Can I use Drain Hose As Pump Return Hose??

[GlockFu]

I purchased an Eshoppes wet/dry filter that came with two 3 foot ribbed hoses. I'm pretty sure these hoses were intended to be used as drain hoses but since I hard plumbed my system I am not using it for my drainage.

Is there anything wrong with using these ribbed hoses on my sump pump to pump water into the tank??

If it is okay, where can I get these hoses in a 1 foot section?

The hose I'm talking abut is THIS HOSE

 

[sleepydoc]

You probably could if you could securely attach it. The return pumps we use don't have very high pressure, unless you have a basement sump. The main disadvantage to those hoses is that they are ribbed and will create a lot of resistance to flow. This is why most people use either rigid pipe or spa flex/ultra flex PVC for their returns.

 

[GlockFu]

Thanks for the response. I am running it off of a Fluval SP6 so it's a strong pump but not that strong. I am planning to attach it with some hose clamps so it will definitely be on there tight.

I think this will just be a temporary solution. I really want to get my tanks running this weekend but all that I'm missing is the hose. I was planning on connecting my pump to my gate valves with a hose that would fit over the 1" PVC and use hose clamps to secure it but don't know what kind of hose to go with. All the places I've been ordering from that have the ultra flex PVC only have it in 1" diameter and then jump to 1.5" which is too big. I think 1.25" might work for what I'm trying to do but is on the small side but was thinking I could heat it up a little bit to make it expand, jam it on and then let it cool around the pipe. I went to home depot and all I could find was their clear vinyl tubes which were super thick and very rigid.

Any suggestions on my permanent fix?

 

[sleepydoc]

Vinyl tubing requires hose barbs, which add a large amount of head loss. the SP6 is a pretty strong pump with a fair amount of flow. Seems silly to get a pump like that and choke it with a hose barb.

You can use the head loss calculator on the RC home page to get an idea of head loss and flow with various configurations. I would recommend using the ultra flex. tubing directly from the pump. You're probably better off going with the 1.5", but it depends on your application. You can always have a short segment of 1" or 1.5" and then upsize it to the 1.25" rigid pipe for the remainder of the return.

Ultraflex PVC is PVC pipe, just flexible. You cement it to regular PVC fittings, just like any other PVC pipe. If you try to heat it up to make it fit over an adapter, it will leak.

 

[ericarenee]

I would not use it..
1. they cause water resistance as said above.
2. The creases are a nice place for detritus and other stuff to become trapped and create there own ecosystem in the pipe.
3. They Are thin and could easily be punctured . Just not worth it in my opinion

I use solid 1 1/2 pvc for return with Spa Flex on the bends .

Just make sure your OVER FLOW Box can handle the flow of that pump...

 

[GlockFu]

So I went to my local pond store and he recommended I use these barb fittings and kink free hose he had at the store. I bought it and am now rethinking if I should have. I measured the inside diameter of the barb fitting I got from him and it is pretty much 13/16". The only information I could find online was for 3/4" tube which sounds like it would not likely handle 800 GPH which is what I need being that Fluval SP6 only generates 4 psi.

Is this information correct? Or will I be able to use this barbed fitting and still push 800 GPH through it?

 

[ericarenee]

how big is the hole in the output of the pump....

The thing with pumps. The output needs to be the size of the input or larger to get optimum water flow. With that said reducing the output puts the pump running with resistance and it will work . just less flow...... 800 gph is a lot of water all you can do it is try and see if its enough..
Head height also comes into play ... I know on a 3/4 pump outlet 1 inch pipe is best.. .

on a 1 inch pump outlet 1 1/2 is usually Recommended .... But not a requirement.. if you use what you have and its enough it will be fine. If the pump rattles or is noisy you may need to go bigger.

 

[slief]

I purchased an Eshoppes wet/dry filter that came with two 3 foot ribbed hoses. I'm pretty sure these hoses were intended to be used as drain hoses but since I hard plumbed my system I am not using it for my drainage.

Is there anything wrong with using these ribbed hoses on my sump pump to pump water into the tank??

If it is okay, where can I get these hoses in a 1 foot section?

The hose I'm talking abut is THIS HOSE

I wouldn't use them. As mentioned, the friction loss with that stuff will just be silly but that's really the least of your concerns. Those hoses and the connections to the slip fittings are not designed for pressure applications. The hoses are corregated and are bonded well enough to the connector IMO. They are meant to be used for drain lines where there isn't really any pressure. Neither the hose or the slip fittings are PVC. Instead they are plastic so if you glue it to a bulkhead, the glue connection will not be a strong one. I would STRONGLY suggest either hard piping it or using appropriate sized vinyl tubing with barbed fittings. Don't use those hoses for your return lines. Do it right.

 

[Shawn O]

Why make a temporary solution to go back and fix it later? Spaflex or braided vinyl hose would be better setup than the vacuum hose you listed.

If using Vinyl hose and barb fittings, you could easily use adapters to go up a couple of sizes from your gate valve and use larger barb fittings and hose, then reduce back down at the other end of the hose. This should remove any restriction the smaller barb fittings would have created.

Best to do it right the first time than have to go back and fix it later. Patience is the key to all things in this hobby.

 

[GlockFu]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I got her done! I was just going to use it as a temporary solution until i found a permanent fix. I was just eager to get water flowing and tank cycling. But instead, i must have called at least 20 different places looking for that ultra flex or spa flex PVC. I dont know about your areas but that stuff is like a damn unicorn over here and Im in CA. I read online to call pond and swimming pool places but no one had it in 1". I finally found it an irrigation store. So if anyone is looking for this stuff local try looking for an irrigation store! They even had it for cheaper than i could find it online ... only $0.70 a foot!

 

[sleepydoc]

Lowes and Home Depot carry it around here. I don't recall off hand if they carry 1", though. It's most commonly used on hot tubs, so a hot tub supply store might be a good place to look as well. 1" is a pretty small diameter for something like spa flex, so I'm not surprised you had trouble finding it. There are a lot of semi-specialized items we use that are far easier to find online, and this is one of them.

 

[slief]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I got her done! I was just going to use it as a temporary solution until i found a permanent fix. I was just eager to get water flowing and tank cycling. But instead, i must have called at least 20 different places looking for that ultra flex or spa flex PVC. I dont know about your areas but that stuff is like a damn unicorn over here and Im in CA. I read online to call pond and swimming pool places but no one had it in 1". I finally found it an irrigation store. So if anyone is looking for this stuff local try looking for an irrigation store! They even had it for cheaper than i could find it online ... only $0.70 a foot!

Glad you found some and did it right! It's actually really easy to find here in Cal.. It's more commonly referred to as Flex PVC and as Sleepydoc mentioned, it is available at Home Depot, Lowers as well as Ace/True Value, Do It Center, Fergasons etc. I've purchased quite a bit of that from those stores. At least you know for next time.

 

[GlockFu]

Really, Home Depot??? I looked there but didn't find it there. The Home Depots around here are pretty un helpful. Man, if they had it that sure sucks because I looked there and I spent a lot of time calling places and running around looking for it. Oh well, I guess it's over now, I'm sure glad to be done with that piece of the puzzle :debi: