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cginex
04/23/2013, 05:27 AM
can anyone suggest a (hopefully) inexpensive pump to do water changes with? i need to change about 5-6 gallons at a time and am hoping to find a portable pump that I guess has ability to hook up a garden hose if possible to it to drain the water from tank to a bucket and then vice versa, the new water from bucket to the tank.

cakemanPA
04/23/2013, 05:31 AM
I use a mag 3 to do that. I don't use a garden hose though. I use black tubing. I take out 10 gallons by siphon and pump 10 back in. It takes me all of 5-10 minutes to finish a water change.

jscarlata
04/23/2013, 05:32 AM
Only 5-6 gallons? You don't need a pump, just get a 10' piece of 1/2-3/4 vinyl tube and siphon the water out. Then pour 5 gallons into the sump or tank w the bucket. If buckets aren't a good option, a pump for 5 gallons doesn't need to be big, any little powerhead will work w vinyl tube on the output end into the tank or sump

TimeConsumer
04/23/2013, 08:14 AM
I use an old MJ1200 I had lying around with a piece of vinyl tubing from the hardware store. It won't pump very quickly with 4-5ft of head, but it has enough to get the water where I need it. I also just slip on the MJ propeller mod when I want to mix the saltwater. It's cheap and it works.

azjohnny
04/23/2013, 08:55 AM
I use a Rio 1700 with 25 ft of 3/4 vinyl hose. Turn off the return pump, let the tank water drain into the sump and change out the water that is in the sump. About 30 gals


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FlameA450
04/23/2013, 09:46 AM
just go to petco and buy one of their cheap pumps. that what i did and has been great for over 7 months

Michigan Mike
04/23/2013, 10:11 AM
Any mag 3 or 5 or similar utility pump is just fine.