Submersible pump as external?

kcochran0010 · 09/08/2010, 07:34 PM

I just received a 40 gallon tank from a friend and it is drilled with a bulk head, I want to use this as a sump but do not know what to do with the hole and bulk head. Could I run some pvc to a mag 7 and use a submersible mag 7 as an external pump? Would this work? Or should I just plug it? Thank you!

redfishblewfish · 09/08/2010, 07:58 PM

Mags can run external. Shouldn't be a problem.

If you're not comfortable with that, just plug the bulkhead. Very easy to do if it is a threaded bulkhead. Just buy a $0.79 threaded plug.

trb · 09/08/2010, 11:06 PM

If you do run an external pump, I would use some spaflex in the plumbing. I didn't, and when I was working on the pump one day, I cracked the glass due to the solid PVC plumbing.

You can also use a patch to seal the hole, a glass patch sealed with silicone if it is a glass tank, or acrylic sealed with Weldon on an acrylic tank. Not pretty, but it works.

Good luck!

fishysteve · 09/09/2010, 06:00 AM

I've run several mags externally over the years without any problems.

09/08/2010, 07:34 PM	#1
kcochran0010 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Louisville Kentucky Posts: 676	Submersible pump as external? I just received a 40 gallon tank from a friend and it is drilled with a bulk head, I want to use this as a sump but do not know what to do with the hole and bulk head. Could I run some pvc to a mag 7 and use a submersible mag 7 as an external pump? Would this work? Or should I just plug it? Thank you!

09/08/2010, 11:06 PM	#3
trb Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 234	If you do run an external pump, I would use some spaflex in the plumbing. I didn't, and when I was working on the pump one day, I cracked the glass due to the solid PVC plumbing. You can also use a patch to seal the hole, a glass patch sealed with silicone if it is a glass tank, or acrylic sealed with Weldon on an acrylic tank. Not pretty, but it works. Good luck! __________________ Thomas member of MARSHreef - the Marine and Reef Society of Houston. Current Tank Info: 60+ Gal top reef display + 29 gal non reef safe lower display + 29 gal sump

09/09/2010, 06:00 AM	#4
fishysteve Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 1,804	I've run several mags externally over the years without any problems. __________________ On a break

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09/08/2010, 07:58 PM	#2
redfishblewfish Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Central New Jersey Posts: 716	Mags can run external. Shouldn't be a problem. If you're not comfortable with that, just plug the bulkhead. Very easy to do if it is a threaded bulkhead. Just buy a $0.79 threaded plug.