Water Pumps

[plectastic]

My Roma 240 happens to be along the wall outside my bathroom so water changes has always been easy with a short length of hose syphoning into the bath and then back into the tank with a mixer tap connector etc.
 
I've got an new addition in the form of my new 280 litre marine tank. It is off round the corner and I did a leak test on it the other day (all fine thankfully!) I filled it up with much the same method without a hitch but the draining of it caused anger. The longer length of hose, height of the bath or sinks etc resulted in an extremely slow and tiresome syphon that stopped multiple times.
 
I need to get a system set up and it needs to support pumping water out of 25L drums too for water changes etc. I know I want a pump, and I know I want an external so I can drain quickly and powerfully and fill up again by dumping it in the new drum of Salted or pure RO, whatever I need.
 
Ebay just simply has too many options to offer and it gives me a headache trawling through it all trying to decide.
 
Basically I want a semi powerful pump that will sit on the floor with an IN and an OUT on it that I connect my hoses to.
 
Anyone with me and can make suggestions please? I am not looking for a submersible, or powerhead before anyone says it. And yes, I have seen the python tutorial thing many times and it's not what I am after.
 
Thanks in advance!

 

[Ch4rlie]

Hmm, I've been searching for a similar pump setup myself.
Have not tried a python yet, gonna try a DIY one first before going any further.
 
The best pump I've come across so far is a Eheim 1046 Universal Pump 300LTR/HR, at a price of just under £40, is the best price I've found so far.
 
http/www.charterhouse-aquatics.co.uk/eheim-1046-universal-pump-300-ltrhr-p-264.html?osCsid=1ee18acbc942c60ac1bf60346bc7063a&gclid=CMjP_NfspbkCFXLLtAod1xgA3w
 
There are more powerful ones from Eheim and the prices rises accordingly.
 
Don't know if thats the sort of thing you are after?

 

[DrRob]

If you're looking for just intermittent use then you can also look at sump and bilge pumps, widens the options and outlets available.
 
They tend not to be designed for permanent usage, but that's not what you're doing.

 

[plectastic]

Ah cool thanks mate. I need to find out if it's powerful enough to shift a large volume of water at a reasonable rate along about a 5m length of hose.

Bilge pump I have had a quick look over and they seem mostly submersible so that's no use but the Eheim one may be a winner so far.

 

[Ch4rlie]

Then in that case 300 lt/hr might not quite cut it for you as have heard for some people say the 1046 are a bit slow.
 
So the next size up Eheim 1048 which does 600 lt/hr might be a bit better for you although a little bit more expensive but have heard good things about Eheim.
 
eBay selling 1048 for around £56.99
 
http/www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Eheim-1048-Universal-Pump-600lph-Flow-Rate-/190724196193?pt=UK_Pet_Supplies_Fish&hash=item2c680c4761
 
Hope that helps your quest!

 

[KirkyArcher]

Though submersible I finally settled on a Maxi-jet 1000 water pump £25 (UK) and I'm very satisfied with it's performance. Just chuck it in the tank to empty or into your buckets to refill

Mine is mainly used to lift my pre treated (dechlorinated/temperature matched) water from my 5 gallon buckets into the tank,

 

[Ch4rlie]

KirkyArcher - is that a pump?
Just that it looks like a powerhead but thats probably just me!
 
Can you connect hoses to both ends of that to get water flowing through that and use as a pump or is it a submersible pump?
 
Am presuming 1000 means 1000 lt/ph? Sounds pretty powerful and how fast does that do the job for you emptying a 5 gallon bucket to the tank?
 
Would like to know as am looking for something myself too and this looks good for £25. 

(sorry to jump in your thread plectastic)

 

[KirkyArcher]

It's described as a pump........
Aquarium Systems Maxi Jet 1000 are multi-use external or submersible pumps that combine high performance with low power consumption.
Aquarium Systems Maxi Jet 1000 are fully submersible but can also be used externally. Because the impeller hasn't got any loose parts it makes for very easy cleaning.
The Maxi Jet has a solid sturdy base with suction cone to attach it securely. The pump outlet can be adjusted into any position.
At a glance:

• Low wattage - only 14 watts
• Max flow rate 1000 litres per hour
• Silent operation
• External or submersible use
• 360 degree rotating outlet

Specifications:

• 1000 Litres per hour
• 1.5 m maximum head
• 14 watts
• Silent operation
• Solid base with suction cups
• 360 degree rotating outlet

would guesstimate at about 4 minutes to lift 5 gallon into the tank

 

[Tim_UK]

if you don't mind them being 12volts you can get small caravan pumps for about a tenner or so, I ended up getting a small pump and plumbing everything in so I just press a button to empty the tank to a set level, then another switch to automatically top it up until full, have a read here if interested, works a treat:
 
http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/420962-my-aquarium-housingcabinet-project/

 

[Ch4rlie]

Tim - Oh yeah, I remember reading that project, I loved the set up and how you sorted the electrics inside the cabinet door.
 
That was a good project if you don't mind my saying so!

 

[plectastic]

1000lph external or submersible snapped up for £19.99 on the bay we'll see how it goes!