Pump Question

[deeishealthy]

I have a tube running from the bottom of my viv out into a bucket, and I have to suck and syphon twice a day to drain. I need to explore pumps because I'm getting kinda tired of this business and love me some automation. I will be googling and researching, but thought I'd pick brains here first. Is there such a thing as an external pump? Where do I start?

[SCF]

There are external pumps, if you want to go the online route, Amazon.com is always good.

[deeishealthy]

Okay, holy overwhelming. I want a small pump I can put on a timer so that twice a day it pumps the water out of the viv into a bucket. I've typed fifteen variations of that into Google and am not finding anything. Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?

[deranged chipmunk]

you don't need a pump. you need a $.50 valve. get thee to an aquarium shoppe, and purchase a stop valve for airline tubing. this kit will work Top Fin® 11-Piece Air Connector Kit - Air Pumps & Accessories - Fish - PetSmart it must be a valve you can open and close, not a check valve. i'm going to repeat that, so you can say the same thing to the employee at the pet store. you do NOT want a check valve!! once you have your valve, put it on the end of your siphon tube, and start to siphon water. once you are done, close the valve. next time you need to siphon, just open the valve. easy peasy lemon squeezy

[deeishealthy]

Bill, will you marry me?

[deranged chipmunk]

ahhh....sorry Dee, the current Mrs. Chipmunk might be upset if i give her any competition....but thanks for the offer!!! LOL

and this is typical for me, most women only want me for my brain.....LOL

[Louis Charles Bruckner]

Dee,
Bills solution is a good one.
That will work with water that has no matter in it.
Air line has 1/8 inch inner diameter. and the valves have even smaller
inner diameter.
If there is any eco earth or any other debris that could clog such a small
diameter hose then you might have an issue.

Just an observation.

[deranged chipmunk]

that's why i always suggest putting a piece of sponge on the end of the tube. but everybody always says "oh, i never see any substrate in the bottom" then one day they have a post "clogged siphon tube, now what do i do?"......LOL

btw Dee, if you can't find a valve, a golf tee will do nicely

[Louis Charles Bruckner]

How about a medium sized airstone to act as a filter. and if it gets clogged just reverse the water flow for a bit or put in a 1/2 inch clear plastic tube with holes drilled in the sides of it and put the siphon in it that way you could remove just the siphon when it gets clogged.

[deranged chipmunk]

an airstone works as well. just that most people have a sponge lying around. then there are the freaks like me, who not only have the sponge, the airstone, the plastic tubing, and spare sponge filters lying around.....LOL

[NatureLady]

Bill, will you marry me?

ahhh....sorry Dee, the current Mrs. Chipmunk might be upset if i give her any competition....but thanks for the offer!!! LOL

and this is typical for me, most women only want me for my brain.....LOL

LAWLS so funny you two!!!

[deeishealthy]

Drat, I wish I'd known the sponge trick before today.