Water Change Pump Recommendations

Harry Muscle · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 50

My water change system calls for a pump that could pump 15G of water up 4
feet within a few minutes (around 5 mins). The pump would only be used once
a week (for those 5 or so minutes), or as often as my one tank requires its
water changed. Any recommendations for a cheap, yet somewhat good pump?

Thanks,
Harry

Archived from group: rec>aquaria>freshwater>misc

Harry Muscle · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 50

"Paulio629" wrote in message@mb-m05.aol.com...
> Get a mag drive
>
> http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=9372&D=magdr
> ive&R=23355&Ntt=magdrive&Dx=mode+matchallpartial&Ntk=All&Ntx=mode+matchall
> partial&Np=1&N=62728

It just seems like so much money for a pump that will get used for 5 minutes
a week.

Thanks,
Harry

Adam Gottschalk · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 14

In article
,
Chris Palma wrote:

> Hi.
>
> I was looking for the same thing and didn't have much luck. In the end, I
> spent more than I wanted (about US$50 if I recall) to buy a pond water
> pump at my local hardware store. It can pump water up a normal flight of
> stairs at about the rate that you require. I think it was called a
> "little giant" or something like that.
>
> --chris
>
>
> On Tue, 1 Jun 2004, Harry Muscle wrote:
>
> > My water change system calls for a pump that could pump 15G of water up 4
> > feet within a few minutes (around 5 mins). The pump would only be used once
> > a week (for those 5 or so minutes), or as often as my one tank requires its
> > water changed. Any recommendations for a cheap, yet somewhat good pump?
> >
> > Thanks,
> > Harry
> >
> >
> >
>
>
> NB: This email address is dead. If you would like to email me directly,
> please use: cpalmaATSYMBOLastro.psu.edu
>

I use a Maxi-Jet 900 (powerhead) for this purpose, same scenario. It
cost about $17 at marindepot.com and it works like a charm

Chris Palma · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 5

Hi.

I was looking for the same thing and didn't have much luck. In the end, I
spent more than I wanted (about US$50 if I recall) to buy a pond water
pump at my local hardware store. It can pump water up a normal flight of
stairs at about the rate that you require. I think it was called a
"little giant" or something like that.

--chris

On Tue, 1 Jun 2004, Harry Muscle wrote:

> My water change system calls for a pump that could pump 15G of water up 4
> feet within a few minutes (around 5 mins). The pump would only be used once
> a week (for those 5 or so minutes), or as often as my one tank requires its
> water changed. Any recommendations for a cheap, yet somewhat good pump?
>
> Thanks,
> Harry
>
>
>

NB: This email address is dead. If you would like to email me directly,
please use: cpalmaATSYMBOLastro.psu.edu

Toni · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 47

"Harry Muscle" wrote in message@corp.supernews.com...
> My water change system calls for a pump that could pump 15G of water up 4
> feet within a few minutes (around 5 mins). The pump would only be used
once
> a week (for those 5 or so minutes), or as often as my one tank requires
its
> water changed. Any recommendations for a cheap, yet somewhat good pump?
>

I use an Eheim 1048- 150gph and 5 ft. head.
At the price it may be overkill but it is quiet, dependable, and I expect it
to last for years.
http://www.bigalsonline.com/catalog/category.xml?pcid1=2181;category_id=2725

--
Toni
http://www.cearbhaill.com/discus.htm

Paulio629 · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 7

Get a mag drive

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=9372&D=magdr
ive&R=23355&Ntt=magdrive&Dx=mode+matchallpartial&Ntk=All&Ntx=mode+matchall
partial&Np=1&N=62728

Toni · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 47

"Adam Gottschalk" wrote in message@individual.net...
>
> I use a Maxi-Jet 900 (powerhead) for this purpose, same scenario. It
> cost about $17 at marindepot.com and it works like a charm

A 900 will pump *four feet* up?

--
Toni
http://www.cearbhaill.com/reef.htm

Adam Gottschalk · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 14

In article ,
"Toni" wrote:

> "Adam Gottschalk" wrote in message
> @individual.net...
> >
> > I use a Maxi-Jet 900 (powerhead) for this purpose, same scenario. It
> > cost about $17 at marindepot.com and it works like a charm
>
>
> A 900 will pump *four feet* up?

Yup. No problem. I actually didn't choose it. I called and told the
salesperson what I needed and that's the model he recommended. It's
worked without a hitch. 4-feet of head and it pumps 4-5 gallons in a
couple of minutes. If you point the hose right up close to smaller
gravel, the flow will stir it up a bit, nothing too intense. As far as I
can figure from my diminishing knowledge of physics, such a pump should
pump at the rated flow rate regardless of the head, up until the point
where it simply can't overcome the head.

Toni · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 47

">
> > "Adam Gottschalk" wrote in message
> > @individual.net...
> > >
> > > I use a Maxi-Jet 900 (powerhead) for this purpose, same scenario. It
> > > cost about $17 at marindepot.com and it works like a charm
> >
> >
> > A 900 will pump *four feet* up?
>
> Yup. No problem. I actually didn't choose it. I called and told the
> salesperson what I needed and that's the model he recommended. It's
> worked without a hitch. 4-feet of head and it pumps 4-5 gallons in a
> couple of minutes.

Cool.
I wonder what a 1200 could do !

--
Toni
http://www.cearbhaill.com/reef.htm

Adam Gottschalk · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 14

In article ,
"Ann Viverette" wrote:

> I have it plugged into an extension cord with an On/off switch at the plug
> within reach of the tank being refilled.

Ditto. Sounds like the Maxi-Jet 900 is about the same. I plug it into a
power-strip that has an on-off switch. I also forget to pull the hose
out of the tank before/as I switch of the pump, so a little bit of water
is always siphoned back into the bucket from which I'm pumping. Does it
seem a little stupid to folks that in every aquarium book around, they
talk all about regular water changes but rarely if ever get into helpful
suggestions like a pump? I mean that's so stupid it's stoopit!

Ann Viverette · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 13

Look at the ViaAqua 1300 at DrsFosterSmith.com. ~$17.00 + shipping.

They have a performance chart to show GPH vs head. I use it daily to replace
7.5 gallons at about 4' head, takes a minute or 2 using a 3/4 ID clear vinyl
tubing from Home Depot.

Perfectly quiet. So quiet I have not noticed that the pump was on when I
grabbed the hose to remove it from the water storage bucket where Id left it
to recirculate -- oops!

I have it plugged into an extension cord with an On/off switch at the plug
within reach of the tank being refilled.

"Harry Muscle" wrote in message@corp.supernews.com...
> My water change system calls for a pump that could pump 15G of water up 4
> feet within a few minutes (around 5 mins). The pump would only be used
once
> a week (for those 5 or so minutes), or as often as my one tank requires
its
> water changed. Any recommendations for a cheap, yet somewhat good pump?
>
> Thanks,
> Harry
>
>

George B · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 1

I have a 1200 and use it for water changes. It is about twice as fast as
the 900, BUT it pumps about 7*9 gallons in 5 minutes not 15. I just put it
in the bottom of a 5 gallon bucket and keep refilling the bucket from 5
gallon jugs. My goal was to eliminate heavy lifting to pour water into the
tank. I also thought that the $50+ pump was overkill and am willing to
settle for a slower fill rate.
"Toni" wrote in message$Yd3.644@newsread3.news.atl.earthlink.net...
>
> ">
> > > "Adam Gottschalk" wrote in message
> > > @individual.net...
> > > >
> > > > I use a Maxi-Jet 900 (powerhead) for this purpose, same scenario. It
> > > > cost about $17 at marindepot.com and it works like a charm
> > >
> > >
> > > A 900 will pump *four feet* up?
> >
> > Yup. No problem. I actually didn't choose it. I called and told the
> > salesperson what I needed and that's the model he recommended. It's
> > worked without a hitch. 4-feet of head and it pumps 4-5 gallons in a
> > couple of minutes.
>
>
> Cool.
> I wonder what a 1200 could do !
>
>
> --
> Toni
> http://www.cearbhaill.com/reef.htm
>
>