[Joetee]

I use a 52 gallon rain water barrel to condition my water before performing water changes in my three tanks. On water change day, I refill the barrel with tap water, add Prime and GH booster. Some times I do a 10% daily change and sometimes I do a 50% weekly change if I get home from work to late at night to do the 10% daily changes. I run a air pump with the air line placed at the bottom of the barrel to keep the water moving and for airation.

Heres my question:
I don't think the air line is enough for this size barrel. I was thinking of getting a Rio mini 90 aqua pump and placing it at the bottom of the barrel pointing up.
http://www.bigalsonline.com/BigAlsUS/ctl3684/cp48947/si1379437/cl0/riomini90aquapumppowerhead#

Do you think this would be a better? big enough? pump to do the job?
Or maybe another brand etc.?

Thank you
Joe

 

[Left C]

Hi Joe

I have the Rio 50. The air line that comes stock is only several inches long. You can add a longer one. That powerhead comes with may parts that are not shown.

You can see them here in the Rio 50 and Rio 180 pictures.
http://www.bigalsonline.com/BigAlsUS/ctl3684/cp48947/si1379438/cl0/rio180aquapumppowerhead
http://www.bigalsonline.com/BigAlsUS/ctl3684/cp48947/si1379438/cl0/rio180aquapumppowerhead

You may find that reefers don't like the Rio powerheads because of problems years ago. Some people may suggest other brands. I have several of the Rio 50 powerheads and I haven't have any trouble at all with them.

 

[Postal Penguin]

What I would do is get a pump like that and run a hose from a pump up to the surface. That way the pump will pump the water all the way to the top giving you a complete top to bottom mixing action.

 

[Joetee]

I thought about that and still might. But I was thinking that if the pump blew the water up from the center of the barrel, it would kind of mushroom out from the center and down the sides. The problem I'm thinking of using a hose that as the water level went down, it would start splashing during the week. With the water being blown upward, I would only hear it when it was time to refill the barrel.
Thanks for the advise though.
Joe