DIY Changing an Aquarium's Water Pump

Water pumps provide numerous benefits to your aquarium, including filtration and water aeration. These devices come with a variety of options -- internal, external and combination. Because of the multiple pieces of aquarium water pumps and the fact that they're always cycling, they can become clogged or break down. At this point, you will need to purchase and install a new water pump. Depending on your type of pump, there are different ways to change it.

Things You'll Need

  • Bucket with aquarium water
  • Fishnet
  • Additional rinsed gravel (optional)
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Instructions

  1. Prepare the Tank

    • 1

      Turn off and unplug all electrical mechanisms of the tank, including the water pump, lighting and heating devices, and additional filtration systems.

    • 2

      Remove all the fish from the aquarium, and place them safely in a bucket full of already established aquarium water.

    • 3

      Remove all the elements of the former water pump. The type and location of these elements varies, based on the kind of pump you are using. Generally, the water pump will consist of standpipes, sumps or internal filtration tanks and a pump.

    Installing New Water Pump

    • 4

      Familiarize yourself with the different parts of the aquarium water pump and its instructions. Depending on the type of pump you have, there will be varying installation processes. If you have an internal pump, your kit will include standpipes, an under gravel filter, and one or two circulation pumps. External and combination systems have more parts and require additional assembly steps. Most of these systems will have a sump, an overflow tank, a pump and lots of tubing to extract the water from the aquarium.

    • 5

      Lay out the tubing so it attaches to all parts of the pump system. Draw a diagram of how water will be pumped in and out of the tank, if you are using a complex system and the instructions do not include a diagram. The tubing should go from the under gravel filter to the internal circulation pumps, to the external pump, to the sump, to the overflow tank, then to the internal circulation pump that releases the water back into the aquarium.

    • 6

      Build the smaller pieces of the water pump, if necessary. For instance, if you have an external sump and pump, you may need to install a check valve on the inside of the pump before you can connect the tubing. Insert the check valve piece into the side of the sump that attaches to the pump, then secure it in place using the included nut and bolt configurations.

    • 7

      Install the filters into the pump and sump, if you have them, or the internal circulation pumps. Installation instructions will vary, but most water pump systems will have a slot fitted for the filters, which you just slide into the system.

    • 8

      Place the elements of the water pump system in their specific locations, so that they can be easily joined by the tubing included in the kit. First, hang the internal circulation tanks from the rim of the aquarium, toward the back. Then, place the pump underneath the aquarium system, on the right, and the sump on the left. This will allow for better pumping power and keeps the elements of the pump in order.

    • 9

      Connect the elements of the water pump in order, using the tubing specified by your instructions. Start by connecting the internal circulation tank to the pump, then the pump to the sump, and the sump to the outflow tank. Some advanced aquarium pump systems require you to connect a flow valve to the tubing between the internal circulation pump and the pump, and a service valve between the pump and the sump. Follow the instructions provided by your aquarium pump when installing these elements.

    • 10

      Plug in the water pump and switch it on, once all elements have been installed. Allow it to cycle for about 20 minutes, before adding the fish back into the environment.