I have a fishtank upstairs I need to syphon/empty water out of and cant carry downstairs....best way to do it?

Question

Hey! I'm moving and I have a 35/40 gal fishtank upstairs in my apt. And it is WAY too heavy to move downstairs. How would you suggest I most efficiently drain the water out? I was thinking of syphoning it out the window, but its a long way down so I dont even know how that would work? HELP! Thank You in Advance! :O)

Answer 1

If your close to a window buy yourself a length of hose to reach out the window and let R drain as long as the tanks higher than the sill of the window it'll work.

If not you'll need to buy a 5 gallon bucket and use that; Just don't fill it up all the way or leave it unatended while filling. (Trust me on this)

Don't move the tank with anything in it whether it's gravel or water; if you do you run the big and almost certain risk of cracking the bottom.

Answer 2

If your hose is long enough, siphon it into the bath tub, if not, siphon it into a bucket.  One of those 5 gallon ones you can get at local discount or hardware store works great.  Fill it as much as you think you can lift.

Answer 3

I live on the 2nd fl.  and I have not only a 40. gal but a 150 gal./ 100 gal.  2- 70 gal.  How?  Yes...drain it out of ur window.  U could use a water hose run it down thru the window and get a siphon (plastic tube about 2" dia.) in ur fish store.  Start a vacuum by dipping the siphon in ur tank and try to run some water down thru ur hose.  Once u start that action a vacuum is created and ur water will start draining by gravity.  U must tape ur siphon to the hose and make sure its water tight.  Or u can buy a unit called python/  20 ' hose that u can feed water to ur tank or drain it.  But for me...out the window works.  I could water the plants from the 2nd fl.

Answer 4

Maybe you could find some tubing that matches the outlet side of your filter pump and use that pump to empty the tank into a bucket or nearby sink or toilet.

Answer 5

Use a hose, and put it out the window to siphon the tank, instead of wasting water down the drain.....Use the water to water the plants outside even if your moving don't waste the water down the drain......

Answer 6

They sell the vacuums tubes to empty fish tanks in pet stores they are inexpensive too

Answer 7

Use a garden hose, and syphon into the bathtub.

Answer 8

syphon it into a bucket,when bucket is full dump it and start over may take awhile but will get the job done.

Answer 9

i use  a python to change my water in my fish tank and use it to refill .as long as you have a tap close by 25 feet or closer it would do the job

http://www.petco.com/product/2762/Python...

like previous poster said keep some water from the tank to refill

Answer 10

Once you get the water flowing out the window thats all you need. or you can try filling a pail at a time

Answer 11

can you syphon it to the sink, tub or toilet?  If not, try syphoning into a 5 gallon bucket.  takes longer, but works.