Question about how to tap into return line

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OK I have my calcium reactor running off a powerhead but I would rather cut down on the electric cords and tap into my return line instead.

As I have read it, you add a tee into your return line, cap off the T, drill a hole in the end cap of the T, tap the T with a metal thing that makes the spiral groove, and insert a NPT John Guest speedfit piece into the hole you made.

I am not a big fan of buying a tool (the plumbing tap thing) that is only used once in my life. Is there a simpler way to do this?

Also do you need to use the PVC T and tap the end cap, or can you just tap into the wall of the return pipe?

I was also thinking of dumping the effluent pipe from my calcium reactor into my skimmer by tapping another hole and adding a speedfit connection. Besides blowing off CO2 and raising pH, is there any other advantage to doing this?