Semi automatic water drain

[Greg5OH]

Hello, My tank shares the back wall of my bathroom, so I have a 4" cleanout available for me to tie into.
I would like to setup a pipe that stays in the tank and is tied to the main sewer line permanently.

Would I need an inline pump, (ideally on a switch so I can turn it on and off easily), or one that stays in the tank and is plumbed into the outlet pipe? ONce a siphon is started I dont even need a pump to be on. If it is fine, if its not-great.

The tank is not drilled and not sumped (its actually a FW discus tank)

Basically, my question is: What type of pump should I use for this task?

 

[Vinny Kreyling]

You don't need one if you have a valve in the line so you maintain a siphon.

 

[Greg5OH]

Right, but how do I start the initial siphon? And how do I restart it if I let the level get below the fill line?

 

[Vinny Kreyling]

Start the siphon by sucking on the hose end.
OR submerge the hose & with thumb over end pullout of water.
Leave a pipe with a screen fitting in the tank near the bottom so the pipe is always full.
Open the valve to drain -- close valve to stop water flow.
Easy Peasy

 

[Greg5OH]

This will be hard plumbed into my main 4" drain line. No hoses and Im not going to be taking the cleanout plug on and off. Id like the pipe to be permenantly attached to the backside of the tank.
I will have a manual valve to prevent accidental drainage, and also a 1 way valve just in case to prevent any backflow.

 

[mcgyvr]

You could just add a Tee or Y and a few misc fittings that would allow you to start the siphon.. Then close the valve on that section open the other and away you go..