Self-Priming Pumps

[CanadianGuy]

Does anyone know who makes a good aquarium safe self-priming pump? I can get one from HD but it's oil filled and I would like to use to to transfer water from tank to tank as well.

[ronrca]

If you use submerged pumps, they will be primed at the time providing of course there is water in the tanks! LOL! Not sure if that works for you or not!

[CanadianGuy]

Nope won't work for what I need. I want a pump to do water changes with. Currently I'm using a python and I want to use a pump so I can run the waste water straight to the drain and cut down on my water use. So I'll need one that I can sit in a corner and run remotely. Then I just go from tank to tank with my cleaning wand.

[Ardan]

Hi,
I use a self priming 1/2 hp Cambell Hausfield pump for sucking water and debris out of my tanks. It pumps 1450 gallons per hour. Cost around 120$ U.S.

hth

[CanadianGuy]

Thanks Arden...exactly what I'm looking for! Though I'm in Canada so I don't know if I can find that type here. The biggest I've found so far only pumped 310 gph.

[CanadianGuy]

No one else uses a pump to empty/clean tanks? You can't all be using pythons!? ???

[ronrca]

LOL! No, not the python! I actually use a sump on my tanks with a mag9 pump to circulate the water thru the tank and filters. All I do is open a valve and the pump will drain the sump. I also use the siphon effect to drain the tanks lower than the overflow. This is easily done by placing a valve lower than the tank itself. ;)

Check out my yahoo album under the fishroom 30G Qt for some pics on the plumbing!

http://photos.yahoo.com/ronr_ca

[Rick_May]

what I use is a 10' 2" diameter hose drained into a 35 gallon trashcan. in the trashcan I have a sump pump operated by a float switch. I suck the water into the trash can when It gets about half full the sump pump kicks on and drains the trash can through a garden hose and waters the lawn. it works great. I'll tell ya though a 2" hose will move a lot a water.......fast. I can do a 50% change on a 75 gallon tank in about minute. Just gota watch out for the fish getting too close.

[CanadianGuy]

Great idea Rick! I'm trying to find a solution that won't have me running from the tank to the sink/garbage can to start the siphon...If I can't find a decent pump it just might be your method instead!


ron,
I'd like to incorprate something like that into my setup too...it would make things alot easier...but I still need the pump for the 30 other tanks that aren't on the system! ;D

[ronrca]

On the 30G Qt tank, I do not use a pump to drain the tank. I have a 3/4" PVC pipe that sits on the bottom of the tank inside. The bottom has nocks cut into it to allow water and not fish to enter the pipe. By placing a valve below the level of the bottom of the tank, I will always maintain the siphon providing I do not allow it to drain to the bottom. To do a wc, I open the valve the tank drains.

To fill, I ran another 3/4" bowpex pipe from my aging containers. The aging containers have a submerged pump for the rack anyways. ;)

[CanadianGuy]

Ron,
Are your tanks drilled for your draining system? If I can do this without drilling, I might try and set it up something similar! For the tanks on the central filter I was thinking of putting an overflow on the sump so that I can use Carys method and flush and fill. I like your idea for all the other tanks tho...would make things alot easier.

[ronrca]

No, my tanks are not drilled for the draining system! The 30G Qt tank using the siphon method with the valve installed below the tank level therefore when I close the valve, it maintains the siphon (unless you run the tank dry though).

In my other tanks I use sump containers with circulate the water thru the tank. I have my tanks drilled or constructed to overflow into the sump. When doing a wc, I open a valve to the drain and the pump that circulates the water thru the tank will now pump the water down the drain. ;)

Check out some of the pics in my yahoo folder under the mini rack section. I also have some new pics of the 65Gs that I will post soon!