubing supplied with the overflow, and it STILL leaked. I filed down the raised seams on the J tube created in the molding process (thanks Ted) and applied a super thin layer of silicone o-ring lubricant. NO LEAKS! Thanks everybody.:D
     
    JustKeepSwimming, Oct 2, 2012
    #17
  18. JustKeepSwimming

    FishyReef Broke Reefer!

    Joined:
    Jan 1, 2012
    Messages:
    3,074
    Likes Received:
    342
    Location:
    Boston
    Yay! Just keep an eye on it and hopefully it will hold for you long term!
     
    FishyReef, Oct 2, 2012
    #18
  19. JustKeepSwimming

    Ted Living one day at a time

    Joined:
    Jun 14, 2009
    Messages:
    3,722
    Likes Received:
    447
    Location:
    San Antonio, TX
    worked for me...glad it helped
     
    Ted, Oct 3, 2012
    #19
  20. JustKeepSwimming

    poksal Well? .. I AM trying VIP Member

    Joined:
    Sep 26, 2012
    Messages:
    1,181
    Likes Received:
    75
    Location:
    DFW, TX
    Gotta love the power and networking that we couldn't do a few years ago without forums!
     
    poksal, Oct 3, 2012
    #20
    1. Advertisements

Ask a Question

Want to reply to this thread or ask your own question?

You'll need to choose a username for the site, which only take a couple of moments (here). After that, you can post your question and our members will help you out.