Airline Slip Out Options

[jhansolo]

Dear Bros,

I have experienced many times the air line slip off from my rena 200 air pump. Anyone experience this? I'm using the ones that Darwin sell blue color soft airline, should I change them?

[jhansolo]

Thanks for all the replies ...

If I guess correctly, the "blue soft" airline tubing you are using is the newer type made of silicon.  Those typical clear harder ones are made of plastic (of some sort.)

The silicon type, I find better in staying connected.  They were made specifically to stay soft (and hence huggy) instead of harden up over-time and lose the grib.

So I'm guessing (again!?) that the fault may lies in your Rena's air-outlet tip.  Is the tip oily and so slippery?  Use some thinner to carefully remove the oil if you can. 

Yes the air line or tubing is the newer type made of silicon. It is wonderful and I really don't notice any smell.

As for the outlet tip, during my last water change ... no there is no oil or whatever, but cleaned it anyway.

Does the air pumping out from the Rena flow freely?  It could be your airstone is clogged and the back-pressure created is so great the connection slips.

Well the stone can't be clog as they are new.

After cleaning,before slipping on the air tube simply snip off the part that was previously attached to the inlet as that portion is likely to have lost its elasticity (hardened) due to the heat emitted from the air pump.

Done that as well ...

I also wrote to Rena and got a reply to add a elastic band, well I figure the main reason for the back pressure is because I place the pump below the water line. Let me do what they recommanded first and see how it goes.

[HappyBuddha]

I also wrote to Rena and got a reply to add a elastic band, well I figure the main reason for the back pressure is because I place the pump below the water line.  Let me do what they recommanded first and see how it goes.

Elastic band? A cool looking high-end airpump now looks like it belongs to a nerd.

About placing below water line. That's a big no-no, you know? When the pump is turned off, effectively the airline tubing becomes a siphoning tube and will draw water into the pump, short-circuiting it. It's a fire hazard! If you don't have a choice but to place it below water line, get a one-way check valve for airpumps asap. It contains a small trap door that prevents water from flowing back into your air pump when power outages occur. It costs about $2 a piece. Most LFS will have it on sale.

[jhansolo]

Elastic band?  A cool looking high-end airpump now looks like it belongs to a nerd. 

get a one-way check valve for airpumps asap.  It contains a small trap door that prevents water from flowing back into your air pump when power outages occur.  It costs about $2 a piece.  Most LFS will have it on sale.

That's why I'm very very reluctant to do what they recommanded.

Square guy is right about the negative pressure ... I do have the check valve which I only use when I'm away. It reduces the pressure greatly.

Rena in the installation guide described in detail about the loop and it works, no back flow of water.

I'll figure something out rather than a elastic band

[HappyBuddha]

Rena in the installation guide described in detail about the loop and it works, no back flow of water.

What loop? Can I trouble you to describe it? It sounds like a better option than a check valve especially since the later reduces pressure.