3/8" PVC fittings?
 

I'm trying to plumb an eheim 1250 return pump into my existing return line but the eheim uses 3/8" fittings and I can't seem to find them anywhere. Any ideas where I could find fittings of this size?

Rona should have 3/8" barb fittings that screw into 1/2" or 3/4" female adapters

Checked Rona (Burnaby), Home Depot, Andrew Sheret and Milani Plumbing but none of them had any fittings smaller than 1/2".

you sure about that? my 1250 uses 1/2" OD and 5/8" OD. Not aware of any pump that would use 3/8"

Yup I took the pump with me to Homedepot and Rona, the 1/2" fittings definitely won't fit the output opening on the pump. Before buying it I checked the specs online and it said 1/2" output which is why I was also surprised when none of the 1/2" fittings would fit :sad:.

By chance are you looking at the dark grey fittings? If you are those are 1/2" ID, you need 1/2" OD. Check the irrigation stuff, same isle.

I looked at the irrigation parts too and they had the size I needed at Home Depot but the parts were made of a thin cheap looking black plastic that should only be used in cold water applications (according to the label) so I didn't wanna risk it. I found a nearby irrigation store with 3/8" PVC fittings but I can't check it out until they open on Tuesday due to the long weekend.

I looked up the specs and it said that the diameter of the out take is 1/2" but the nipple out is 3/8". I don't have one of these pumps myself but can you just unscrew the 3/8" nipple from the 1/2" pump fitting and then just use standard 1/2" plumbing parts? Are you trying to fit tubing or pipe to the discharge of the pump? I would think 1/2" tubing with 1/16" wall thickness would fit the nipple that comes with it.

Hmm, I can't remember how I'm doing this (I'm away from my tank), but I think I just used spaflex PVC (.5") and slipped it over the barbed fitting that came with the eheim. Fits perfectly and has been running for 10 months now.

Shrimpchips is right. There is no such thing as 3/8" plumbing. 1/2" ID hose fits the 1/2" OD barbed fittings they come with. My 1250 and a lot of other pumps have been running just fine with no leaks using the irrigation fittings for years, they are identical pretty much.

*UPDATE*


Went to an irrigation supply store where I was able to get a 3/4" to 3/8" (MIPT x FIPT) PVC threaded reducer fitting. I screwed this over the existing nipple and then used another reducer fitting to get up to 1" and then simply plumbed into my existing return line. I could have done like some of you said and just slipped the clear vinyl tubing over the nipple but I wanted to hard plumb it in to my existing 1" line so an adapter fitting was necessary. :biggrin: