In Search of Pump

Vmuisc · Nov 4, 2019

Hi,
I am looking for a pump - that will pump water from a 5 gallon bottle to a humidifier. SORRY - it's not a fish tank at all, HOWEVER - this group knows more about small water pumps, because you use them all the time.

I do not need a heavy duty pump. This pump will pump about a gallon of water every other day or every third day. I was hoping to find a small, cheap fish tank pump.

My pump requirements are that the pump must have TWO connectors for tubing. One connector is the input, the other is the output. This is a must have, because I'm pumping water from one container to another.

It "seems" all of the cheap/small submersible pumps do not have this, is that correct?

Does anyone have a recommendation or knowledge of a small cheap (under $40) pump with TWO connectors for tubing????

Thanks in Advanced
Pumpless in Pittsburgh

lapin · Nov 4, 2019

Sounds like you want an external pump ( one that is not put in the water) correct?
You will have to mount it so its intake is lower than your storage containers water level. (for priming)
If this is correct, how high does the water need to be pumped?
Other wise you could use a sump pump.

Vmuisc · Nov 4, 2019

First - THANKS for your reply.

I'm pumping about a gallon of water each day. It's being pumped from a 5 gallon bottle (think water cooler at the office type bottle), into a humidifier. In fact, I could even do 1/2 gallon in the morning and 1/2 gallon in the evening.

Because it's such a small quantity of water - like 1/2 gallon to a gallon, I thought a fish tank type pump might be ideal.

YES - I can NOT use a submersible pump. It must sit outside the two containers. It seems a sump pump is kind of overkill here.

Urtoo · Nov 4, 2019

No pump needed. Use some poly tubing with a float valve in the humidifier chamber.

C. Eymann · Nov 4, 2019

size of the connections /tubing? How many feet are you pumping up? (head pressure)

Are you wanting to automate this so you don't have to deal with it every day?

redfishbluefish · Nov 4, 2019

I think a Cobalt MJ pump would work for you. Only question is the volume/time you want to pump. Check them out HERE.

Bayareareefer18 · Nov 4, 2019

Something like this might pump too fast.

Cobalt Aquatics EXT in-Line Pump What about an aqualifter?

Fudsey · Nov 4, 2019

Tom's aqualifter on a timer would work

C. Eymann · Nov 4, 2019

Bayareareefer18 said:
Something like this might pump too fast.

Cobalt Aquatics EXT in-Line Pump What about an aqualifter?

Yeah I was thinking an aqua lifter on a float or digital timer

Vmuisc · Nov 4, 2019

WOW!!! Thanks so much for the replies. Thanks for the additional questions.

As far as the rate, about 2 liters in say 3 minutes would be as fast as I want. I think anything faster would be tough to control and might make a mess if I didn't shut it off fast enough.

Any size hose would be fine. Something that I could purchase say on Amazon would be great.

Vmuisc · Nov 4, 2019

Urtoo said:
No pump needed. Use some poly tubing with a float valve in the humidifier chamber.

The float valve would work somewhat like a toilet, right? When the water level rises the valve closes, when the water level rises the valve shuts off.

Wouldn't this require the water source (here a 5 gallon water bottle) to be above or higher than the humidifier, right?

Urtoo · Nov 4, 2019

Reverse Osmosis Adjustable Float Valve

Why does BRS recommend this? Float valves are simple to install and can save a lot of water from ending up on the floor. They can be installed in containers as small 1 gallon pails, sumps, and 200 plus gallon commercial storage containers to shut off the flow of water. Even if you do not have a...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

That would be inside the humidifier, drill a hole and connect the poly tube up to the 5g water container. Either clamp the hole with a line to the bottom or, buy a “bulkhead” for 3/8” tubing.

1/4" Push Connect Bulkhead Tank Adapter

The ¼" push connect bulkhead tank adapter is a great solution for connecting ro tubing through hard-walled barriers, such as sump walls or container lids/caps. These come with a plastic nut to secure the bulkhead to the container wall, but do not have a gasket. These are designed for above-water...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

Urtoo · Nov 4, 2019

And yes, like a toilet flapper and yes the bucket would need to be above the humidifier to allow gravity to pull water into the humidifier.

I had a red foot tortoise that I rigged Up something similar. Instead of the 6g bucket, I had a 50g RO/DI holding vessel from us plastics. Over kill for your plans, but mine I spliced off some misters and a booster pump to drive em with one hose from the closet to the corner display tank/cage.