Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

For those of you with pumps with the standard 1/2" male threaded outlet, do you just run it back in 1/2 pvc or should i expand it and run 1" somehow? my total system volume is 250gallons.

I try to run bigger drain lines than input lines, as I've had problems losing water when my drains couldn't keep up.
I'm running 3/4" line from the pump, and multiple 1" drains - the pump delivers to 4 grow bed systems, that each have a 1" drain - those drain to a 4" drain to my sump.

You should ALWAYS run the largest practical size pipes.. as the size of the pipe also determines the final flow.. and along with good practice of using (say) two by 45deg rather than a 90deg bend..
..
.