Water Pump

Rorie · Jan 21, 2011

Ok, I have my 360l aquarium up and going, and I'm quickly finding it a pain in the #16##### to change water... So many trips back and forth!

I want to get a hose line, and a pump to pump directly to the drain, and then from the tap to a big bucket ontop of the aquarium where i can treat, and then put back into the aquarium.

So, any idea what kind of pump I should get, where I can get it from? Do they exist alreay especially for aquariums?

BIG BAD BARRY · Jan 21, 2011

I have been using an eheim compact 1000 submersible pump on a similar sized tank.
If your not gravel vacing then attach it to the side of the tank and switch it on.
It connects to 16/22mm tubing
For filling the tank i let the water mix in a tub in the sink and put the pump in.
The pump has a decent head so can easily pump 6-7 metres from the sink to the tank or up out of the tank and higher up out of the window to the garden drain. Flow can be adjusted.

The only thing you have to watch is the syphon action when you switch the pump off after filling the the tank. If there is a difference in height between tank and sink (say tank higher than sink the water starts to syphon back towards the pump). Get some body to help or remove tubing from pump asap and plug it with your finger and raise hose up and take it towards tank to curl it up.

You can dechlorinate whole tank or put it in as you are pumping from sink.

OldMan47 · Jan 21, 2011

You might want to consider a simple power head to move your water out. Just run a hose to the nearest disposal location, a sink or toilet, and turn on the pump. To refill, it can be as simple as a garden hose and a faucet adapter like the ones made for water beds. You simply treat the water as it is added with dechlorinator.

notg2009 · Jan 21, 2011

I've been looking for such a pump for some time now (http

/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/349459-inputoutput-pump-needed/). I opened the chassis of a fountain pump and found an opening that works as the input. I will try to attach a vinyl tubing to the opening and secure it with silicon glue, and see if it works.
I hate water changes as they can be very messy....and wet :lol:

Bignose · Jan 21, 2011

A fountain pump may be just what you are looking for. Otherwise, some of the more industrial based suppliers also have choices, a place like McMaster-Carr will have smaller pumps, too. Between your local hardware and McMaster Carr online, you should be able to find what you need.

saltynay · Jan 22, 2011

notg2009 said:
I've been looking for such a pump for some time now (http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/349459-inputoutput-pump-needed/). I opened the chassis of a fountain pump and found an opening that works as the input. I will try to attach a vinyl tubing to the opening and secure it with silicon glue, and see if it works.
I have water changes as they can be very messy....and wet

I would use a cable tie as a hose crimp it will create a good seal but also be removable if needed for another purpose in the future.

onebto · Jan 22, 2011

A small marine bilge pump are extremely efficient you would only need the smallest you can get them from any Marine chandlers.

Rorie · Jan 22, 2011

Thanks for the replies.

After posting, I found a simple pump on eBay that is run off an electric drill. It cost £7, and comes with a bracket which I'll attach to the aquariums stand. So when I want to water change, I can just hook up some garden hose and away we go... Or so goes the plan anyway

Rorie · Feb 3, 2011

I have been using an eheim compact 1000 submersible pump on a similar sized tank.
If your not gravel vacing then attach it to the side of the tank and switch it on.
It connects to 16/22mm tubing
For filling the tank i let the water mix in a tub in the sink and put the pump in.
The pump has a decent head so can easily pump 6-7 metres from the sink to the tank or up out of the tank and higher up out of the window to the garden drain. Flow can be adjusted.

The only thing you have to watch is the syphon action when you switch the pump off after filling the the tank. If there is a difference in height between tank and sink (say tank higher than sink the water starts to syphon back towards the pump). Get some body to help or remove tubing from pump asap and plug it with your finger and raise hose up and take it towards tank to curl it up.

You can dechlorinate whole tank or put it in as you are pumping from sink.

Well, my drill opperated pump turned out to be RUBBISH! I have just a normal battery opperated drill, which was not nearly fast enough to empty wateer. Evaporation is quicker!

So i took your idea and got myself a Eheim compact 1000. Although i have not done a run through to the bathroom yet, it looks to be great! I have hooked up part of the hose to it. Enough so that i dont need to take it off, i can just hook up the long hose to the end of it.

I am a little confused with the syphon problem that you highlighted though. Can you explain? Why is the water going back towards the pump a problem? I understand this for an air pump that is out of the water, but dont see the issue when its in the water

Also/ This dechlorinateing the whole tank....how does that work?! Will my fish not be bothered that i pump the aquarium full of 'unclean' water? Then when i add the mixture, do i assume it WILL treat the 'bad' bits? Does it act quick enough so as not to effect my fish? Missing out the 'filling the bucket' stage would be so helpful....and fast!