Easiest way to install external pump (1 Viewer)

[Brent1128]

I've never used an external pump and just got one to move water from the basement reseviour to upstairs during water changes. Can I mount the pump above the barrel? I dont suppose I can run PVC from bottom of barrel up and to the pump?

Or what is the easiest way to configure this set up?

 

[kheebl]

I would just install a bulkhead at the bottom of the barrel and run a short piece of PVC pipe to the pump. You could also put a shutoff valve before the pump incase you ever needed to replace pump you could do it without draining the water.

 

[David Grigor]

If you don't want to drill and use uniseal ( that would be what I'd do ), You can plumb up and over the top then back down to the floor to your pump. Only trouble is you have to create a siphon to get it working if the barrel ever drains down completely It would stop working. Not something you would want to implement in a lights out type situation but if your always around when it happens it can work.

I don't think mounted above is going to work becuase it likely can pull the intake water up with air in the line.

 

[Brent1128]

So the only way I can think to create a syphon is to suck on the end of the PVC...however that would be attached to the pump. I'm sure this is a dumb question, but how would I start the syphon? Since this is only for water changes a couple/few times a month I'm not opposed to having to start the syphon as long as its not a PITA.

I kind of like the bulkhead at the bottom idea. There any benefit to doing bulkhead on the bottom vs uniseal on the side? Seems like I could totally drain the barrel if using it on the bottom. That the only difference?

 

[Riley]

The easiest way to run a pump over the reservoir is by using a foot valve. A foot valve is basically a check valve the is under the water surface, close to the bottom of the tank. A screen for the intake is a good idea as well, and you often see the two coupled together a set.

Here's an example of a 2" one:
http://www.usplastic.com/catalog/item.aspx?itemid=32809&catid=948

To prime the pump, the outlet would be filled with water and it would flow back into the valve up to the impeller. You wouldn't need to suck in the pipe to create a siphon this way. The check valve stops the backflow. It also solves the back siphion when the power is shut off.

Here's an example of the setup:



Another way that's used sometimes to prime the pump is with an intake strainer aka priming pot attached right to the pump intake. Priming pots are typically seen in pond setups to filter out leaves and such with the filer basket that sets inside.

 

[Brent1128]

Another dumb question...if I use a uniseal and put the pump on the bottom of the barrel, what stops the water from just draining out when I'm filling the barrel up?

 

[David Grigor]

Got to have a ball valve or a gate valve on it along with a union so you can take pump off. If your permanently plumb to the upper floor so everything is water tight well above the tank as well then you don't really need to use the gate/ball valve everytime you want to fill just when you need to maintence the pump.


I have done over the top siphon before knowing it was just a temporary solution and wasn't part of my long term plan. I didn't want to drill my resevoir/tub becuase I had another purpose for it. At the top of the bend over the top, add a T and an end cap. So you can dump water in to create the siphon then stick the end cap on it. I can't remember if I used a threaded in cap or a slip but since it's on the intake side there isn't going to be any pressure on it like it out on the output side. So it would go, straight pvc in tub up, then elbow, then T ( so the T is on the outside of the tub, then back down to the pump. Take the cap off dump some water in as high as you can. Put the cap back on, there will always be a little air in the very top of the bend but you now have enough water so that it can overcome the little bit of air and start the siphon the rest of the way on its own when you start the pump.

 

[Brent1128]

Got it. Thanks guys. Think I'm just gonna do the up and over for now. T and dump water in...so simple.