I'm starting to do some early next stage planning for adding tanks. My problem is that where I want to put the tanks is close to the floor, so I wouldn't be able to start a siphon and drain into a bucket. I'm thinking of buying a submersible pump to do the water changes. Would it work and what, if any, problems could I encounter?
I'm planning to put the tanks on the bottom of existing tank stands.
If the gravity is not there, then submersible pumps work great.
One nuisance is due to standard pumps' design: outflow on the top with sucker feet at the bottom and the pump has to be fully submerged. If you attach the pump to the front glass then the hose gets in the way. If you just put the pump in the tank with the hose pointing up then the pump tends to creep towards the bottom, crushing and sucking plants. It comes to your specific situation, based on tank depth and space. Some power cords are also too short to reach a convenient power outlet.
Another consideration is gph / hose size. Too high gph and you are sucking everything out too quickly. Too low and a WC takes forever. Most pumps come with adjustable flow control that help to find the sweet spot.
If it is at ALL possible you should buy a python and use it for water changes. Changed my way of life and frankly makes doing water changes in a large tank practical and easy.
I just ordered an inexpensive submersible pump on eBay, we'll see what happens. I figure the worst that can happen is that I'm out $10. I'll keep you posted.
If it is at ALL possible you should buy a python and use it for water changes. Changed my way of life and frankly makes doing water changes in a large tank practical and easy.
I have one but don't like it. I prefer mixing my water conditioner and my liquid ferts and letting them sit for a couple of minutes. The only thing I use mine, for now, is initially filling a new tank. That way I don't have to worry about the water changing temperature as it's inconsequential. I also prefer smaller water changes. Usually, 10g on my 75, 5g on my 20l and 3g on my 10g betta tank.
I have a diaphragm pump that I hook a python to for water changes when I need a gravel vac. They can be kind of loud, but I like self priming. I probably wouldn't have bought it specifically for this, since they are a bit expensive, but I had it left over from a different project.
@Greggz has a pump in his tank for water changes. He does have a bit of a horror story regarding using the wrong submersible pump...
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