View Full Version : Good powerhead for 5 gallon bucket?
BavarianBuilt
10-23-2008, 12:14 AM
I've got three five gallon buckets that I mix my water in for the water changes. What are some good, cheap, power heads I can put in these buckets to keep the water moving? I guess I need something that is capable of attaching to the curved wall of the bucket. Are there any pumps that could provide water movement in all of my buckets from just one water pump? Everyone feel free to share your setups, I'm looking for some ideas here :) TIA!
Gary
jayghmi
10-23-2008, 6:47 AM
I throw a cheap marineland penquin 550 in the bottom of the bucket for my saltwater mixing.
tamz273
10-23-2008, 11:15 AM
I use a maxijet 600 in the bucket, n once its done i use it to move the water from the bucket to the tank also!
BavarianBuilt
10-23-2008, 4:53 PM
Thanks guys I'll check those out. Right now I've just got an air pump with some tubing creating bubbles in my buckets. It hardly does anything but at least it provides some water movement. I like the idea of pumping the water from the bucket to the tank during water changes!
tamz273
10-23-2008, 6:40 PM
great! keep us posted with wat u go with...
jayghmi
10-24-2008, 10:42 AM
I should have added that I also move that water into my tank with the power head as well. I have used a maxi Jet 1200 before and it was way too much power in the bucket and for moving the water.
I use Maxi-Jet 900s to mix sw and move it from the bucket to the sump (one per bucket). I can definitely see how a MJ 1200 would be too strong for a 5 gallon bucket, as I use the 5 gallon buckets the salt mix comes in to mix sw and the MJ 900 really churns and splashes if it flips the wrong way. BTW, I don't attach the powerhead to the bucket, it just sits in the bottom of the bucket. However, the magnetic mounts made for the MJs by AlgaeFree are strong enough to hold a MJ to the side of a standard 5 gallon bucket despite it being a rounded surface. The Hydor Koralia magnetic mounts are as well, at least on the #3 and #4 models, as I've done it while cleaning those powerheads in a vinegar solution.
As for a single pump to circulate water in numerous buckets all at once, it could be done if you really wanted to. A little bit of imaginative plumbing and pretty much any return pump that'll move water from a sump against 4' of head pressure to a display tank with good flow would be plenty strong enough to circulate the water in multiple buckets. I see a couple different set-ups in my mind, but I'm not really sure they would be worth the expense or time to construct considering how easy it is to just drop a couple MJs into buckets.
BavarianBuilt
10-24-2008, 4:23 PM
Thanks for the great advice. Sounds like a small Maxi-Jet is the way to go.
BavarianBuilt
12-12-2008, 4:27 PM
I still haven't picked up these pumps, however drfostersmith.com is having a sale on them now so I'm going to order a few 600 pumps. What length and diameter tubing will i need to buy to attach to these pumps so that i can pump the water from the bucket to my aquarium?
jayghmi
12-12-2008, 4:38 PM
Wait until you get the pump. Then you will know the diameter to fit the end and the length depends on how far the bucket will be from the tank. The higher you tank is off the ground the longer the tubing, but the harder the pump works. I set my water on a folding chair so the smaller pump can get it into the tank at a rate that is not creating a tidal wave.
PS. Be careful not to unplug the pump while the outlet house is still in the tank(under water). It will often cause a reverse siphon and start dumping water back in your bucket.
BavarianBuilt
12-12-2008, 4:56 PM
Good advice! Are you also using the same water pump to pump water out of the aquarium?
I use a Mag5 pump for mixing water in a 33G trash can. First, to drain my tank I use a 6' piece of 1" tubing and drain into an empty 33G trash can. Then when I have the water drained I use the Mag5 pump with a hose attached to pump water back in from the trash can I mixed in. I hold the end of the hose against the inside of the glass to disperse the output of the Mag5. Takes about 5 minutes total to do a 30G water change. I know I am talking about a larger scale than you are... just saying how I do it on my 75G.
jayghmi
12-14-2008, 9:20 AM
Good advice! Are you also using the same water pump to pump water out of the aquarium?
I do not use a pump to take water out of the tank. When I do a water change, usually 5 gallons, I use a very small tube (tough to start the siphoning process) to suck up anything I find on my live rock.
BavarianBuilt
01-24-2009, 6:26 PM
My MJ600 pumps just got in. So how is everyone mixing the salt? Mix all of the salt in by hand and then insert the pump? Put the pump in first and add little bits of salt at a time? When I've done water changes up until now I've always just stirred it real good by hand.
ryanTEXAS
01-25-2009, 5:29 PM
i just recently started this hobby and i have learned a lot from this thread, before i would just take the hydor 2 and 4 from my tank and put them both in the bucket after i added the salt in. the hard part was lifting the 5g bucket over my tank and pouring it in. i hate doing this because i have to balance myself on a stool and slowly pouring it in as not to create a sand storm but its happened every single water change. i think i will also get myself some MJ's.
My MJ600 pumps just got in. So how is everyone mixing the salt? Mix all of the salt in by hand and then insert the pump? Put the pump in first and add little bits of salt at a time? When I've done water changes up until now I've always just stirred it real good by hand.
I run a MJ in the bucket of RO/DI water for several hours (usually 12 - 24 hours) before adding in any salt mix. I do this to help aerate the water / remove any excess CO2 / raise the pH. Then, I'll add in the salt mix, leaving the MJ running. I add in a 1/2 cup at a time, with probably no more than 30 seconds between each 1/2 cup addition. I'll let it mix together for at least an hour in a pinch, but typically let it mix for 12 - 24 hours before using it.
i just recently started this hobby and i have learned a lot from this thread, before i would just take the hydor 2 and 4 from my tank and put them both in the bucket after i added the salt in. the hard part was lifting the 5g bucket over my tank and pouring it in. i hate doing this because i have to balance myself on a stool and slowly pouring it in as not to create a sand storm but its happened every single water change. i think i will also get myself some MJ's.
I would definitely recommend getting a MJ (or something similar -- make sure it's strong enough to pump as high as the top of your tank) that you can attach a length of tubing to and pump the water into your tank (or into the sump, if your tank has one). It will greatly simplify your water changes and be much safer than trying to pour water from a 5g bucket while standing on a stool. The last thing you want to do is fall, but even more so, the last thing you want to do is fall onto your tank, end up with some potentially serious injuries, and lose your tank because it cracked or shattered when you landed on it.
jayghmi
01-26-2009, 2:37 PM
i just recently started this hobby and i have learned a lot from this thread, before i would just take the hydor 2 and 4 from my tank and put them both in the bucket after i added the salt in. the hard part was lifting the 5g bucket over my tank and pouring it in. i hate doing this because i have to balance myself on a stool and slowly pouring it in as not to create a sand storm but its happened every single water change. i think i will also get myself some MJ's.
I will sometimes pump my new water into a 5 gallon plastic kerosene container - looks just like a gas container but it is blue. I will use the pump to pump it into the container just like you would with the tank. It has the spout that allows air in for easy, consistent poring. Much easier to hold up a 5 gallon container than a bucket and the spout allows you to aim it at a rock or something that won't create a sand storm. This is sometime more convenient for me than pumping directly to the tank. I also use a 2 gallon plastic gas can for top offs. I just fill it with RO water and it sits by the tank for the daily top off.
Of course I bought these containers new for this specific purpose so they have never had anything but water in them.
BavarianBuilt
01-26-2009, 4:12 PM
Thanks for the great advice everyone. I ended up mixing it all by hand and then placing the pump in the bottom. My pumps don't seem like they are doing very much work though. I got the MJ600 pumps for fear that anything higher would cause problems. When the MJ600 pump is in the bottom of my bucket there is no visual water movement. If I place my hand in front of the pump I can feel some pressure, but not a whole lot. Is this what everyone else with the MJ600 pumps are experiencing?
kcress
01-26-2009, 4:48 PM
No way to replace your many buckets with just a 20g garbage can? This would reduce the many power heads you need and probably cost less too. It will also provide you with one uniform batch and stop the need to dink with the mix/temperature for each separate pail.
BavarianBuilt
01-26-2009, 8:05 PM
A 20 gallon trash can would be a great idea, however I've only got a 44 gallon tank and two 5 gallon buckets are the perfect amount for my water changes. I've already invested in the buckets so I'm just going to stick with them in the mean time, at least until I upgrade to a larger tank, one of these days.
Anyone have any thoughts on my question in regards to the MJ600 pumps?