Rusting Stainless Hose Clamps

Serren

New member
Both the clamps holding the main return flex hose line from my retun pump are rusting. This can't be good right?

Should I buy better clamps? I got these at Home Depot.

Thanks!
 
You should use nylon hose clamps:

I'm sure you can find some locally.

p_13152_32758-i.jpg
 
i used the nylon ones and could nto get a good clamp on the hose. i put on the stainless - they have rusted, but tanks doing just fine.
 
I thought about zip ties, but man, if this hose comes off, I am done done. (Two dones on purpose!)

I'll look around for some of the plastic clamps as shown above. Maybe two of those and some zip ties. And maybe keep one rusting metal clamp. I do not see any ill effects from the rusting clamp either btw.
 
Steve, I don't think I'd ever use stainless steel anywhere that will come into contact with the SW for prolonged periods of time. Depending on the size of your tank, you may not see any ill effects right away, but it just seems like a ticking time bomb.
 
You don't have that much pressure in the hose. As long as your hose is somewhat pliable (like vinyl hose and not rigid like flex PVC) so that the zip tie can squeeze the hose tight , zip ties should work fine.

Minh
 
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Thanks for the warnings. I will remove the metal hose clamps tonight and replace them with plastic of some sort.

I love this group of reefers!
 
stainless rust????

stainless rust????

thats unusal,id just repl them,cheap anyway,thats what i use on all of my hoses to,mike..............
 
This is why I love flex PVC--you can glue it in and not worry about this. My experience with zip ties and the plastic clamps is that they don't really clamp down tight enough to keep the hose from coming off and/or they get brittle and crack after a few years in a SW environment.
 
hard plumb it with a union fitting and ball valve, all plastic. almost all pumps have threads on them. Just like your sprinklers.
 
You can get better quality ss hose clamps at a west marine store or marine supply store but they still rust after a couple of years. I've had the plastic ones come loose on me, no fun on an 800 gallon living reef tank that had bottom conections. Best bet is threads or glued pvc slip fittings.
 
Weird I've had a stainless clamp on my freshwater/Kalk topoff reservoir for 6months and it hasn't rusted so far..must be the saltwater I'd just change them out and call it a day.. the nylon ones dont work too good in my expierence on certain things although I'm using those along with zipties on my tlf reactor hoses
 
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