General Care Discussion :: Water Siphons

[RedEar]

What is the best way to siphon water out of a tank? I've tried two different ones: one I had to vigorously pump up and down to get the suction going and the other had a bulb on it to pump. The one with the bulb was nice, but the connection points wore out fast and it doesn't work now, so I'm back to the pumping up and down crap again.

[Diamondbacks4Life]

I use a sunk pump. Takes the water lvl almost down to nothing. Best and fastest way to empty a tank in my opinion.

[RedEar]

Damn, hit the wrong button..............how does a sunk pump work?

Spencer is currently in a 20 gallon tank and I have a 10 gallon tank sitting idle.

[steve]

I think he meant sump pump. I use a python, though any tube can be used to drain/refill your tank. A pump will be pretty fast, I should use one too.

[Diamondbacks4Life]

Tes i ment sump...

[texasreb]

I use a pond pump...it only takes a few minutes to empty my tank of 75 gallons. I pump it out the window onto some trees. I refill by filling a 55 gallon trash can on wheels outside with a garden hose. Then the same pump in the trash can fills it back up. I do fill the trash can first and put a heater in it for several hours.

[michaelg]

I use a [url=http://www.homedepot.com/Flotec/h_d1/N-25ecodZ5yc1vZl1Z12l2/R-100125992/h_d2/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10053&langId=-1&keyword=pump&storeId=10051]liquid transfer pump[/pump]. I use it to empty the indoor pond, the outdoor pond and the 10 gallon aquarium. It pumps out the 250 gallon outdoor pond in about 35 minutes. When used outside, I hook up a sprinkler to water the lawn.

I have one of those vacuums that you have to move back and forth to get it the water flowing. Seems to work best with a full aquarium. They are a hassle and take a long time to drain anything over 10 gallons of water.

-Michael