Looking for a way to pump the water from the bucket up into the tank. Any suggestions for a pump (basement pump doesn't look like a good idea).
Get the following:
- Rubbermaid Brute 32-gallon container
A pump from Uncle Ned's
Tubing to fit the pump outlet (length tbd)
A U-shaped filter intake tube with strainer (to connect to a short piece of tubing to make a siphon tube)
To do your water change:
- Siphon water from the tank into your 32-gallon container
Pump the water from the tank to your sink or other drain (or to a garden or lawn)
Carry smaller buckets of fresh water and dump them into your 32-gallon container
Add any conditioners
Mix the water by letting the pump circulate it in the container
Connect your siphon tube to the pump outlet and let it fill your tank
The U-tube is typically longer on one end then the other. If you add just the right length of tubing to the short end, and put your strainer on that tubing, you can start the siphon and walk away. With "just the right length", the tank's water level drops below the siphon before your 32-gallon container overflows.
Similarly, if you fill your freshwater to the same height in the container, then you can start pumping it back into the tank without worrying about the tank over filling.
With a decent sized pump, it'll drain the 32-gallons in a matter of minutes. The strainer on the end of the siphon tube disperses the rapid flow back into the tank
Carrying the buckets of water is a drag, but at least you don't have to worry about carefully pouring it into your tank. You can dump it with abandon into the container.