[zelmo]

Most of the posts concerning DIY reactors specify using 5/8 barbs because the common hose is 5/8 ID. There are numerous comments about the difficulty of finding these - maybe the reason is that we really want 3/4?

I measured some spare parts I had left over from a canister purchase. The spray bar was 5/8 OD and fit snuggly in the hose. There was a barbed connector, and it measures 3/4 to the outside of the barb. The inside of the barb was 5/8. I then went to Home Depot and looked at what they had. The brass barbs that were labeled 5/8 went right into the hose with no resistance. Those labeled 3/4 seemed like you could muscle the hose on. When I hooked up the canisters I remember the assembly being a PITA.

So, should we be buying those marked 3/4?

 

[JonMulzer]

Well, you should not be buying brass fittings regardless. They will leach copper into your tank. And while 5/8 barbs are the correct ones you can make 3/4 work. I have never had any trouble finding them. Go to a Mom and Pop type hardware store (if there are any left where you live). Our local Do-It Center always has them in Poly.

I prefer the Mom and Pop hardware stores regardless. The people in the one by my house know me well and anytime I go in there with a diagram of what I need they will graciously help me find everything and usually have a better idea of how to get it done in a simpler manner. I tend to overcomplicate things at times. hehe

And to top it off there is a couple that works at the Do-It center who are very kind and since they knew I was into aquaria when they wanted to get rid of their two 55 gallon tanks they waited for me to come in and gave them to me.

 

[Rex Grigg]

5/8" barbs are hard to find. I pick them up whenever I do find them and have a few sitting around.

 

[JonMulzer]

How many do you want then? I can get all you want here if you are willing to pay for them plus shipping. It would certainly be cheaper to source them locally but apparently Indy is hoarding all of the 5/8 barbs for themselves. hehe

 

[ringram]

How much copper do the brass fittings *really* leach into the tank? I've had my reactor running for a few months now and I ended up getting a 5/8" brass nipple. I haven't encountered any problems and there are fish and a couple shrimp in the tank as well.

 

[eds]

I just used 3/4" - couldn't find 5/8".
Had to soak the tubing in hot water for a bit, but was able to jam it on with no huge effort.
Don't think those babies will be slipping off anytime soon.
Anyone have any thoughts on whether "stretching" like that in any way undermines the integrity of polyethylene tubing?

 

[zelmo]

One area where I did find 5/8 barbs in plastic is in garden hose supplies. Anybody know what happens if you put teflon tape on 3/4" GHT and use it with NPT threaded plugs?

eds - did you bother with clamps?

 

[eds]

eds - did you bother with clamps?

Being the lazy slob I am, I used whatever hose clamps of various types I had lying around, and snugged some twist ties around the connex that were left.

One of these days when I'm in HD I'll pick up a bunch of metal hose clamps for all the connex. When it comes to the risk of flooding my furnished basement, hose clamps are cheap insurance. Better safe than sorry.