bigben: for the redcludition from 3/4 to 1/2 inch hose, what i did was put an strong clamp on the outside of the pastic pipe, then we threaded the inside of the pipe, clean out the craps out, then took some 3/4 to 1/2 inch barb, basicaly just a barb with a 3/4 inch screw on one end other end a 1/2 inch barb, put some goop on it screw it in and were good to go
works great. only problem is with the location where the pump is, so if it leak i' m screwed will need a damn small bowl to take care of the leak
but hopfully we can get a 2rd-3rd backup and put the barbs on and take em with me just in case its a pump flaw.