Fast, safe, water drainage ideas

[2_Basic]

I'm currently siphoning but it takes 30mins or more to drain 80% of my 75g. (20 ft then up about 2ft into toilet is the distance)

Are there any fast safe ways to drain? I want to cut the time to less than 10 mins.

[kwan8911]

Add a pump in the siphon line, no need to use new or expensive pump, just an old return pump will do the job


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[Bill63SG]

Get a sumbmersible pump and attach it to your hose.Cover intake with some coarse foam.Figure out how many gph you want.

[2_Basic]

Add a pump in the siphon line, no need to use new or expensive pump, just an old return pump will do the job


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I'm clueless with handyman stuff. What is that? Does it require extra work like priming which I don't know how or what that is?

[2_Basic]

Get a sumbmersible pump and attach it to your hose.Cover intake with some coarse foam.Figure out how many gph you want.

Hi bill I searched an old thread where you discussed this but didn't really know what you were talking about. I'm really duh!!! Is this like an eheim compact aquarium pump for example. I have like a clear 1/2 inch tube siphon line.

[2_Basic]

I have a submersible electric pump attached to a garden hose to fill water. But it's really big, heavy, loud, and vibrates a lot so I don't want to put something similar into the tank to drain.

[John_Nicholson]

All of my tanks are drilled and plumbed. I change 50% or more on 16 75 gallon tanks currently. Including siphoning it takes me about 30 minutes.

-john

[2_Basic]

All of my tanks are drilled and plumbed. I change 50% or more on 16 75 gallon tanks currently. Including siphoning it takes me about 30 minutes.

-john

LOL ...Boss...that's sick ...I'm a fan boy of yours btw :) you are like Yoda and I'm Chewbacca j/k . Could you please teach a grasshopper how to drain one tank fast? Would a pond pump be safe?

[John_Nicholson]

I went straight from siphon hoses to drilled tanks. I know a lot of people that use pumps. Seems to be the best fast way.....there chewbacca......

-john

[Bill63SG]

LOL ...Boss...that's sick ...I'm a fan boy of yours btw :) you are like Yoda and I'm Chewbacca j/k . Could you please teach a grasshopper how to drain one tank fast? Would a pond pump be safe?
Exactly,like a pond pump,depending on how big or small you want.Attach to you hose,and put in tank.I rubber band some foam against the intake so fish don't get sucked up against.You can check out Ken's Fish for a decent selection or JehmCo.

[Lilly]

I use a power-head off of a old protein skimmer....slide the hose over the out put ....drop it into the tank...plug it in...takes 10 minutes to drain my 210g down 80%:D

[rickztahone]

You can find some at Jehmco Here (http://www.jehmco.com/html/safety_siphon_aquarium_drain.html)

You can also find some at Ken's Fish (http://www.kensfish.com/aquarium-supplies/water-pumps/sicce-syncra-1-pump.html)

I use one like this Rio pump (http://www.amazon.com/Rio-Plus-1400-Aqua-Pump/dp/B000IMXTCG/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1409358410&sr=8-2&keywords=rio+submersible+pump) and it has worked like a charm for me for over 5 yrs.

I also have that pump connected to Remote control outlet (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001Q9EFUK/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1) which makes turning the pump on and off a lot easier than disconnecting it from the outlet. I simply hit the on button when the pump is submersed, it drains, then I turn it off from the couch. Just don't forget you have it on, lol.

[2_Basic]

Oh cool...thanks for the info guys!! :)

Especially Rikz for the handy links to the Jehmco products....looks easy, versatile, and the less-mess choice. I hope they have that available at some the pets stores around here.

[judijetson]

I use the Jehmco super safety siphon, great product and fast shipping.

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[OC Discus]

This is an excellent submersible pump that comes with filter material built in. 640 gph is about 6.5 gal per minute. It comes with 1" adapter so you can attach 1" id hose. It will drain 65 gallons in ten minutes. I use it for filling, because I want to vacuum as I drain.

http://www.harborfreight.com/620-gph-submersible-fountain-pump-68393.html

This pump is a monster and would drain your tank in about 3 minutes. It has standard water hose attachments. You can attach a 6' leader hose to the input with your vacuum wand attached and a 20 hose to the outlet and run wherever you like. Be sure to fill the 6' leader hose with water before starting the pump. Not sure if it is rated for "clean water" ie- filling. Research that if interested in this pump.

http://www.harborfreight.com/portable-utility-pump-65836.html

I actually use this one to vacuum and drain my display tank. It comes with the 6' leader hose included. Lowes has adapters for whatever vacuum wand you have to connect it to the water hose with a small piece of hose and clamps. This one is self priming. I added a 90 degree elbow on each end so I can sit it in a 5 gal bucket for use and storage. The hose can be rolled up and stuck into the bucket as well. The only downside is it is loud and the hose likes to kink where it goes into the tank. A better grade of leader hose or reinforcement with duct tape might prevent this. I can vacuum/drain 45 gal in about ten minutes with this pump. Not as fast, but it works. I'm sure there is a stronger model that would do it faster.

http://www.tractorsupply.com/en/store/countylinereg%3B-transfer-utility-pump-1-12-hp

[2_Basic]

OC ..I actually picked up something like the 2nd link from home depot..but it said I needed to prime and add cooking oil or something ...I was luck...uhhh not plug and play?? return..

[2_Basic]

So I ended up buying this from Tetra

https://ca.search.yahoo.com/search;_ylt=Ai4V.Nr53gpRKfIs5RU1pFIt17V_?p=tetra+p ond+garden+pum&toggle=1&cop=mss&ei=UTF-8&fr=yfp-t-684&fp=1

it comes with 4 rubber things to go on the bottom. And I placed the whole thing into the tank...surprisingly it was quite silent, and don't think it vibrated much either bc the discus were calm.

It actually made less noise than my air pump and Aquaclear 70.

I timed the 80% drainage at about 8mins. I'm HAAAAPPPY HAAPPY ...lol thanks guys for help !!

[rickztahone]

So I ended up buying this from Tetra

https://ca.search.yahoo.com/search;_ylt=Ai4V.Nr53gpRKfIs5RU1pFIt17V_?p=tetra+p ond+garden+pum&toggle=1&cop=mss&ei=UTF-8&fr=yfp-t-684&fp=1

it comes with 4 rubber things to go on the bottom. And I placed the whole thing into the tank...surprisingly it was quite silent, and don't think it vibrated much either bc the discus were calm.

It actually made less noise than my air pump and Aquaclear 70.

I timed the 80% drainage at about 8mins. I'm HAAAAPPPY HAAPPY ...lol thanks guys for help !!

great, no more waiting by the tank to drain with a calendar in your hands lol.