Good powerhead for 5 gallon bucket?
- Thread starter BavarianBuilt
- Start date
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.
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.
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 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 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 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.
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.
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?
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.
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?
Anyone have any thoughts on my question in regards to the MJ600 pumps?
