Pumping water from basement to second floor

[trevorhiller]

I have a little saltwater mixing station in my basement next to my RODI filter system. I’m looking at options to pump fresh and salt water up to my tank on the second floor. I would have to have a really long tube that can run up the two flights of stairs to the tank since I don’t have the option of going through the floor/wall at this point.

It doesn’t have to be particularly fast, just able to handle the head height and long tubing run.

I’ve also considered trying to run the tubing in the wall adjacent to existing plumbing, but right now I think a hose I could pull out and bring upstairs would beat lugging 5 gallon buckets up 2 flights of stairs.

Is there a peristaltic pump or diaphragm pump that will handle this that you can recommend?

 

[JaaxReef]

I have a little saltwater mixing station in my basement next to my RODI filter system. I’m looking at options to pump fresh and salt water up to my tank on the second floor. I would have to have a really long tube that can run up the two flights of stairs to the tank since I don’t have the option of going through the floor/wall at this point.

It doesn’t have to be particularly fast, just able to handle the head height and long tubing run.

I’ve also considered trying to run the tubing in the wall adjacent to existing plumbing, but right now I think a hose I could pull out and bring upstairs would beat lugging 5 gallon buckets up 2 flights of stairs.

Is there a peristaltic pump or diaphragm pump that will handle this that you can recommend?

What’s the budget? Maybe an Iwaki of some sort could handle that head pressure (27 ft for the MD-55RLT).
But about $400 or so…

 

[Wasabiroot]

A 1/4- 1/2 Hp utility pump should generate enough pressure to come up from the basement. The flow won't be anything crazy, but it would work. Can find in home depot or Amazon. Most have a 3/4 hose thread too so it can accommodate a python. I used one from Superior Pump. If you want something more permanent you will need a proper sealed pump like an iwaki etc. Salt water corroded my unit until it stopped working.

 

[Freenow54]

I have a little saltwater mixing station in my basement next to my RODI filter system. I’m looking at options to pump fresh and salt water up to my tank on the second floor. I would have to have a really long tube that can run up the two flights of stairs to the tank since I don’t have the option of going through the floor/wall at this point.

It doesn’t have to be particularly fast, just able to handle the head height and long tubing run.

I’ve also considered trying to run the tubing in the wall adjacent to existing plumbing, but right now I think a hose I could pull out and bring upstairs would beat lugging 5 gallon buckets up 2 flights of stairs.

Is there a peristaltic pump or diaphragm pump that will handle this that you can recommend?

you are going to get tired of pulling a hose real fast. then you will stop doing water changes as often as you should. I would get the pipe run. consider pex

 

[Snoopy 67]

Will not be cheap but I would contact Spectrapure & check if a Litremeter can do it.

 

[SPR1968]

I have a little saltwater mixing station in my basement next to my RODI filter system. I’m looking at options to pump fresh and salt water up to my tank on the second floor. I would have to have a really long tube that can run up the two flights of stairs to the tank since I don’t have the option of going through the floor/wall at this point.

It doesn’t have to be particularly fast, just able to handle the head height and long tubing run.

I’ve also considered trying to run the tubing in the wall adjacent to existing plumbing, but right now I think a hose I could pull out and bring upstairs would beat lugging 5 gallon buckets up 2 flights of stairs.

Is there a peristaltic pump or diaphragm pump that will handle this that you can recommend?

Apex DOS should do it, if you have an Apex system or want to get one

 

[trevorhiller]

What’s the budget? Maybe an Iwaki of some sort could handle that head pressure (27 ft for the MD-55RLT).
But about $400 or so…

Not sure, I don’t have anything in mind. Just want to compare options and see if it’s worth spending the money.

Apex DOS should do it, if you have an Apex system or want to get one

I was wondering about that, I have seen people use them for automatic water changes, but usually its a long horizontal run, not high vertical runs.

you are going to get tired of pulling a hose real fast. then you will stop doing water changes as often as you should. I would get the pipe run. consider pex

Probably, but not as quick as I would get tired carrying up 5 gallon buckets.

 

[trevorhiller]

Follow up question for anyone that has experience with diaphragm pumps...

I was looking on the Kamoer website and found this:
KLP40-98T
Specs:
12 Volt/60 Watt
Max Pressure 75 PSI
Water Flow 4 Liters/Min
Suction 1.5 M
Head 50 M

It seems like it would work considering the enormous head height, but I'm not familiar with diaphragm pumps. I'm looking at around 30 vertical feet, plus enough tubing to snake up two flights of steps. It seems diaphragm pumps are able to pump to higher head heights than standard pumps. It's not very expensive and I could easily wire up a 12 volt DC supply and a little switch.

Thoughts?

 

[Synthgp]

Hi Trevor - curious on where you landed with this. I have a similar situation. storage tanks in the basement and reef tank on the 1st floor with a 100 ft run...

 

[ti_lavender]

I did something similar and ran 1/2” pex with all plastic fittings and used this pump:

Anbull Self Priming Water Pump...
Link to amazon

It cuts out at 50 psi so if you have a valve at the outlet upstairs it’ll stop automatically. You also don’t have to worry about priming the pump.

I then ran a 1/4” RO line and 18 gauge wire and used a Tunze osmolator for ATO. I swapped the pump for a 12V diaphragm pump like this:

CrocSee DC 12V Self Priming...
Link to amazon

So far this setup has been amazing. I haven’t lifted a 5 gallon bucket yet. The last thing I did was run a 3/4“ pex line as a waste line. It drains to a brute trash can to be disposed of.

 

[Synthgp]

@ti_lavender - many thanks!! this is exactly what I was looking for! I will keep my fingers crossed that the 100ft line and 15 ft head height is not too much.

To confirm, did you get this version:

Anbull Self Priming Water Pump 110V 5.0GPM 55PSI​

There appears to be a version that handles 70psi, so wanted to confirm which makes most sense.

 

[ti_lavender]

I used the 55 psi one, but my run was 30 feet and 15 feet of head.

 

[trevorhiller]

Hi Trevor - curious on where you landed with this. I have a similar situation. storage tanks in the basement and reef tank on the 1st floor with a 100 ft run...

Personally still carrying buckets! (Well just one 5 gallon/week)

The diaphragm pump is definitely the way to go for this. The ones that auto shut off when the valve is closed & auto prime is what you want though. I was looking at pumps by Aquatech. They are the ones who make the booster pumps for RODI systems that BRS sells. I’m working on moving my reef to the basement though so I kind of abandoned the idea as my current tank is temporary. The new reef room is already plumbed for auto water changes once I get the tank

 

[68 Stang]

I run apex with dos heads to perform continuous water changes, and I have for years with no issue

 

[DrMMI]

I was wondering about that, I have seen people use them for automatic water changes, but usually its a long horizontal run, not high vertical runs.

I use a did to do awc from my basement to my first floor. I also use a pump to automatically refill my ato from my freshwater reservoir in the basement. It's about a 50ft horizontal run and a15 ft vertical run from the bottom of the mixing bin to the sump of my tank.

 

[Synthgp]

I use a did to do awc from my basement to my first floor. I also use a pump to automatically refill my ato from my freshwater reservoir in the basement. It's about a 50ft horizontal run and a15 ft vertical run from the bottom of the mixing bin to the sump of my tank.

What is a “did” that you use for AWC?

 

[trevorhiller]

What is a “did” that you use for AWC?

Think that’s an autocorrect for [Neptune] Dos

 

[DrMMI]

What is a “did” that you use for AWC?

Think that’s an autocorrect for [Neptune] Dos

Yeah stupid autocorrect. I meant dos

 

[DrMMI]

I also use a pump

Also supposed to be pmup

 

[malacoda]

Check out the SpectraPure LiterMeter ATOs. They are heavy duty peristaltic pumps that can push water up to a height of 60ft. They're quiet; MUCH quieter than a diaphragm pump. And they're built like tanks, and last forever.

• Internal Pump Flow Rate: approx. 250 ml/min. (8.45 oz./min.)•
• Dimensions: 7.5” x 3.7” x 2.2” (19 cm. x 9.4 cm. x 5.6 cm.)•
• Minimum Daily Total (per Pump): 50 milliliters (1.7 oz.)•
• Maximum Daily Total (per Pump): 99 liters (26 gals.)•
• Draw Height: from maximum 25 feet (7.7 meters) below•
• Delivery Height: to maximum 60 feet (18.5meters) above

Litermeter

The Brand New SpectraPure® LiterMeter® 4 is a fully programmable and automated Dosing Pump Controller that can control up to four SpectraPure® Peristaltic Dosing Pumps individually and/or simultaneously.

spectrapure.com