How to remove water from a non-reef ready tank

[arvind]

Hello all,

I have a QT tank with which I want to semi-automate the water change. It is a 30 gallon tank without an overflow. I have a Eheim 1260 with which I pump the water out and then move the pump into the saltwater mixing drum to pump water back in to the QT tank. Is there a way to permanently plumb the pump for this purpose? The Eheim 1260 can be plumbed external I believe. Can I place the pump on the floor and the suck the water while the tank is on a stand and water sucked out from top? Or the pump is only designed to pull the water from bottom of the tank? I hope I am explaining this clearly.

Thank you in advance for your help.

Arvind.

 

[AlexStinson]

That would not be ideal. The pump would (if I am understanding correctly) need to be primed in this situation, or do some fancy plumbing.

 

[BoneXriffic]

It would need to be primed.... if the pumup is capable a foot valve on the exit side of pump would help maintain prime if the pump is used somewhat regularly but im not sure if they have something that would work on this situation

 

[arvind]

Guess you are right. I can't do it this way. Thanks for the fast response guys.

 

[Windy]

What is the relative elevation of the tank and mixing barrel. I use a small pump and feed the pump input from two sources using valves. The pump sits on the floor and both tanks are above it so there is always a prime. One set of valves allows water from the QT through the pump and out to waste. Change the valves and the pump gets intake from the mixing barrel and pumps it to the QT.

 

[arvind]

Tank is on a stand on the floor and the mixing barrel is on the same floor. In your case, from QT to the pump how is it being fed? Is it gravity feed?