Hi, first post on here. Been searching for an answer to my question and have seen multiple answers that would seem to work but I have more questions haha. I have been doing 50-60 % water changes on my 265 and I am tired of wasting water using the Python hooked up to the sink and also the amount of time it takes to drain. I know there are pumps i can hook up to my Python to make it drain faster but my problem is more with filling the tank up. I'm keeping African cichlids and intend on changing the tank over to an all male Hap/ Peacock tank. The pH in my water straight from the tap is 7.8 but when I aerate it and let it sit for 24 hours its 8. For that reason and the fact I always run out of hot water to fill it back up completely at one time, I'm going to buy a 200- 300 gallon water storage tank. Also, I will save money on water conditioner by just dosing the storage container and not having to dose the whole tank with every water change. My 265 is on the main floor but I would be keeping the water container in the basement. I need something strong enough to push the water through about 65 feet of tubing and up about 13 feet. I have seen some people recommend utility water pumps you can buy at hardware stores that are usually used to pump out flooded basements and the like. I see some for about 60-70 dollars that would definitely be powerful enough. My worry is that they are not necessarily aquarium safe and have oil inside them. Has anyone had a bad experience with one where oil leaked or is this very unlikely to happen? I would only be keeping the pump in the container when it was in use so it's not like something would slowly leak out over time. Also, has anyone used one in their actual aquarium to pump the water out as well? If anyone has any other recommendations on a safer water pump, please chime in. But I have been hard pressed to find one that has the right head rate. Thanks, Jim
Utility water pump question
- Thread starter Shark75
- Start date
Hi Jim and Welcome to MFK!
Would you consider doing two water changes per week of 25% rather than one water change of 50%? This would avoid the need to have a separate water storage container and a pump. I don't see an issue with the minor pH difference between the tap and after off gassing.
As far as draining your tank, have you considered using sump pump hose to just drain outdoors in warmer weather? A few pieces of PVC pipe and you can make a J-tube to hang on your tank, just cut the pipe to the length you need for the amount of water you want to change at one time. You would need to fashion a strainer on the end to avoid sucking up fish. ?
Are you using a sump or canister filters for this tank? That may open up more options.
Would you consider doing two water changes per week of 25% rather than one water change of 50%? This would avoid the need to have a separate water storage container and a pump. I don't see an issue with the minor pH difference between the tap and after off gassing.
As far as draining your tank, have you considered using sump pump hose to just drain outdoors in warmer weather? A few pieces of PVC pipe and you can make a J-tube to hang on your tank, just cut the pipe to the length you need for the amount of water you want to change at one time. You would need to fashion a strainer on the end to avoid sucking up fish. ?
Are you using a sump or canister filters for this tank? That may open up more options.
Right now, I can definitely do 2 water changes a week. But when things get back to normal (hopefully sooner rather than later) I will be back to driving my kids around to all their activities 4- 5 times a week. Who thought I would miss that? Haha. But what I can see happening, at least right now, is once I'm working on the tank I'm going to wind up taking out 50% anyway because why not? I like the added insurance of having replacement water available at just the right temperature and not flipping out when someone in the house decides to take a shower, turn on the dishwasher etc when I'm doing a water change. Or get yelled at for using all the hot water when my wife or daughter want to take a shower. I can also definitely drain out to the yard once I get a siphon going and that is a great idea that I havent really thought about. I am using two FX5s and an Eheim 2217 right now. Thanks for your help!
Just in case.....
Once siphon is started with a Python, the tap doesn't need to keep running, if the outflow is sitting low enough.
Because I use a sump, I had a line from the sump directly plumbed to the garden.
With the closure of a valve, instead of water going to the sump, it was directed outside, usually took no more than a few moments to send 100 gallons out, watering and fertilizing the garden with old fish water.
Once siphon is started with a Python, the tap doesn't need to keep running, if the outflow is sitting low enough.
Because I use a sump, I had a line from the sump directly plumbed to the garden.
With the closure of a valve, instead of water going to the sump, it was directed outside, usually took no more than a few moments to send 100 gallons out, watering and fertilizing the garden with old fish water.
This pump is double your price range but it has been an excellent all purpose pump for me for the last 25 years! It has a photo electric eye to turn off the pump when there is no water in the tank instead of the usual mechanical float switch.
I have drained basements, pools, mud holes, fish tanks, etc. with this and it has always worked great for me. Make sure to put a check valve on the outlet or you get a situation where the tank is empty, the pump shuts off, all the water in the hose drains back to the tank causing the pump to turn back on. A simple check valve on the outlet fixes this. My pump came with a garden hose adapter in addition to what is shown in the picture.
The pump is completely sealed and I can not find any exposed metal. I have had to tear the pump down to the impeller (to remove pea gravel when I was draining the muddy hole) and everything looks sealed. The tear down was quite simple and I was asking the pump to do something is wasn't really designed for. I have never seen any kind of oil from the pump (which would be pretty evident by an oil slick on the top of the exhaust water.
It seems like I felt I over paid for this pump when I needed it for an emergency... it has definitely proved its worth to me. I have had well over a 13 foot head on this and it still had good flow. (It is rated for a 22 foot head.)
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Flotec-F...MI0Pe5273Z6AIVBarsCh3PZALIEAYYBSABEgKdUvD_BwE
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Flotec-Int...620699&hash=item3da0c99992:g:a60AAOSw8RFeifbz
I have drained basements, pools, mud holes, fish tanks, etc. with this and it has always worked great for me. Make sure to put a check valve on the outlet or you get a situation where the tank is empty, the pump shuts off, all the water in the hose drains back to the tank causing the pump to turn back on. A simple check valve on the outlet fixes this. My pump came with a garden hose adapter in addition to what is shown in the picture.
The pump is completely sealed and I can not find any exposed metal. I have had to tear the pump down to the impeller (to remove pea gravel when I was draining the muddy hole) and everything looks sealed. The tear down was quite simple and I was asking the pump to do something is wasn't really designed for. I have never seen any kind of oil from the pump (which would be pretty evident by an oil slick on the top of the exhaust water.
It seems like I felt I over paid for this pump when I needed it for an emergency... it has definitely proved its worth to me. I have had well over a 13 foot head on this and it still had good flow. (It is rated for a 22 foot head.)
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Flotec-F...MI0Pe5273Z6AIVBarsCh3PZALIEAYYBSABEgKdUvD_BwE
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Flotec-Int...620699&hash=item3da0c99992:g:a60AAOSw8RFeifbz
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Thanks, Oughtsix, appreciate your input. I looked at that one and another one they make that is smaller but would fit what I need as well. I guess I'm just very leery of using anything that isn't "aquarium" safe. If it works 99 out of 100 water changes but leaks something on just 1 it wouldn't be worth it for me. I think what I'll wind up doing is just fill 3 big garbage pails full of water the night before a water change and keep them in our foyer. The wife won't like this but when has that ever stopped me before. Thanks again for your response