Keep in mind if you use hose clamps on barbs like this...
Code:
|\|\|\|\
|
|/|/|/|/
You are looking for problems down the road. As hose clamps force the tubing to cut into the barb's sharp spots and can harm the tubing.
Use barbs like this...
Code:
_
( )
| |
| |
|___|
if you plan on using clamps.
As to prevention... in the three years my system has been running, I have had ONE true failure. This was due to some really cheap (free) tubing that I used when I first built the system. This tubing is the type that is used for turnaques in doctors offices. Kind of a tan color, really rubbery, and VERY flexible (kinks easy).
It took over a year for this tubing to fail. It was a short piece I had in the water reservior that connects my pump (submerged type) to the barb in the wall of the reservior. It finally degraded and blew out. the pump was still running, and the temps began to rise... I was using MBM5, as I do now and have alarms set on it. The system went into auto shutdown shortly after the temps reached the alarm level.
After correcting the problem, the system was fine. No damage.
IMHO the worst problems you have to fear are micro leaks in your block (hence pressure testing BEFORE the final build) and hose leaks at the barbs/connectors.
Pump and fan failures and hose blockages begin to raise temps pretty fast. And if the box is in a controlled environment (air conditioned home), you can set your alarm level 5° or 10° C above your hotest running temp (using CPUBurn to max the processor) and have the system auto shutdown if it exceeds that level.
Other than that... monthly inspections of the system to verify no small leaks have started. The UV dye is especially good for this as mentioned earlier.