Problem solving skills needed :)

[Mandy]

I have a 45 gallon fw tank in the basement with no plumbing available down there. I'm looking for an easier way to drain the water change water up-and-out the window each week so I don't have to carry it up the stairs all the time. Would some sort of utility pump handle this task? I figured there has got to be someone else with this sort of situation and maybe they could offer some advice on it.
Basically - the tank is about 2 feet away from the basement window. The window is about four foot high. I think I just need something powerful enough to pump the vacuumed water out of the Homer bucket and up through the window... IDK - just looking for some time/back saver ideas. Re-filling the tank isn't too much of an issue b/c I just drag the hose in through the basement window and fill the buckets the night before - but getting that damned water out - ugh, what a nightmare. Oh - also, siphoning won't work in this situation b/c the window is ground level so the hose would just sort of go upward from the tank and never bend back down... tried it
Thanks in advance for your ideas

P.S. I know the pics are no help to my situation, but I also know everyone likes looking at ft pics and I'll likely get more hits for posting them - lol
Thanks, again
Mandy

 

[Lotus]

You can get a water pump and attach it to a piece of hose to drain the tank. The pumps usually fit on some kind of standard size tubing you can get at a home improvement store. You'd only need a cheap pump, as you're only using it a few minutes a week. Perhaps try for a second-hand pump on one of the aquatic auction sites.

You could also consider a Python, but you might not get enough suction, depending on how deep your basement is.

 

[OrangeCones]

I figured there has got to be someone else with this sort of situation and maybe they could offer some advice on it.
Basically - the tank is about 2 feet away from the basement window. The window is about four foot high. I think I just need something powerful enough to pump the vacuumed water out of the Homer bucket and up through the window... IDK - just looking for some time/back saver ideas. Re-filling the tank isn't too much of an issue b/c I just drag the hose in through the basement window and fill the buckets the night before - but getting that damned water out - ugh, what a nightmare.

I used my shopvac for this before we installed water in the basement to send out used water (garden hose attachment). We had bought it incase it flooded (it did) so it came in handy.

I've also used a pond-pump bought at a home improvement store. I still use it to add water to the tanks. It uses 1" diameter flexible tubing.

Both save my back!

 

[beckyd]

Mandy, love the pics. A very peaceful, serene looking tank. I like the sand.

I would try a python. Even with an extension on it, the physics still works in my head. It might be slower, but I think its going to do it for you unless you really have whimpy water pressure. If you can get it out the window to a hose outlet instead of a sink, I have NO doubt. My outside hose faucet makes it suck so hard, I only use it when I'm in a super hurry, and only my tanks with big fish. I have to refill from inside to control the temp in winter, but so what? Sounds to me like you're working harder to clean one tank than I do when I do all 7. Takes me 2 hrs. And I do 50%changes minimum. The turtle tank gets about a 80%change every week. That python is a miracle.

 

[brian1973]

Mandy, love the pics. A very peaceful, serene looking tank. I like the sand.

I would try a python. Even with an extension on it, the physics still works in my head. It might be slower, but I think its going to do it for you unless you really have whimpy water pressure. If you can get it out the window to a hose outlet instead of a sink, I have NO doubt. My outside hose faucet makes it suck so hard, I only use it when I'm in a super hurry, and only my tanks with big fish. I have to refill from inside to control the temp in winter, but so what? Sounds to me like you're working harder to clean one tank than I do when I do all 7. Takes me 2 hrs. And I do 50%changes minimum. The turtle tank gets about a 80%change every week. That python is a miracle.

I use the python/garden hose outlet method, none of the faucets in the house can accomadate the python connectors so I have to use the faucet outside, luckily I live in south texas where I can usually fill from the outside faucet as well.

 

[hyunelan2]

What kind of filter do you have? If it's a canister, you could put a fitting onto the output and run a hose from that - no separate pump to buy. You could probably do this with some powerheads too. It wouldn't suck the tank down super-fast, but would drain it.

Where is your sump-pump located in the basement? You could drain directly into that, and let the sump get rid of it - or if you are in a drier location, it would just go away.