Aquarium Plumbing Parts

Marine aquarium tanks will usually need to get water from point A to B. And you will need some plumbing supplies to do that. We have a lot of different parts, connectors and supplies to help you wind your plumbing water route any which way you please. Our fittings include just about any shape size and combination you can think of and if it isn’t on the website we can probably get a hold of it for you somehow. If you are unfamiliar with the acronyms associated with plumbing supplies continue reading to get a better idea. Make sure you have teflon tape and a water pump to use with your system.

Plumbing Acronyms and Definitions:

Schedule 40 vs Schedule 80 - The schedule rating for pipe refers to the wall thickness of the fittings and pipe and how much pressure it can handle. Since marine or aquarium systems that use any plumbing are not under pressure or in a closed plumbing system we don’t need to worry about the schedule rating. A simple schedule 40 fitting and pipes will work.

PVC – Stands for Polyvinyl Chloride. This is simply an acronym for what the pipe is made of. Instead of having a steel pipe, we have a PVC pipe.

MPT (Male Pipe Thread) – MPT is a standard US system for naming threads on the end of a pipe. The Male ended pipe threads are inserted and screwed into a fitting with FPT or female pipe threads and always used with a lubricant such as Teflon tape. This tape will make the fittings screw together smoothly and provide for a water tight seal.

FPT (Female Pipe Thread) – FPT is the receiving end of the MPT and FPT partnership. FPT is also a US standard name for pipes with female pipe threads made to accept the same size MPT named pipe.

Hose Barb – Hose barbs are similar to the MPT style fitting but do not work with FPT and instead will accept a hose of similar size. Hose barb fittings are used to connect ridgid piping to flexible hoses. You will need to use a hose clamp to secure the hose onto the hose barb.     

Slip – slip end fittings are made to simply slide into one another, these slip fittings should be held together with pipe glue.

Threaded – is a pipe is not a slip or barbed end it will usually be a threaded end in which the MPT and FPT system applies.