Pump help/Suggestions

[Old Glory]

I hurt my hip recently and I am unable to move as well as I used to. My tank is on the second floor and it is very difficult to perform water changes.

I make my water in the basement and used to be able to carry two 7.5 gallon jugs at a time up to the second floor and dump them in a barrel next to the tank. I would drain tank water into 5 gallon buckets and dump into my bathtub. Then pump the new water into the tank using a small submersible pump. I change about 28/30 gallons per week. I can't carry them up with my injury. I want to see if I can use a pump to transfer the water via hose from a 30 gallon barrel in basement to a 30 gallon barrel on second floor. The hose will be outside running from bulkhead door to door on second floor. I will reheat the water before I transfer to tank.

Can I use new unused garden hose?

What pump is necessary/can I use for this? Will a utility pump work or do I need an aquarium specific pump?

Thanks!

 

[JayM]

I wouldn't use an unused garden hose that had BRASS fittings (ends) on it. I have a piece that is probably 50 feet long.....I use it to pump my WC water into the woods.

I have used dishwasher drain hose connected with plastic barbed fittings to transfer both RODI and mixed saltwater with no ill effects....just make SURE you drain the hose between uses.

as far as a pump, I would use a MAG pump....which you know isn't going to put toxins into the water you're going to put in your tank.

 

[GobyWanKenobie]

I don't know about the brass fittings, but I would worry about the material they use to make garden hoses. You can buy hoses and tubing that is "safe for drinking water" like they use for campers. At least then you know it's not leaching anything into the water. I agree with Jay, that you should use an aquarium pump for the same reason, unless they make utility pumps that are food safe with little or no metal parts. From the basement to the second floor is quite a distance. Are you sure you can't move the ro/di system upstairs to a bathroom or something? Sorry about your hip. I hope everything works out for you.