Spa flex?

Sullyman · 11/16/2018, 11:35 AM

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 · 11/16/2018, 12:42 PM

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

five.five-six · 11/16/2018, 12:44 PM

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 · 11/16/2018, 01:39 PM

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 · 11/16/2018, 02:02 PM

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

ostrow · 11/18/2018, 06:54 AM

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 · 11/30/2018, 07:35 PM

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!!!!

11/16/2018, 11:35 AM	#1
Sullyman Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Buffalo Grove, Il. Posts: 3,764	Spa flex? 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? __________________ SW Hobbyist since 1983, reefer since 96 Current tanks 190g acro/sps, many tanks with clownfish. Bred true Perculas. Have bred GSMs.

11/16/2018, 12:42 PM	#2
mhurley RC Staff Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: Illinois'ish Posts: 38,805	I warmed and straightened mine by soaking in a tub of hot water. Never had an issue. __________________ Mike Current Tank Info: 60G Cube

11/16/2018, 12:44 PM	#3
five.five-six Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Corona Posts: 7,827 Blog Entries: 6	It might be prudent to have all the materials on hand to replace it before you begin to manipulate it. the stuff is inexpensive. __________________ Originally posted by yellowslayer13: "I hate that hole" Current Tank Info: SCMAS Member 225 peninsula euroreef RS180 Apex 400W X 3 20k radiums / Spectra mixed SPS

11/16/2018, 01:39 PM	#4
Sullyman Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Buffalo Grove, Il. Posts: 3,764	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???? __________________ SW Hobbyist since 1983, reefer since 96 Current tanks 190g acro/sps, many tanks with clownfish. Bred true Perculas. Have bred GSMs.

11/16/2018, 02:02 PM	#5
mhurley RC Staff Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: Illinois'ish Posts: 38,805	I don't know how I glossed over the fact that this was plumbed already...LOL....Sorry. __________________ Mike Current Tank Info: 60G Cube

11/18/2018, 06:54 AM	#6
ostrow It's Dr. Goodluck Himself Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Oak Park, IL Posts: 11,654	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. __________________ It's the return of Dr. Goodluck Himself. fml! Current Tank Info: 156G "brick", 150 sump and 75 fuge replaces Fire, Destruction, Sad :(

11/30/2018, 07:35 PM	#7
Sullyman Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Buffalo Grove, Il. Posts: 3,764	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!!!! __________________ SW Hobbyist since 1983, reefer since 96 Current tanks 190g acro/sps, many tanks with clownfish. Bred true Perculas. Have bred GSMs.