How to clamp pump output tube to top of brew kettle?

Hello! I'm using a March pump to recirculate the mash in my brew kettle. The input comes from the kettle's weld, and the output goes through the tubing which I put through the top of the kettle, dropping down into the wort. It stays pretty well in place with the lid on, but last night, I managed to drop it out and sprayed a couple gallons of hot wort on the kitchen floor.

What's the best way to secure 1/2" ID silicone tubing from the pump output to the top of the kettle?

 

The best way is to put a weldless port through a hole near the top of the tun and attach the hose with the fitting of you choice. On the inside attach another silicon tube, or a copper tube. Bobby at brewhardware.com has a neat solution called Locklink (or something like that) for this return.

 

I put the hole/fitting on the lid to recirculate. This way you do not effect the max volume of the kettle.

When cooling, cleaning, etc, I run the hose through the handle on the stock pot and into the kettle. Any barbed fitting on the end of your hose should add weight and keep the hose in the kettle.

 

Christmas light hanger

 

Seems like a cool idea. I imagine the wort drops from the port in the lid back into the wort in the pot - have you ever had any issues with hot side aeration?

 

Couple jCOSbrew's idea with one of BobbyM's LockLink returns to get the best of both worlds. Adjusting the return to be just at the surface of the wort shouldn't be a problem. Measure the distance down from the rim of the pot and set the return line to that amount.