Spa Flex Plumbing Question

wardworld · 12/07/2008, 03:13 PM

Never having used the stuff before:
Can spa flex be fitted over a barbed fitting and then clamped or should it always be cemented into pvc fittings?

mflamb · 12/07/2008, 03:21 PM

Spa flex is sized to be glued into pvc fittings.

wardworld · 12/07/2008, 03:24 PM

I guess then the flexible tubing is the only option for barbed fittings.

mflamb · 12/07/2008, 03:25 PM

Yep. Make sure you get the thick wall tubing.

wardworld · 12/07/2008, 03:28 PM

What I'm trying to do is create a "Herbie" drain (in which the drainage flow is controlled by a gate valve and the return hole is used as an emergency drain). As best I can figure it I will have/need:
1. 1 1/2" sch 80 bulkhead
2. a female adapter to connect the bulkhead to a piece of pvc
3. a piece of pvc to go between the bulkhead/adapter and the gate valve
4. the gate valve
5. a piece of pvc to connect the gate valve and a 1 1/2" male adapter
6. a 1 1/2" male adapter to connect the gate valve/pvc and the 1 1/2" barbed fitting
Then I will need flexible tubing to continue to the sump.
I would love to figure a way with fewer "connectors."

mflamb · 12/07/2008, 03:33 PM

Why do you want to control the drainage?

wardworld · 12/07/2008, 03:36 PM

The "Herbie" drain is supposed to create a silent overflow. Here's the link:
Herbie Drain

Apparently by keeping the water level in the overflow above the main drain, it never sucks in air and is silent.

bkwudzjeep · 12/07/2008, 04:32 PM

It was dead silent when doing my water test.

mflamb-it creates more of a siphon into the sump, keeping air out, thus cutting out the noise...

wardworld · 12/07/2008, 06:15 PM

So you did your overflows using the Herbie method, Jon??

cjgalante · 12/07/2008, 06:42 PM

I have used flexible PVC with a barb fitting. I used a heatgun to heat the PVC then slid the barb end in once it was hot. when it cooled it was a supper tight fit. I added a metal hose clamp for safety.

Chris

bkwudzjeep · 12/09/2008, 08:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by wardworld
So you did your overflows using the Herbie method, Jon??

Yes. I split my return in 2 (one output in each overflow), and I have one drain siphoning in one overflow, and the emergency drain in the other overflow. When I tested it by clogging the regular return, the emergency kicked in and it gurgled like crazy (sort of a audible warning).

Surferlopez · 12/12/2008, 01:14 AM

Here is a pic of the herbie method in my 65g, hope it helps
Danny

wardworld · 12/12/2008, 03:53 PM

Danny, is your experience with the Herbie drain a positive one?

WarDaddy · 12/12/2008, 04:10 PM

Herbi's are great, unless something restricts the flow.

Good idea to have a second emergency drain, just in case.

Surferlopez · 12/12/2008, 04:17 PM

A very positive one...I have my 65g about 3 feet away from my bed and all I can hear is the darn skimmer sucking up air...lol
I also just recently installed a marineland 200g using the herbie method, we are using a dart punp for the whole system and again, the only thing that you are able to hear is the air being sucked in by the rc500 skimmer

I will be posting pics of that set up shortly

You can also do a search for my old 150g I set up a few years ago using the herbie method...just search under the word tryology under my name...or I'll try to post pics when I get back home

Danny

12/07/2008, 03:13 PM	#1
wardworld Gonna Need A Bigger Tank Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Lakeland, FL Posts: 1,398	Spa Flex Plumbing Question Never having used the stuff before: Can spa flex be fitted over a barbed fitting and then clamped or should it always be cemented into pvc fittings? __________________ -Daryl Current Tank Info: 180 gallon / 100 gallon rubbermaid sump / 40 gallon fuge / I-Tech 200 skimmer

12/07/2008, 03:21 PM	#2
mflamb Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Pasadena, Texas Posts: 8,422	Spa flex is sized to be glued into pvc fittings. __________________ Click on my red house to see my 390 and 300 build thread. Those are my last 2 tanks in Tampa. Now in Pasadena waiting to buy a house to set up my next tank....anemones and clowns...probably a 3x3 150 gallon.

12/07/2008, 03:24 PM	#3
wardworld Gonna Need A Bigger Tank Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Lakeland, FL Posts: 1,398	I guess then the flexible tubing is the only option for barbed fittings. __________________ -Daryl Current Tank Info: 180 gallon / 100 gallon rubbermaid sump / 40 gallon fuge / I-Tech 200 skimmer

12/07/2008, 03:25 PM	#4
mflamb Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Pasadena, Texas Posts: 8,422	Yep. Make sure you get the thick wall tubing. __________________ Click on my red house to see my 390 and 300 build thread. Those are my last 2 tanks in Tampa. Now in Pasadena waiting to buy a house to set up my next tank....anemones and clowns...probably a 3x3 150 gallon.

12/07/2008, 03:28 PM	#5
wardworld Gonna Need A Bigger Tank Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Lakeland, FL Posts: 1,398	What I'm trying to do is create a "Herbie" drain (in which the drainage flow is controlled by a gate valve and the return hole is used as an emergency drain). As best I can figure it I will have/need: 1. 1 1/2" sch 80 bulkhead 2. a female adapter to connect the bulkhead to a piece of pvc 3. a piece of pvc to go between the bulkhead/adapter and the gate valve 4. the gate valve 5. a piece of pvc to connect the gate valve and a 1 1/2" male adapter 6. a 1 1/2" male adapter to connect the gate valve/pvc and the 1 1/2" barbed fitting Then I will need flexible tubing to continue to the sump. I would love to figure a way with fewer "connectors." __________________ -Daryl Current Tank Info: 180 gallon / 100 gallon rubbermaid sump / 40 gallon fuge / I-Tech 200 skimmer

12/07/2008, 03:33 PM	#6
mflamb Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Pasadena, Texas Posts: 8,422	Why do you want to control the drainage? __________________ Click on my red house to see my 390 and 300 build thread. Those are my last 2 tanks in Tampa. Now in Pasadena waiting to buy a house to set up my next tank....anemones and clowns...probably a 3x3 150 gallon.

12/07/2008, 03:36 PM	#7
wardworld Gonna Need A Bigger Tank Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Lakeland, FL Posts: 1,398	The "Herbie" drain is supposed to create a silent overflow. Here's the link: Herbie Drain Apparently by keeping the water level in the overflow above the main drain, it never sucks in air and is silent. __________________ -Daryl Current Tank Info: 180 gallon / 100 gallon rubbermaid sump / 40 gallon fuge / I-Tech 200 skimmer

12/07/2008, 04:32 PM	#8
bkwudzjeep O\|\|\|\|\|\|\|O Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Central Florida Posts: 2,078	It was dead silent when doing my water test. mflamb-it creates more of a siphon into the sump, keeping air out, thus cutting out the noise... __________________ "You can lead a horse to water, but a pencil must be lead." ~Laurel and Hardy Current Tank Info: Taking a break for a while

12/07/2008, 06:15 PM	#9
wardworld Gonna Need A Bigger Tank Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Lakeland, FL Posts: 1,398	So you did your overflows using the Herbie method, Jon?? __________________ -Daryl Current Tank Info: 180 gallon / 100 gallon rubbermaid sump / 40 gallon fuge / I-Tech 200 skimmer

12/07/2008, 06:42 PM	#10
cjgalante Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Tampa, Florida Posts: 819	I have used flexible PVC with a barb fitting. I used a heatgun to heat the PVC then slid the barb end in once it was hot. when it cooled it was a supper tight fit. I added a metal hose clamp for safety. Chris __________________ The bird is the word.

12/12/2008, 01:14 AM	#12
Surferlopez Moved On Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Tampa Bay Area Posts: 602	Here is a pic of the herbie method in my 65g, hope it helps Danny

12/12/2008, 03:53 PM	#13
wardworld Gonna Need A Bigger Tank Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Lakeland, FL Posts: 1,398	Danny, is your experience with the Herbie drain a positive one? __________________ -Daryl Current Tank Info: 180 gallon / 100 gallon rubbermaid sump / 40 gallon fuge / I-Tech 200 skimmer

12/12/2008, 04:10 PM	#14
WarDaddy Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Land O Lakes, FL Posts: 4,019	Herbi's are great, unless something restricts the flow. Good idea to have a second emergency drain, just in case. __________________ --Bryan I Brake for FRAGS! Current Tank Info: 50 Gallon DIY cube

12/12/2008, 04:17 PM	#15
Surferlopez Moved On Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Tampa Bay Area Posts: 602	A very positive one...I have my 65g about 3 feet away from my bed and all I can hear is the darn skimmer sucking up air...lol I also just recently installed a marineland 200g using the herbie method, we are using a dart punp for the whole system and again, the only thing that you are able to hear is the air being sucked in by the rc500 skimmer I will be posting pics of that set up shortly You can also do a search for my old 150g I set up a few years ago using the herbie method...just search under the word tryology under my name...or I'll try to post pics when I get back home Danny