Guess this should work - water lift pump for water change

I got the vacuum siphon (with bulb - medium) from Petsmart to remove my water from tank to bucket but was thinking about how to get my fresh, treated water from second bucket to tank - besides dipping and pouring. Was in the garage and I had a fountain pump I bought about a month ago that wasn’t strong enough for fountain so I replaced it with a larger pump. Also had the hose that had not been used. Cleaned the pump and ran 3-4 buckets of water through it. I guess this should work to pump water from bucket to tank? It will empty 5 gallons in less than 3 minutes. About the same displacement as sink. It should work I guess........will be doing my first change on Sunday.

 

That doesn't seem too shabby! Might have to look into something similar in a few years.. once i admit i am aging and can't do things the old-fashioned way so easy anymore...but i am stubborn, so that may never happen!

 

Pumps are typically rated as the flow rate a zero head pressure. Thus, if you put it in a tank as a water circulator, you will get the rated flow rate. With any centrifugal pump, the flow rate will decrease as the back pressure increases. There will finally be a back pressure (head) at which the flow will drop to zero.

I do not know which specific make and model of pump you purchased. As long as you are satisfied with the flow rate at the head required for your application, you are good. A flow rate of 5 gallons per 3 minutes is about 100 gph. That would be quite suitable for doing a water change in a 10 gallon tank, but perhaps not sufficient if you had a 90 gallon tank. If you get a larger tank, you might need a bigger pump. If you find that the flow rate is too low with the bucket placed on the floor, try raising the bucket by placing it on a chair. That will improve the flow rate by reducing the back pressure.

 

That doesn't seem too shabby! Might have to look into something similar in a few years.. once i admit i am aging and can't do things the old-fashioned way so easy anymore...but i am stubborn, so that may never happen!

One day I am going to have to admit it but not yet. When that happens I may have to have hubby rig me up something like this. Pumping would be easier than lifting. Buckets seem to be getting heavier.

 

One day I am going to have to admit it but not yet. When that happens I may have to have hubby rig me up something like this. Pumping would be easier than lifting. Buckets seem to be getting heavier.

My wife and I are stsrting that age where she says "we are old!" And i say "nonsense” Then we bith go to bed at 9 pm lol