Plumbing Clamps

[KMP]

Can you use a stainless steel clamp (kind you get at the hardware store) under water to clamp your hose down onto a barb fitting? I don't care if it will rust providing it doesn't leach bad stuff in the water that would kill my fish and critters.

I know they have plastic ones; however, my plastic one just popped off and dosed the underside of my stand. Don't trust them. Fortunately I was here to catch it right away. Would hate to think of that happening while I'm gone.

 

[mpoletti]

I would not recommend using anything that rusts in your water.

 

[jtarmitage]

Yeah, the stainless will rust. You need the plastic ones. You can always double up on them if there's enough room.

 

[WarrenG]

You can use two of the stronger zip ties with their latches at about 180 degrees from each other.

 

[KMP]

thanks warreng. i think i'd trust zip ties more so then those plastic clamps.

point to ponder: if you shouldn't use the stainless steel clamps because they can rust; then why can you put rust in your phosban reactor?

 

[BodiBuilt]

Try cutting a short (3/4"?) piece of clear tubing with the correct ID to fit snugly over the return hose BEFORE installing it over the hose barb... the extra applied force to the barbed fitting should be so strong you will have to cut the extra layer of tubing to remove the hose from the barb!

 

[kevin95695]

Piggybacking on KMP's point: If rust is bad, why do we run it in our reactors?

 

[WarrenG]

Not all rust is the same chemicals going into the water?

 

[Reefugee]

Stainless steel is actually an iron-carbon alloy with some chromium in it. When stainless steel rust, it will form iron (III) oxide, which is the stuff we use to absorb phosphate. In addition, it forms chromium (III) oxide. I don't know what effect Chromium (III) oxide has on aquatic life.