What do you think of these pumps?

[bs6749]

I'm shopping around for some new pumps (no not shoes you sillies), and I'm wondering what you all think of this: http://cgi.ebay.com/SUBMERSIBLE-9W-U...3A2%7C294%3A50

I plan on getting a pump for water changes in the new fish room. I don't need a very fast pump, and this one seems nice in that it has a built in sterilizer...what do you all think of that? Seem like a waste of money or might it be worth it?

I was also considering this pump: http://cgi.ebay.com/317GPH-Submersib...3A1%7C294%3A50

It has a larger flow rate than the one with a UV sterilizer, and I could get two for the price of one. I may end up having 2-3 water holding tanks, or one larger one so having two pumps could come in handy if I want to change out two tanks at once. Any thoughts on what might be a better purchase? Any other suggestions for pumps that are $50 give or take? I'm not looking for anything elaborate, just something that makes 5 gallon buckets full of water a thing of the past. Thank you in advance.

Oh, if someone has any ideas for a large water holding tank that would be great. I was thinking about getting 2-3 55g drums and using those with liners if needed, but am open to other suggestions.

[rickztahone]

this is the one i have:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Rio-Aqua-1400-HP...3%3A1|294%3A50
that is at 333gph and let me tell you that isn't nearly as fast as i would like it to be. i know you said that it taking a long time is not a huge concern but when you have as many tanks as you do i think it might be best to get a stronger pump than that rio 1400 i linked to and maybe get something that would slow down the flow rate when it needs to be slower like filling up your small shrimp tanks to not create such a mess. i like the Rio brand it's just that pump is not the fastest.

this one is in the $50 range and it's more than double my output currently. i might actually just buy that one. i would still need to keep the one i have to fill from the bathroom to my storage tank because my water from the shower head does not put out fast enough for the pump so i have to constantly keep shutting my pump off because it is too strong. the larger one i would use to pump into the tank much faster. i hope some of that helped a bit Bryan

[bs6749]

Thanks for the input Ricardo. I don't plant on using a pump to change water in my shrimp tanks and I should have mentioned that beforehand. I'll have ADA Amazonia II in some of those tanks and it takes a while for that stuff to setle once it is disturbed. I will most likely have to do water jugs for those, which I don't mind since I will probably change out 10% (2 gallons) per tank per week. To be honest that's more than I usually change in a month in my shrimp tanks and they are thriving despite what many might think. My tanks are heavily planted with Guppy Grass, Java Moss, etc. and that takes care of the nitrates.

You might have a point about wanting to go with a larger volume per hour pump since I don't necessarily need to be "delicate" for something like shrimp when I change the water. I just scored a 135g tank for $100 (I've yet to pick it up) that looks pretty nice and if I change out 35g on it for a 25% water change it would take the second pump I was thinking about 7 minutes assuming maximum flow, which I'm sure won't be obtained. So a more likely number would be 10 minutes and that does seem like a lot of time, however that could be kind of nice.

What I was thinking about was I could change 3 tanks simultaneously. See if you can follow my logic assuming a 25% water change. First I would drain tank 1. Then I would start draining tank 2 while tank 1 is filling. Tank 2 should drain completely in the same amount of time it takes for tank 1 to have half the volume of water I drained put back in. Tank 2 would then receive fresh water from a second pump either from the same barrel or a different one. I would start to drain tank 3 and tank 1 should be completely full when tank 3 is drained. Now the fresh water supply hose from tank 1 goes into tank 3 and I still have about 5 minutes to fill tank 2, so I can drain tank 4. See where I am getting at? This seems like it could be very beneficial although there is great opportunity to have a deal of water on the floor LOL. No worries though since the tanks will be in a basement and the floors are concrete. I'm thinking this might save me from having to constantly turn a pump on and off. Worst case scenario is I fill one tank while draining another. This seems easily doable since I often do that now with tanks in separate rooms. Having them on the same rack would make it much more convenient.

I still need some ideas for a water change barrel. I'd really like a 200g barrel if I could find one for about $50 but I'm not sure that's a reasonable expectation. That way I wouldn't have to worry about water that is the right temp since I would throw in a couple of heaters and that volume of water would be more than sufficient. Even a 150g might do the trick. Then I'd refill the barrel or have a float switch do it for me and I could be ready to change water the next day. Just have to locate a large container first.

[bs6749]

WOW! Hopefully my search ended pretty quickly: http://grandrapids.craigslist.org/grd/1283850575.html

I'm thinking about either the 275g barrel or 3-4 of the 55g plastic barrels. Should I go white or blue? LOL. I'm gonna see if the guy will take $50 for the 275g without the aluminum cage.

EDIT: Now that I think about it though, even $80 isn't that bad considering I may not have to buy $50 worth of pumps. Gravity alone should fill up the tanks. I planned on putting it above the tanks anyway and a single hose might fill up the tank within several minutes. Plus, I could easily add a valve to a hose on the outlet end and just hang the hose up when I am drawing out the water. I'm getting pretty excited about the fishroom. Seems like a lot of fun. See how I feel after drilling through about 20" of concrete to run the drain to the sump pump LOL.

[DiscusOnly]

Those 275gal square tank are usually a problem getting them into a residental doorway. The alumunium cage is need to keep the tank from falling apart.

[poconogal]

Bryan, I was recently corresponding with www.marinedepot.com about pumps and there's a ball valve, I think they called it, which can be installed to give full control over the flow rate. I was concerned about blasting Discus out of the tank! I just bought a 1900 gph pump off ebay to pump water up and plan on looking into the valve, just in case.

I agree with Vlam about needing the cage, same as with swimming pools. Round equalizes the pressure from the water, but straight sides have a lot of pressure and extra support is needed to keep it from bursting, i.e. oval pools with the side braces.

[bs6749]

Van, excellent point. I will get rid of the 275g holding tank idea immediately. I forgot that I will only have 32" doors on the house. I was also thinking I might have an issue with heaters getting into that tank...maybe not. Thanks for looking out man! I owe you one for sure. I'd be $80 in the hole right now if it weren't for you. I'm gonna see if I can get 2-3 of his 55g plastic drums. Those will definitely fit through the door and might even work better as there is a lip in the basement that I can build a rack on and have the drums sit over.

[bs6749]

Bryan, I was recently corresponding with www.marinedepot.com about pumps and there's a ball valve, I think they called it, which can be installed to give full control over the flow rate. I was concerned about blasting Discus out of the tank! I just bought a 1900 gph pump off ebay to pump water up and plan on looking into the valve, just in case.

I agree with Vlam about needing the cage, same as with swimming pools. Round equalizes the pressure from the water, but straight sides have a lot of pressure and extra support is needed to keep it from bursting, i.e. oval pools with the side braces.

Connie, the ball valve sounds like a good idea, the only thing I'm worried about is pressure buildup and wear on the water pump. The pump works most efficientlly when there is an unrestricted flow. Even a hose provides restriction from friction, etc. I'm not too sure that it'd be good to have the pump not be able to pump water out the end of the hose if it were fully closed but maybe I'm just being paranoid. I suppose it may depend on the design of the pump.

I'm liking my idea of the two smaller pumps that way I can have one in each holding tank and can change multiple tanks at once. That sounds like the way I will go unless someone has an idea/problem which I haven't thought of so far.

Keep the ideas coming guys/gals, you have been very helpful so far.

[DiscusOnly]

Another option (if you have room) is to use pond liner to make an insulated pond to hold water. I see these liner at lowes for $10-$15 at Lowes during the fall.

Van

[poconogal]

Connie, the ball valve sounds like a good idea, the only thing I'm worried about is pressure buildup and wear on the water pump. The pump works most efficientlly when there is an unrestricted flow. Even a hose provides restriction from friction, etc. I'm not too sure that it'd be good to have the pump not be able to pump water out the end of the hose if it were fully closed but maybe I'm just being paranoid. I suppose it may depend on the design of the pump.

I'm liking my idea of the two smaller pumps that way I can have one in each holding tank and can change multiple tanks at once. That sounds like the way I will go unless someone has an idea/problem which I haven't thought of so far.

Keep the ideas coming guys/gals, you have been very helpful so far.

I have a Mag 5 pump that I used my Python hose with and when the tank was full I used the valve on the Python to stop the water. The pump still works fine - could be the type of pump - the Mags take a lickin from what I understand!

Changing multiple tanks at once is a good idea if you have a way of monitoring them so that you don't have overflows if you plan on refilling multiples at once too.

[bs6749]

Van, I've seen a guy do that with an indoor pond that he used to house his African cichlids. I don't have too much space to do that, and I think having the water above the level of the tanks could be very helpful, especially if a pump decided to crap out on me. At least I could still start a siphon and use gravity to change out the water until I got a new pump, know what I mean?


You know what Connie, I never even thought of using a pyton just by itself! I plan to have a utility tub very near the rack setup so this may definitely be a great idea for me . The rack is only 8' long so I could easily get away with a 25' python. How quickly can it fill the water in the tank? I know it depends on the output of the faucet, but is there a certain maximum that the hose can withstand? If I decide to go the python route, which is most likely what will happen, both you and Van will have saved me a great deal of money. You guys probably saved me $200 or more combined with your ideas. Once I get settled in I will have to repay you both for your great insight and helping me plan.

[DiscusOnly]

If you are going to have the storage tank high, you can use one of those little giant inline pump. I just picked up a slightly used one of this http://www.lgpc.com/Product/ItemDeta...x?ProductID=10 from another site for $85.

I was planning to use this to move my storage from another room. Takes a bit of plumming, but it will move my water much faster.

[bs6749]

I'm really liking the idea of a python as I will be able to avoid quite a bit of plumbing, which really isn't necessary with the amount of tanks I will have. It will also save me a great deal of time and money. I will have a few tanks but it's nothing like what Hans and some of these other guys have where plumbing is pretty much a necessity.

I was just thinking about something though, I planned on having the larger tanks closer to the lower level of the rack and those would be below the utility tub drain. I may have to directly siphon the lower tanks direcly into the drain beneath the utility tub I plan on putting in the room, which will drain to a sump pump in the laundry room. It's either that or I will have to have the cold water running to keep the siphon going as I drain the lower level tanks. I suppose I could drain the tanks into 5 gallon buckets and empty them into the utility tub, but what fun is that?

I could put the larger tanks on the upper level and have the smaller shrimp tanks, angel tanks, ram tanks, pleco tanks, etc. on the lower level but I'd have to figure something out with the lighting. I should be able to make it work though.

[DiscusOnly]

Get yourself a small quiet one pump. Drain the lower tank into a small rubbermaid storage bin. Put a small pump in the bin and have it pump to the utility tub. You can also rinse the sponge in that tub as well. Put the tub away when you are done.

Van

[bs6749]

As usual, excellent thinking Van! I just may do that. I could get away with that 317gph pump and a plastic 55g drum or two in case one gets too ful. I guess I will need those after all.