Water Change Pump

[Jamie]

Hi folks,

I just got a 32 gallon rubbermaid brute trash can to do water changes. What pump would you recommend to move the water from the barrell up into the tank? The top of the tank is probably 5'6" to the rim. I was hoping to just use a maxijet 1200 or something cheap like that...but don't know if it can handle the head pressure.

Thanks.

[opium89]

I have a pond pump that I purchased from Lowes for about 35 bucks. I attach a garden hose to-from a 40 gallon tub in my bathroom and it works great! Check out the garden section at Lowes.

[captexas]

I doubt a MJ1200 would handle that much and if it did, it would be so slow it would drive you nuts. I was using one to pump freshwater out of a Brute 32g to my sump and it was too slow for me. I originally got a small Quiet One 2200 (581gph) to mix new saltwater and to pump it into the tank for water changes, but it was too strong and created a sand storm. I am now using a Rio 1400 (420gph). It was inexpensive and does a good job for that purpose.

[sawarf]

I used a MJ1200 a couple of times to pump from my can to the SUMP and it was tooooo slow. I found a mag drive 7 (700gph) and it empties 30 gallons into the DISPLAY in just a few minutes! It also helps to mix the salt quickly.

[JeffCo]

I use a mag 5 to mix the salt as well as transfer it out of the 55 gallon barrel.

[LoneStar]

I've done water changes the same way as you have listed Jamie. And I did it with a Maxi 600. Worked fine. A 1200 will work just as well. If you want a pump that will work faster for you, a mag 5 will work great. Plus you can use that pump to mix your saltwater too before pumping it into the tank.

[hobogato]

i use a mag 24 :D

[captexas]

i use a mag 24 :D

Man, where are you pumping that water too? LOL That will refill a tank pretty darn fast!

I used to have a water storage/mixing setup in my laundry room and would use a mag 12 to pump water through about 30 feet of 1/2inch tubing to my tank. I had the tubing on a hose reel so I just had to unroll it out to the tank for water changes back when I had my 75g tank with 75g sump/fuge.

[hobogato]

yep, i use it as a stir pump - doesnt take long to mix 60 gallons of saltwater and to pump to the tank from the garage, about 50'

[caferacermike]

I use a second hand Eheim 1262 but you already knew I was going to say that. BUT, I have it hooked up in the garage to my 125g holding tank and can pump water through a hose 75' away to our 125g freshwater tank. Takes about 5 minutes to replace 50g.

[Jamie]

Opium reminded me that I bought a pond kit a while back that I never used. I connected some 3/4" hose to the included pump and was able to transfer the water in just a couple minutes. Thanks for all the input.