What pump for water changes and siphoning

[TCU Reefer]

Water changes on my 215g in-wall right now is a beeach. Here's my process:

-Use a 1/2" plastic hose to drain display into a brute trash can
-Wheel the full trash can over carpet, down a few patio steps and spill the whole thing over the deck and on myself
-Wheel another brute full of newly mixed water over carpet and use a crappy Aqua Clear powerhead (I think 300 gph) to attach to same plastic hose and wait 20 minutes for the tank to fill back up.

What a PITA!

I'm looking for an easier way to do this. I was thinking about using a Mag pump (don't know what size) and attaching plastic hoses on both ends. I would be able to siphon out the sump with one end and just run the output out the window, which is in the same room. Then just pump the new water back in.

What pump would you use? Any other ways to make this process easier? My RO/DI source is not close to the display.

[sir_dudeguy]

lol i kinda did the same thing for a while with the aquaclear powerheads...but my water changes arent that big, so i just mix my saltwater in a rubbermaid and make a few trips with an old oceanic salt just to fill the tank back up now.

to empty it tho i'd say nothing but a python! you can either buy one and pay 30 bucks for the 25 footer, or 50 or 60 for the 50 footer...OR you can just go to home depot and buy the same parts for under 20 or 15 i'd say. They really are the nicest/easyest things to use for that. If its to far from the outside hose, you can attatch them to any sink (it comes w/an attatchement for it) and do it on there.

HTH

[xtrstangx]

Hey, atleast you can wheel your trash cans.. I use to just carry a trash can with 25g in it.

A Mag 7 or 9.5 would work well for your application.

[TCU Reefer]

Thanks xtrstangx. I didn't know what size Mag to use for what I'm doing.

Is "The bigger, the better" mentality applicable here as far as pump size?

[sir_dudeguy]

for the mags ya...except i think the bigger the hotter they run...but i might be wrong.

[TCU Reefer]

Your right but this pump isn't going to be used 24/7 as a return pump or anything.

It is simply going to be used for my water changes so I 'll try to get the biggest, most practical one.

Thanks

[atoa]

you may want to consider using a tee off your return to drain the water. Just have a ball valve after the tee that you open to pump the water out.

[nathan_unsane]

I don't see why you couldn't run a temp pump out the window and into the deck, and then from the trashcan (beside the window) to the tank?

that sound like cake for that big of a tank...

that's a good idea...

[spoiledcats]

I would say the bigger the better. We have been doing this with water changes for a while, and getting the water out is always easier. But remember water going in has to travel upwards, so you need a stronger pump. I just attach the hose to a maxijet to siphon water out, then put it in the clean water container to siphon back in. I attached 2 30' lengths of clear tubing from home depot. Now the powerhead kicked, but I will be going to That Pet Place Monday and replacing it. Maxijet 1200 works.

[package]

I do nearly the same routine for my 210g.....except - I drop a mag12 with a hose on it into the waste water and pump it out.

As for the replacement water, I ran a water hose under the house (crawl space) up through the floor into my sump for the new water that is sitting in a 55g barrel in the garage.

[TCU Reefer]

I just ordered a Mag 9.5 from Marine Depot so I hope that's big enough. I just have to buy some plastic hose and I'll be set. I hope my water changes turn into a piece of cake now.

Thanks guys.

[raddogz]

If you are yanking the water out, and don't accidently siphon something you shouldn't be siphoning, you can alwys use a garden hose with the flexible hose to drain the water.

I use a mag 5 to circulate the salt water, and to also pump the water via the sump back into the tank.