Help picking a water pump

[chinnp]

I'm putting together a simple water changer to try to make my life easier. The one thing I need now is is a water pump to life the water about 5-6 feet from the holding container to the tank through a hose. All the pumps I've looked at on-line seem to be rated in GPH, but don't say anything about the distance the pump can lift the water. Will any pump work or do I need to look for a certain GPH rating?

[artdale]

The distance a pump can lift the water is called "maximum head pressure", "maximum head height" or simply "maximum head".
Obviously, the more the distance, the less the gals/hour.
Tipically, you can find an head of 5-6' on pumps from 400 g/h or more.
I know there exist small pumps with a good head expecially designed for water changes. I give you the italian site that sells it. Just give a look at the pump. I'm sure you will find something similar in US.
http://www.acquaingros.it/kitwaterupimpiantopercambioacqua-p-18095.html?osCsid=28a02387f475b5c78f60620e58a6c110

It's a 130g/h pump with a 10' head. it's very narrow to fit into every can or container.

[CChase]

I would look at some marine supply stores (like boats) and get a bilge pump, as they usually specify lift (which is usually a few feet) and flow rate (which will be just about perfect). Then, you just have to rig up a power supply for it (which should be very easy).

[jones57742]

chinnp:

Easy is good!

I have set up two tanks which are fairly close to my main tank as well as close to my kitchen sink and am anticipating setting up a tank which is close to my main tank but which is remote from from my kitchen sink (approximately 8').

My main tank is 110G, the existing two tanks are 5G and the existing two tanks are in service in order to acclimate 20 show guppies and 6 hillstream loaches to the water parameters in my main tank.

The water surface in the two 5G tanks is approximately 1.5' below the water surface in my main tank and the approximately 2.5' above the drain in my kitchen sink.

Hence I can easily use siphoning to accomplish daily 90% WC's of the two 5G tanks which I perform with two 9mm tubes.

In order to perform water changes on my new tank siphoning will not work.

I have a
http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewItem~idProduct~IK1235.html

This pump appears to be functioning very, very well but priming it is "way more than a pain" and I hope that a member of the Forum can help with the "priming issue".

TR

[chinnp]

I picked one up at Petsmart that works quite nicely. I was able to change 50% of the water in my 75g tank in about 10-15 mins. I'm kind of wondering why I didn't do something like this earlier.