Quick question on tubing size

I am not getting why tubing comes in 7/16" ID and 5/8" OD

I am not seeing any barbs compatible with this size. Are the people buying this size of tubing heating up the ends and cramming it on 1/2" ID barbs? Thus, giving a smaller diameter tubing to route through the case? Are there any additional benefits with going with this diameter tubing?

Someone please chime in, and make some sense of this for me please.

Correct, the 7/16" fits nicely on 1/2" barbs. You don't need to heat it, lube it, or anything like that, just push it on! Personally I went the 7/16" route for the price, I couldn't justify spending $3-5 per foot on Tygon.

Will this 7/16" tubing fit using perfect seal barbs? I really should have been more specific in original post.. but thanks for the info on the 7/16".. makes sense now.

I haven't used those, but they look like they would be a little more difficult to get 7/16" over. I have all DD high flow fittings, with the exception of the Swiftech MCP655 pump. The pump was the most difficult to get the tubing onto, but again, nothing that required any special heating or lube.

Looks like the MCP655 has similar flange-like fittings on it as well. I am almost convinced that this will work. Maybe someone else here can chime in to confirm if it will work with perfect seal fittings.

If you're using perfect seal barbs, or flanged barbs (on the pump) you NEED to heat the tubing up with boiling water first. Then, it's a snap to get on

7/16 will work on the perfect seal fitting, only reason they call it a perfect seal is because its slightly larger then normal, and when you combine this with slightly smaller tubing then normal, you might have to heat up the ends. its not a huge deal its not very hard. probably as hard as putting it on the MCP655 would be, those fittings have a very large lip on the end for the same purpose. it should work fine.

lots of people use the 7/16" tubing (8/16" = 1/2" so its 1/16" smaller) because once you get it onm alot of the time you dont even need hose clamps the seal is so tight. do this at your own risk though, i would always use clamps just in case. ive mostly heard of people having to boil the ends to put them on but its possible you dont, ive only used ordinary 1/2" tygon R3600 myself.

Any idea how long to leave in the water? Possibly have a link on this process?
I am planning on going with Tygon R-3603, possibly in this 7/16" diameter.
Is this a better option than going with 1/2 tubing then? Seems like a tighter fit is a good thing.

if your using something nice like tygon theres no need to get the smaller diameter, especialy with the larger fittings, ive never had a leak (knock on wood...) with tygon its so soft and thick walled its very easy to clamp down. if you need to "boil" the ends. just heat up a pot of water on the stove, put your computer on the kitchen table. once your ready to put it all together, just dip the hose into the hot water for 20 seconds or so then just shove it on, its very easy.

I used 7/16 maskerteer, since tygon was expensive. Just heat up a cup of water for 2 minutes in the microwave. I put the ends of the tubing in the cup of water for about 10 seconds, just enough to get it soft and it was a snap to get the tubing over the fittings.

Sweet, good info. Thanks a ton!