Plumbing Return w/Plastic Clamps

[Dr Colliebreath]

I will be using an in-sump return pump (Eheim 1260). 3/4" tubing from the pump to a "Y" and then plastic tubing to the returns to the tank.

Because the pump and the "Y" will be in the sump and at least one or two of these joints will be underwater, I didn't want to use stainless steel hose clamps and instead plan on using plastic clamps. I picked up the Two Little Fishies 1" Aquatic Micro Fittings plastic clamps. They say they are for low pressure applications such as cannister filters and protein skimmers. Is this what people are using on return lines or are there other plastic clamps that are more appropriate?

Thank you.

 

[billdogg]

they will work fine. I actually don't bother with them however. What I do is use thick walled vinyl tubing, submerse it in BOILING water for a few minutes, then push it on to the barbed fitting. if you can then put the whole thing into ice water, so much the better. It will shrink on there so tight you will probably have to cut it off.

 

[Dr Colliebreath]

I wonder if I would get shrinkage of the tubing. The standard hose barb fittings stretch the tubing, but the "Y" fitting is not as snug and looks like it will need to be clamped on the barb.