Simple DIY Hose Adaptor for MAG Pump

[redfishbluefish]

I made one of these a while ago and was recently at a fellow reefers house and noticed his jury-rigged connection of his MAG pump to a hose to do water changes. So I told him I’d make him one. This simple DIY takes two parts and costs about $2.50 and it allows you to connect a regular hose to your MAG pump (I use a Pythontm, which is a clear hose with a regular hose connection, but a regular garden hose will work just fine). Note that these types of adaptors are already available in BRASS, but we wouldn’t go there. I could not find these parts at Home Depot, but did find them at Lowes.

Parts:

1 - Hose Adaptor (3/4 hose x ½ st. adaptor CPVC)(P/N 53128) $1.28
1 - ½ adaptor (1/2 female NPT x ½ slip CPVC)(P/N 50305) $1.02

Here’s what they look like:

By the way, this is CPVC, not PVC. It is a light tan color (not white) and its application is hot and cold water supply.

Simply glue the two pieces together and you now have an adaptor to hook a hose up to your MAG pump (or any other pump that has ½ NPT threading).

There might (most likely) be one more adaptation that you will need for this to fit. If your MAG pump has the threads below the body of the pump, you will have to remove some of the plastic on the adaptor so that it will fit. The threaded portion of the pump is too close to the body of the pump. I used a rasp and just kept going around until it was able to fit past the body of the pump. Here it is hooked up to the pump.

 

[rodclement]

And since I am the inept fellow member that cannot figure how to do this properly...I thank you!

Rod

 

[redfishbluefish]

Now wait one minute, I didn’t identify the “inept” member!



By the way, I have that adaptor for you Rod. ;D

 

[shipwrecked]

Nice diy Paul,Ive always found Lowes better than HD for hobby plumbing parts

 

[rodclement]

Now wait one minute, I didn’t identify the “inept” member!



By the way, I have that adaptor for you Rod. ;D

... :...it's for a friend... : ;D

 

[Nickjr000]

Nice diy Paul,Ive always found Lowes better than HD for hobby plumbing parts

+1 on this. I learned if i need a lot of fittings i go to lowes first. Better selection than depot

 

[radiata]

redfishbluefish,

I had a jury-rigged fix for this problem too, so I went to Lowes and got the parts...

The hole through the fix is only 3/8", while most Mag pumps were designed for 1/2" output. Is there any loss of throughput or any loss of head with the fix?

Thanks,
Bob

 

[redfishbluefish]

Bob, I would imagine the reduced diameter of the pipe to 3/8 inches would restrict the flow slightly, but again, I only use this setup to transfer water during water changes. For the 10-15 gallons I transfer, I might have to wait a few extra seconds, as a guess. No big deal.

If you are really concerned about the diameter of the pipe or using this in continuous operation where head pressure and flow are critical, I think there is enough extra plastic in the “collar” section of this adaptor for you to drill out to the ½ inch diameter. I’d first remove the rubber gasket and then just drill out the extra meat on a drill press.