One submersible water pump and two tanks?

[EddieSpruce]

Hi, so I'm bad at physics and don't know if this is even possible. I've got a single submersible water pump that is submerged in one of the tanks and the other tank is right next to it. Is it possible to somehow pump water from both tanks or make the water from the other tank flow to the one that has the pump in it? Both tanks have to be at the same level (so no elevation alterations).

 

[DaveC426913]

You could put a siphon from one to the other. Simply a hose that's long enough to reach to the bottoms of both tanks. Prime the hose with water. As long as neither end of the hose comes out of the water, the right tank water level will match the left as you empty it.

 

[CWatters]

Why not just connect them together like this..

The pump won't be able to totally empty the right hand tank but it might not be able to totally empty the left and tank either.

Don't forget an air vent.

 

[DaveC426913]

That was my original idea, but it makes the assumptions that:
a] the tanks can be retrofitted with holes in them (we don't even know what they're made of), and
b] the required water-tight fittings will be assembled competently enough to not leak over an indefinite duration, and
c] the system is permanently emplaced (otherwise, see b]).

I decided that the siphon method is the least mechanically challenging, least failure-prone, yet most adaptable solution.

 

[EddieSpruce]

The thing is that the two tanks are two big bottles that I cannot modify in any way. I can add tubes with connections. Not sure about the siphon thing - I could suck the water in the tube and then put the other end in the bottle, but would that even work? Air might get in the tube before I put it in the bottle.

 

[Nugatory]

Not sure about the siphon thing - I could suck the water in the tube and then put the other end in the bottle, but would that even work? Air might get in the tube before I put it in the bottle.

A few dollars at any chain autoparts store will get you a plastic tube siphon with a squeeze-type bulb pump so that you can start the siphon after positioning both ends. They're intended for siphoning gasoline and other fluids toxic enough that you don't want to start the siphon by sucking on an end.

 

[EddieSpruce]

A few dollars at any chain autoparts store will get you a plastic tube siphon with a squeeze-type bulb pump so that you can start the siphon after positioning both ends. They're intended for siphoning gasoline and other fluids toxic enough that you don't want to start the siphon by sucking on an end.

That sounds good, but can you post a link or a picture of what it looks like? I cannot find one on google.

 

[Nugatory]

That sounds good, but can you post a link or a picture of what it looks like? I cannot find one on google.

http://www.autozone.com/test-scan-and-specialty-tools/fluid-pump/victor-siphon-pump/574855_0_0/

(hit on "fuel siphon pump autozone" if you want to try some other chain).

 

[EddieSpruce]

http://www.autozone.com/test-scan-and-specialty-tools/fluid-pump/victor-siphon-pump/574855_0_0/

(hit on "fuel siphon pump autozone" if you want to try some other chain).

thanks, I might look for something like that. I just had an idea, what if I get 2 tubes - each in a bottle then connect them outside with a 3 way connector and add another short tube in the middle of the connector, so I could suck the water from both bottles and then clamp it - would that work?

Also are there any risks in making this? If both bottles are about the same level when I make the siphon, is there a possibility that somehow one bottle would overflow or would both of them stay the same all the time?

 

[DaveC426913]

Not sure about the siphon thing - I could suck the water in the tube and then put the other end in the bottle, but would that even work? Air might get in the tube before I put it in the bottle.

When you suck the water up, make sure your thumb is in your mouth so that you can put it over the end of the hose immediately as you pull it out of your mouth.

But you don't even need to suck the water.
1] Fill both bottles to the brim.
2] Insert the hose in one of them (either one), ensuring all air comes out of it. Insert all of the hose until you are hanging on to just the last inch or less.
3] Stick your finger over the mouth of the hose end and pull the hose out half way. You've now primed the hose.
4] Stick the end into the second tank and take you finger off.

Or use Nug's bulb primer.

thanks, I might look for something like that. I just had an idea, what if I get 2 tubes - each in a bottle then connect them outside with a 3 way connector and add another short tube in the middle of the connector, so I could suck the water from both bottles and then clamp it - would that work?

That would work, yes.

Also are there any risks in making this? If both bottles are about the same level when I make the siphon, is there a possibility that somehow one bottle would overflow or would both of them stay the same all the time?

As long as the siphon is operational AND its flowthrough doesn't exceed your inflow, you should be OK. The siphon itself won't cause an overflow, but it also won't necessarily prevent an overflow if you inflow exceeds your pump's throughput.

Which raises the question: how are the bottle(s) being filled in the first place? They have small necks, yes? Sounds like you've got a hose running into one of them from somewhere?