Some useful infromation about plumbing eheim pumps

JonnyD91 · 02/11/2006, 02:39 PM

Before I bought my eheim 1262 to use for a closed loop I was unsure about how the pump could be plumbed. I searched but did not find that much info on how the fittings are for the pump. I knew it could be plumbet using tubing but I wanted to hard plumb it with PVC.

In the picture above are the 2 fittings that come with the pump. The fittings into the pump are female when you remove these. Both fittings are 3/4 in. I use a 3/4 male to 1" slip fitting to plumb my pump for a closed loop. Some have tried this and said they had problems with the pump leaking.

I use a 3/4 in rubber O ring shown in the picture and pit it on the male fitting before screwing it into the pump. This along with double wraping the threads with teflon tape completely keeps the pump from leaking at both ends.

I hope this clears up some info on the pumps so people can plan ahead before they buy one and that it is possible to hard plumb it.

on a side note when they say it is a quiet pump it is really damn near silent.

sjm817 · 02/11/2006, 03:25 PM

You should also use a sched 80 fitting instead of sched 40. The sched 80 is longer and will screw in farther

.

merlock116 · 02/17/2006, 04:22 AM

thanks great info

BLockamon · 02/17/2006, 09:23 AM

From the pictures, the fittings look like UNF straight treads, not the standard tapered pipe threads (NPT) here in the US. If that's the case, no amount of tape will seal it; the seal is provided by the o-ring.

I know that you can buy a UNF-to-NPT adapter fitting in brass or steel. I would assume that someone makes them in PVC tool

BLockamon · 02/17/2006, 09:44 AM

Oops...forgot that it's a German pump. The UNF is still North American.

The original fitting is probably a Metric ISO straight thread. They are pretty common in Germany. Someone probably still makes an adapter...if we can find it here.

Nice info though. I hope to upgrade my return pump to an Eheim in the next few weeks.

sjm817 · 02/17/2006, 09:56 AM

I run mine submerged, and the sched 80 fitting works very well. I thought about sticking an O ring on there but didn't need it. It works great without it.

JonnyD91 · 02/17/2006, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by sjm817
I run mine submerged, and the sched 80 fitting works very well. I thought about sticking an O ring on there but didn't need it. It works great without it.

hey how is the heat issues with the pump submerged? im getting the 1260 also for my return along with the 1262 for my closed loop. my concern was heat i think im going to run the return pump externally. do you know how much af a diference in heat there would be?

sjm817 · 02/17/2006, 11:09 AM

Dont know. I dont have any heat issues (my heaters are on a lot). The way I look at it is that type of pump is a powerhead. The pump is water cooled, there is no water to air heat exchange device on the pump. I dont think submerged Vs external would make all that much difference.

02/11/2006, 02:39 PM	#1
JonnyD91 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Manalapan NJ Posts: 1,444	Some useful infromation about plumbing eheim pumps Before I bought my eheim 1262 to use for a closed loop I was unsure about how the pump could be plumbed. I searched but did not find that much info on how the fittings are for the pump. I knew it could be plumbet using tubing but I wanted to hard plumb it with PVC. In the picture above are the 2 fittings that come with the pump. The fittings into the pump are female when you remove these. Both fittings are 3/4 in. I use a 3/4 male to 1" slip fitting to plumb my pump for a closed loop. Some have tried this and said they had problems with the pump leaking. I use a 3/4 in rubber O ring shown in the picture and pit it on the male fitting before screwing it into the pump. This along with double wraping the threads with teflon tape completely keeps the pump from leaking at both ends. I hope this clears up some info on the pumps so people can plan ahead before they buy one and that it is possible to hard plumb it. on a side note when they say it is a quiet pump it is really damn near silent.

02/11/2006, 03:25 PM	#2
sjm817 On Yer left! Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Northern VA Posts: 18,777	You should also use a sched 80 fitting instead of sched 40. The sched 80 is longer and will screw in farther . __________________ - Scott

02/17/2006, 09:56 AM	#6
sjm817 On Yer left! Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Northern VA Posts: 18,777	I run mine submerged, and the sched 80 fitting works very well. I thought about sticking an O ring on there but didn't need it. It works great without it. __________________ - Scott

02/17/2006, 11:09 AM	#8
sjm817 On Yer left! Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Northern VA Posts: 18,777	Dont know. I dont have any heat issues (my heaters are on a lot). The way I look at it is that type of pump is a powerhead. The pump is water cooled, there is no water to air heat exchange device on the pump. I dont think submerged Vs external would make all that much difference. __________________ - Scott

02/17/2006, 04:22 AM	#3
merlock116 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 969	thanks great info

02/17/2006, 09:23 AM	#4
BLockamon Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 1,104	From the pictures, the fittings look like UNF straight treads, not the standard tapered pipe threads (NPT) here in the US. If that's the case, no amount of tape will seal it; the seal is provided by the o-ring. I know that you can buy a UNF-to-NPT adapter fitting in brass or steel. I would assume that someone makes them in PVC tool

02/17/2006, 09:44 AM	#5
BLockamon Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 1,104	Oops...forgot that it's a German pump. The UNF is still North American. The original fitting is probably a Metric ISO straight thread. They are pretty common in Germany. Someone probably still makes an adapter...if we can find it here. Nice info though. I hope to upgrade my return pump to an Eheim in the next few weeks.