Will a Cast Iron external pump be ok for reef use?

[7duster3]

So i am working up a crazy idea with my new drum for ease or water changes and top offs. I want to mount an external pump on top of a 55 gallon drum with a tube going to the bottom for water changes. will a 35 dollar cast iron external pump be ok to use. I think the cheapest external pump i have found is at harbor freight.

* Maximum head lift: 115 ft. (output)
* Rated total lift: 65.6 ft. per minute
* Maximum suction lift: 10 ft. (after priming)
* Maximum flow capacity: 650 gallons per hour

Motor: 1/2-HP, 120 volts

Is there something out there around the same price thats better?

thanks!

 

[psykokid]

id make sure that its rated to deal with corrosive fluids. You could honestly find a used iwaki or panworld pump for 50 bucks or so and not have to worry about it bryce.. Going cheap in this case will almost certainly come back to bite you in the arse..

 

[fshRfrendsNTfod]

Agreed. I wouldn't risk using it to put water into your tank. Although to pull water from it I don't see a problem.

 

[loc01]

I have a good used condition panworld 100pxx for $50 if you need it.

Thanks,
Loc

 

[bullitr]

I agree with everyone !

 

[joesig]

It will rust, unless you clean it well, you should be ok if you only use it evryonce and a while, but you need to take into account its construction, what are the seals (orings) made of if is buna is ok , best is epdm seals.
and make to check how its motor is cooled if its oil cooled dont even think about it. the seals could leak and it would mix into your water, especialy if its cheep construction.

ive seen it happen in a medical lab of a customer of ours.the maintanace guy was to lazy to come to us to get the right part, so he bought a pump at hf and the corosive oils ate the seals up and mixed into the product. they soon had a job opening.

 

[jefathome]

I think you have a number of things to re-think.

#1 - If you are set on an external pump above the 55g tank, then your pump will need to be primed every time you use it. You can't just "turn it on" and have water come out. You either need to have a bulkhead in the 55d drum and the pump below the water line, or you need an internal pump.

#2 - As said above, that pump will rust quick.

#3 - It is a 1/2 hp pump and it only pumps 650g/hour? What a WASTE of power. That is a pressure pump that can pump fluid up to 115 feet straight up. Great if you want to pump water from the basement up to the 10th floor of an office building/condo, but not for the application you need it for.

 

[jefathome]

Oh, and here is what makes me an "expert" on this topic...
I too have a 55g drum plumbed into my system. I can give you the whole low down on setting up something like this.

See the countertop thing in this pic?

Well inside I have my additives and top-off:

And a 55g drum filled with about 150 lbs of live rock.... I also use this for my water changes. just turn off the pump (to the main system), drain the drum, fill the drum, flip a switch and viola.... a 45g water change.

 

[joesig]

if you really want a good pump and save some money i think we still have an accnt with little giant,
i can get you a pump for about 10% abv cost let me know.
http://www.lgpc.com/Aquarium/ByCategory.aspx?TypeID=5&CategoryID=22

 

[RandyFolds]

Yeah, seriously. 1/2HP for 650GPH? That's gonna cost you a quarter of an iwaki every time you turn it on.

Jefathome, that is a pretty sweet setup. I wish I could punch holes in my walls... some day...

 

[elvis142]

hey jefathome, cool set up. i might get to do one of those. got any pics of your tank?

thanks,
john