Running water backwards through a pump after water changes?

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breakspirit

Candiru
MFK Member
Jan 23, 2009
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I'm trying to make a faster water changer for my 125 gallon tank and other smaller tanks. The python hoses simply take too long.
What I'd like to do is connect a submersible pump to a garden hose and run that to my faucet. On the other end, there'd be one of those faucet connectors with a 2 way valve, like this:
http://www.amazon.com/Python-13B-Aq...87670196&sr=8-5&keywords=faucet+aquarium+hose

My question is whether I could run water backwards through the pump (with it turned off) from the faucet when I'm refilling the tank. I think this would be able the fastest, easiest solution without drilling the tank. Naturally I'd have to vacuum the tank still, but I've got that covered.

What do you guys think?

Thanks.
 
cant you just attach the hose to the spigot and do it that way. The faucet will put too much air down the hose.
 
Water from a faucet does have air bubbles, if you have a strobe light run your faucet on full blast and you will see tons of bubbles in the stream and this is further confirmed when you do a wc and theres bubbles stuck to everything in the tank and glass.

But i dont see how thats a problem to run faucet water thru a pump when its shut off?


Maybe im missing something but IME i just buy a 10$ garden hose from walmart, grab a 2$ adapter from a hardware store, drain the tank, hook it up and refill it. Cheap easy



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He's probably thinking about the aerator that's on all faucets in the first place.

I don't understand how the python takes too long. It takes me 40 minutes tops to do a full gravel vac and 30-35% WC and refill with the python. And I do it weekly.

edit: Are you sure that you're using the python right? Down uses the water coming out of the faucet to quickly pull the water through the python and straight down your sink. Full blast the cold water, need more? Turn on the hot too, but that's more $. Push up to refil. If you're having to switch faucet locations, maybe get a 25 foot extension for your python?

Only thing I could think of that might make it faster which I would like to do myself but don't have a hose for it. Is attach a hose to my FX5 which has the purge valve on the bottom to run it right out the door and refill at the same time. But that doesn't get any of the excess food or the poo out of my gravel.
 
Just want to make sure I understand your intentions.

1) you want to use a pump to pull water out of the water main faster than the natural water pressure.
2) you feel the best way of doing this is through the return line of your filter as opposed to just putting a hose in your tank
 
It is true that gravity siphoning my tank takes about 45 minutes. I've been using the python for about 5 years now and I do use the faucet's cold water to increase the pressure, which is a big waste of water for less-than-sufficient pressure.
My goal is to use a pump to make that more like 10 minutes. The tank is bare-bottom so I don't require vacuuming.
BlindKiller, I've also considered using a canister to facilitate the water changes, but I have a wet/dry sump on my big tank and I'd rather keep that.

bbortko, I wouldn't be using my filter, I'd just drop a pump in the tank with a garden hose connected to it and pump straight to the sink. When I'm refilling the tank, it would be using the same hose with the pump still connected(but turned off) inside the tank.
 
Why not just cut the hose a few feet from the pump and add a quick connect? Don't see how it would hurt the pump other than spinning the impeller when not necessary leading to unnecessary wear but considering the time used it shouldn't be an issue then again few a couple dollars why leave the pump connected when it only takes 5 seconds the remove it.
 
bbortko said:
Why not just cut the hose a few feet from the pump and add a quick connect? Don't see how it would hurt the pump other than spinning the impeller when not necessary leading to unnecessary wear but considering the time used it shouldn't be an issue then again few a couple dollars why leave the pump connected when it only takes 5 seconds the remove it.
Click to expand...

That's a pretty good idea, hadn't thought of that. Thanks.
 
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