Spa flex?

[Sullyman]

Question on spa flex, have a tank with spa flex and need to change pump.
I've got a feeling it has become rigid and wonder if heating it up, hair dryer or heat gun can straighten it out. If I have to replace it, I'll have to replume and that is trouble. Anyone have it crack while trying to do this?

 

[mhurley]

I warmed and straightened mine by soaking in a tub of hot water. Never had an issue.

 

[five.five-six]

It might be prudent to have all the materials on hand to replace it before you begin to manipulate it. the stuff is inexpensive.

 

[Sullyman]

Thanks Mike but I can't soak it, it's already plumbed for about 5 years. Five.five-six I've got enough stuff to replumb if I have too, I have a pump to keep the water flowing.
I have to drain my sump clean it and kill a bulkhead, then I can start the temp pump.
And then I can see how bad the spa flex is????

 

[mhurley]

I don't know how I glossed over the fact that this was plumbed already...LOL....Sorry.

 

[ostrow]

Do you have the spaflex going straight to a fitting into the pump? I have it go through true-union ball valve via fittings, and just swap fittings if I swap pumps (my backup used to be an Iwaki for when my reeflo conked. That has been addressed now tho.). Whatever you do, for the future I would suggest something like this. The spa-flex does get rigid. Of late I have gotten concerned as to whether it might fail at some point.

 

[Sullyman]

Joel it stays pretty strong, thought it would crack a couple of times. And I had 5 fails before one last attempt. Now I need my 60g cube to receive a new return pump. I'm thinking I'll use new spa flex on this one and avoid all the fun. I have a union and ball valve and will replumb from the union down to the pump. Got a lot of help from Albert and Shaun at Aquacave, got a pump that was too big and was able to take it back and get a smaller one this afternoon. Nice to have a warehouse of reefing goodies so close.
Mike I'll soak my new spa flex in the Tub!!!!