Plumbing Question

DaveFe · 06/18/2018, 07:50 PM

I'm ignorant with plumbing, and I'm trying to figure out how to plumb my return to my tank.

My return pump needs a 3/4 male threaded connection for the return. The overflow pipe it's going to needs a 1 1/4 female thread. I was hoping to use vinyl tubing rather than hard plumbed PVC but my problem is how to adjust the size.

I'm thinking since the pump connection is 3/4 I should stick with that sizing but trying to find a connection that is female threaded and reduced from 1.25 to .75 is turning out to be very difficult. I can find plenty of male threaded reducers but no female ones. I've been looking at barbed fittings, been to lowes, home depot, BRS website can't find what I need.

Am I looking at this totally wrong, what does everyone think?

FirstContact · 06/18/2018, 08:00 PM

You will be able to reduce from 1 1/4 to 3/4 with pvc parts from Lowes or Home Depot. If you are looking for just one piece to reduce that much, that would be the issue. You will need a combination of pieces.

Lsufan · 06/19/2018, 09:46 PM

I like to use flex pvc instead of vinyl tubing. It isn’t as flexible but I find it to be flexible enough. U may find that u need to use 1 or 2 fittings being it isn’t as flexible. Say u have a 90 degree bend in the plumbing. U can’t bend the flex pvc that much but what u can do is use a 45 instead of a 90 & get the rest of the bend with the pipe. I don’t like barbed fittings & the flex pvc uses the same fittings & basically glues the same way as rigid pvc. It’s hard to say exactly without knowing more about your setup but I would probably just use a 3/4” X 1 1/4” bushing straight on the return pump & use 1 1/4” the entire way.

06/18/2018, 07:50 PM	#1
DaveFe Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Endicott NY Posts: 29	Plumbing Question I'm ignorant with plumbing, and I'm trying to figure out how to plumb my return to my tank. My return pump needs a 3/4 male threaded connection for the return. The overflow pipe it's going to needs a 1 1/4 female thread. I was hoping to use vinyl tubing rather than hard plumbed PVC but my problem is how to adjust the size. I'm thinking since the pump connection is 3/4 I should stick with that sizing but trying to find a connection that is female threaded and reduced from 1.25 to .75 is turning out to be very difficult. I can find plenty of male threaded reducers but no female ones. I've been looking at barbed fittings, been to lowes, home depot, BRS website can't find what I need. Am I looking at this totally wrong, what does everyone think?

06/18/2018, 08:00 PM	#2
FirstContact Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Glenn Dale, MD Posts: 1,613	You will be able to reduce from 1 1/4 to 3/4 with pvc parts from Lowes or Home Depot. If you are looking for just one piece to reduce that much, that would be the issue. You will need a combination of pieces. __________________ No man is an island entire of itself; any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind; never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee. John Donne Current Tank Info: 120g Reef 100g Rubbermaid Sump, 20g Refugium; previous tank: 46g Drilled; Self Plumbed, Birds Nest, Anchor, Xenia, Zoas, Yuma Yuma Ricordea, Chalice, Mushrooms, Brain, Acan, Anenome Plate; Clams, Other Inverts, Fish, Live Rock

06/19/2018, 09:46 PM	#3
Lsufan Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Baton Rouge Posts: 1,410	I like to use flex pvc instead of vinyl tubing. It isn’t as flexible but I find it to be flexible enough. U may find that u need to use 1 or 2 fittings being it isn’t as flexible. Say u have a 90 degree bend in the plumbing. U can’t bend the flex pvc that much but what u can do is use a 45 instead of a 90 & get the rest of the bend with the pipe. I don’t like barbed fittings & the flex pvc uses the same fittings & basically glues the same way as rigid pvc. It’s hard to say exactly without knowing more about your setup but I would probably just use a 3/4” X 1 1/4” bushing straight on the return pump & use 1 1/4” the entire way.