Good workhorse pump for mixing salt and transferring water to tank

[RussC]

Gonna need a workhorse to get my salt mixed in the brute trash can and ultimately transfer it to the primary tank during water changes. What's worked we'll for you guys? Water changes will be about 20-25 gallons. Not a lot. But so t want to sit there all day moving water. Hell, it takes a good 5 hours to get 25 gallons from my RO/Di.

 

[danferd2002]

mag drive pump. They should last forever.

 

[davocean]

Yep, usually can find a used ol mag w/out too much effort, not what I'd use for return but not a bad mix pump or a backup

 

[otrips]

Best bet is to get the same thing as your return pump. If it's cost prohibitive then get something that could match up with fittings to your return line. This way you could use it in a pinch in an emergency if your main pump went down.

 

[RussC]

Best bet is to get the same thing as your return pump. If it's cost prohibitive then get something that could match up with fittings to your return line. This way you could use it in a pinch in an emergency if your main pump went down.

I'm all about backups. That would be awesome. But you know what, I'm dead meat if my wife ever gets wind of what I've spent on this system! :rollface:

I'm gonna cut back a little on this guy. Ive landed on a Mag5. That will do just fine for my needs.

 

[billdogg]

Depending on how far (both horizontally and vertically) you need to go. IMHO, a mag5 might be a little slow. I use a mag18 (up one floor and 20' away) and will go bigger next time

 

[RussC]

Fortunately I'll be able to roll the fresh mix right over to the tank in my brute trash can. Gonna change about 20 percent. 115 gallon tank. . You know what I'm still trying to figure out is a simple way to get the water out of the tank. Maybe some way to plumb a way to release the flow to a drain. Where do I get the water from. Display tank? Sump?

 

[davocean]

I just siphon from display, and try to suck out any dietrus areas.
I have a brute marked in 5g increments, and same for my mix brute, easy to match what goes out/in.

Once in a while I will pull that water from sump, I have a buckethead from home depot, these are awesome for that, $20 well spent, vac's sump clean, fits on any 5g bucket, a must have IMO.

As to mix pump, well I'm not going to buy another eheim or better, but I will try to match return flow, that way it's still a cheap but viable backup.

 

[otrips]

Fortunately I'll be able to roll the fresh mix right over to the tank in my brute trash can. Gonna change about 20 percent. 115 gallon tank. . You know what I'm still trying to figure out is a simple way to get the water out of the tank. Maybe some way to plumb a way to release the flow to a drain. Where do I get the water from. Display tank? Sump?

Get another can and put the same pump in the sump. Siphon from display when needed.

 

[davocean]

I forgot, the same hose I siphon w/ also fits on my mix pump, I turn my return back on until it has dropped some volume, and I just place that hose into my sump, this also helps stir anything in there, I'm running a sock when I do this, and I also use a little plastic irwin clamp to make sure it does not slide out(learned that one the hard way long ago)

 

[cincyjim]

When I had my 75g tank, I would shut off the main pump and let the water drain to the sump. I then put a pump in there and moved that water down the drain. Once that was done, I then put the same pump into my mixing barrel and filled the sump back up and then turned on the main pump. I used a Mag5 pump for this but note all of this was done on the same floor level.

 

[ericarenee]

Never Lie , We can read minds and hold the thoughts as Bargaining chip for the 120th pair of heels or New Miter saw...

I agree mag drive pumps last nearly forever . i have one that is over 20 years old another that i prob 10....

Good Luck

 

[MondoBongo]

mag drive pump. They should last forever.

yup, this is what i use.

reasonably priced and reliable. not the quietest things around, but they certainly get the job done. i have a mag drive 7 in my mixing can (55 gallon brute) and a mag 12 to pump the mixed water up through the floor and in to the tank.