Y-Shape 3-Way Hose Connector — Barbed Fitting for Flexible Tubing

Measure the inner diameter (ID) of your flexible tubing. The connector size listed (e.g., 4mm, 6.4mm) refers to the barb diameter, which should match or be very slightly larger than your tube's ID for a secure friction fit. If your tube ID is between two sizes, typically size up. For reducer connectors (e.g., 4-6-4), the two equal ends connect to one tube size and the center barb connects to a different size.

Available barb sizes range from 2.4mm (≈3/32") up to 20mm (≈25/32"). Reducer variants such as 4-6-4 and 6-10-6 allow you to branch or step down between two different tube diameters in a single fitting, which is generally useful for irrigation manifolds and aquarium setups.

Barbed fittings typically provide a secure friction seal for low-to-medium pressure applications such as drip irrigation and aquarium air lines. For higher-pressure lines, securing the tubing with a hose clamp over each barb is generally recommended to prevent blow-off. Always test connections before leaving them unattended.

These connectors are generally suitable for wet environments including garden drip irrigation and aquarium use. For prolonged outdoor UV exposure, inspect periodically — plastic fittings can become brittle over time in direct sunlight. In most cases, shaded or buried irrigation installations experience longer service life.

Yes. The barbed design is compatible with most flexible PVC, silicone, and polyurethane tubing used in drip irrigation systems, aquarium air lines, and general-purpose fluid transfer. Always verify the inner diameter of your tubing matches the barb size selected before ordering.

Standard sizes (e.g., 4mm, 6.4mm) have all three barbs at the same diameter — ideal for splitting one line into two of the same size. Reducer sizes (e.g., 4-6-4) have two barbs at one diameter and one barb at a different diameter, allowing you to branch from a larger main line into two smaller lines, or combine two smaller lines into one larger one.

No tools or adhesive are typically required. Simply push the flexible tubing firmly over each barb until it seats past the ridge. For a more secure seal on pressurized lines, a small hose clamp can be added over the tubing at each barb. In most low-pressure applications such as aquarium air lines, the friction fit alone is sufficient.