Water change pump help!

[StikHedRon]

Good afternoon, I'm looking for a recommendation on a pump I can use externally with a hose on the inlet and outlet of the pump. The inlet hose I want to be able to use it to suck up detritus and other crud on the bottom of the tank and sump, then the outlet will be connected to a hose that will feed into a 5 gal bucket. I would like a pump that has enough pressure to easily suck up crud but not so much that it fills my 5 gallon bucket in a min or two. Here's a crummy pic of what I'm trying to do. I would add a switch to the power cord so I can easily turn it on and off with one hand while the other is cleaning up the bottom of the tank. Thanks in advance!

 

[lauderdalestunner]

I just purchased a drill operated pump cheap off amazon and it's already being returned. I'll let you know when I find a good one.
Was the everbuilt pump might have been a defective from the start but still looking for better quality.

 

[DaveRaz]

Any MAG pump will work. They also see cheap versions on Amazon. I have a 200 gph one is use and paid 20.00 for it.

 

[ReefMadScientist]

Shop Vac. You're welcome.

 

[AZDesertRat]

Shop Vac. Aquarium pumps are not self priming so will not lift water up and over the edge unless you rime them. If it is the display you are wanting to clean why not use a siphon hose or a Python? The only time you really need a shop vac or pump is when you are cleaning a sump out that is basically floor level.

 

[StikHedRon]

Do you think it's possible to reduce the hose of a shop vac down to 3/4" without burning the pump up? I was looking at one of those bucket vacs from home depot but I'm not wanting it to gang busters and suck out a ton of water all at once.

 

[ReefMadScientist]

Do you think it's possible to reduce the hose of a shop vac down to 3/4" without burning the pump up? I was looking at one of those bucket vacs from home depot but I'm not wanting it to gang busters and suck out a ton of water all at once.

What I do with my Shop Vac once every 6 months is, of course, kill the return pump and leave the powerheads moving water in the main tank. With the main tank self-sustained, clean out all the water and the detritus from the sump. You do not want to keep the water in the sump because no matter how careful you're, the water still tends to get very polluted and cloudy.

So say you have a true 20g sump (water volume). Clean everything out with a Shop Vac and replenish clean/fresh salt water into your main tank. Gravity will feed the main tank water back into your sump when it is all clean.