Ok to neck down return pump from 3/4" to 1/2"

Jan 6, 2026

MoshJosh

2500 Club Member

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Need more return flow so I bought a bigger pump, problem is my return plumbing is 1/2" (flexable) and new pump is 3/4" (also flexable) I have a reducer but want to make sure it is OK to run pump into smaller diameter tubing. Flow rate is only 590gph.

Jan 6, 2026

BeanAnimal

10K Club member

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Yes, it is perfectly fine.

WHICH TYPE OF MISTAKE TAUGHT YOU YOUR MOST EXPENSIVE REEFKEEPING LESSON?

Moving too quickly or adding too much at once
Votes: 12 31.6%
Skipping—or shortening—quarantine or dipping
Votes: 5 13.2%
Buying the wrong equipment the first time
Votes: 7 18.4%
Ignoring maintenance, warning signs, or redundancy
Votes: 12 31.6%
Chasing numbers or making too many changes
Votes: 3 7.9%
Choosing incompatible fish, corals, or invertebrates
Votes: 5 13.2%
Poor aquascaping or tank-design decisions
Votes: 4 10.5%
Failing to research an animal’s needs
Votes: 1 2.6%
Trusting bad advice
Votes: 4 10.5%
Doing something on the tank when you should've gone to bed
Votes: 5 13.2%
Something else—tell us below
Votes: 4 10.5%
I’m still waiting for my first expensive lesson!
Votes: 4 10.5%

Ok to neck down return pump from 3/4" to 1/2"

MoshJosh

2500 Club Member

BeanAnimal

10K Club member

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WHICH TYPE OF MISTAKE TAUGHT YOU YOUR MOST EXPENSIVE REEFKEEPING LESSON?

Moving too quickly or adding too much at once

Skipping—or shortening—quarantine or dipping

Buying the wrong equipment the first time

Ignoring maintenance, warning signs, or redundancy

Chasing numbers or making too many changes

Choosing incompatible fish, corals, or invertebrates

Poor aquascaping or tank-design decisions

Failing to research an animal’s needs

Trusting bad advice

Doing something on the tank when you should've gone to bed

Something else—tell us below

I’m still waiting for my first expensive lesson!

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