Help! Return fitting snapped! (Megaflow Overflow)

[Kdocimo90]

the return fitting leading from my sump pump to my overflow underneath my tank snapped off today. Fortunately I turned the pumps off before it happened.

My overflows I got were the Mega Flow accessory kits.

The part that's broken is what my return pump hooks up to.

I'm assuming its something on this page:
http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_AquariumPage~PageAlias~plumbing_parts_fittings_bulkheads_strainers.html


Can anyone help? Thanks!

[Kdocimo90]

http://rsrc1.bubbleshare.com/media/01/3a/8c/b4/df444d76be11cd362e9bad7a8c59397993ed392d/580x435/0705091534_580x435.jpg

http://rsrc2.bubbleshare.com/media/01/3a/8c/b5/34cd7000433d169c0e6bf19631acb247aa0bdee0/580x435/0705091535_580x435.jpg

[luther1200]

Your going to have to get a new 1. I doubt that could be fixed.

[ddinox64]

You may be able to cut it aff where it meets the threads and buy a piece of pvc and glue it in. That way you're not tearing it all apart.

That must be some brittle crap. Or it was fractured already where it reduces in size and finally gave way.

Anyway. I would try cutting and gluing first.

One thing I do on all my plumbing connections is make sure they are relaxed. Never any tension on them.

[Kdocimo90]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15308077#post15308077 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ddinox64
You may be able to cut it aff where it meets the threads and buy a piece of pvc and glue it in. That way you're not tearing it all apart.

That must be some brittle crap. Or it was fractured already where it reduces in size and finally gave way.

Anyway. I would try cutting and gluing first.

One thing I do on all my plumbing connections is make sure they are relaxed. Never any tension on them.

thats what I think i'm going to do. Get a femail fitting going over the male fitting thats left. Then get a new 1 1/4" to 3/4" barb fitting. Hopefully that will work out.


Just out of curiousity, what are the +/- of using pvc over hosing for returns and drains (currently I am using hosing for everything)

[Bowman]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15308088#post15308088 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Kdocimo90
thats what I think i'm going to do. Get a femail fitting going over the male fitting thats left. Then get a new 1 1/4" to 3/4" barb fitting. Hopefully that will work out. a

I believe the threads on the bulkhead are different than the threads on the female pvc fitting. Normally the threads on pvc fittings both male and female are NPT normal pipe thread and the threads on bulkheads are straight. I would contact the tank manufacture and get a replacement or get a standard bulkhead and retrofit the plumbing. HTH

[ludnix]

I would replace the bulkhead entirely.

http://savko.com/partlist.asp?pgid=2

[ddinox64]

If that's sand we're looking at. I would cut and look for a slip to glue inside that bulkhead. Because then in the future when you breakdown the tank if you do. That nut will be larger than the pvc you used.

Pvc vs. hose. 6 of 1, half dozen of another. So none in my opinion.

But I do see you're using clear. It is recommended to use black as to inhibit algae growth inside due to light penetration.

Looking at your drain hose. It too seems to be pulled to one side rather than down possibly putting strain on that bulkhead as well. And seeing that the hose clamp is straight compared to it. That's where flex tubing helps because it bends easily unlike poly tubing.

[dots]

Agreed, replace the entire thing!!! Whats going to happen is your going to be messing down there with it, apply too much torque again and instead of breaking the bulkhead off, your going to crack the tank.

This is why you don't glue the standpipes in the bulkheads. No big deal, you can probably twist on it out of the tank and break it free from the old bulk head if you did.

Pull your standpipe out and let the overflow drain, and replace the bulkhead.

Don't forget to clean out the overflow while you are at it. In fact I pull both of mine every once in a while to make sure they are running clear and take care of any algae and detritus running in the overflow.

In fact, have thought many times of placing a powerhead in the bottom permanantly to keep it all stirred up.