What are you using to get water out of a 55 gal. barrel?

Kief Moon

Active Member
It looks like there are a bunch of different ways to do this. Hand pumps, electric pumps, bulk head fittings. I've even seen one that is driven by air that pumped 5 gallons in less than 20 seconds. I just set up my R/O filter and have one of those blue 55 gallon drums with two 2" holes and a non removable top. The pump I have is too big for the hole & before I start cutting plastic or waisting more money I thought I'd ask for some advice from the experts. What do you guys use?
 

arron5377

Well-Known Member
hi kief doubt this is gonna help with your problem because u cant fit a pump in but if u do cut it away and put a submergable pump in there.

i brought them remote plugs from the home store. aka. it about the size of timers. that comes with a remote

[h=1]Byron 3 Pack Plug-in Remote Control Socket Kit[/h]
i use mine for hand wattering systems so just put hose above pot switch on for how ever long needed then off happy days lol
i say i use it but not anymore need to replace my pump left it running with out water in there came back and the pump had melted and stuck to bottom of water butt lol. wasent funny at time its never good when u return home and u think wow any longer that would of been a fire but thank god it wasent good luck with what ever u do m8
 

Kief Moon

Active Member
Those look pretty cool. Thanks Arron. I didn't know anything like that existed. I'm sure I could find a use for something like that around the house but you're right, it's not getting the water out of the barrel. Thank you though.
Unless there is a better way I'll still be using 5 gal. buckets to mix nutes/water & calmag before watering. Next run I'll switch to a res. & go flood/drain. So I'll also need something to pump water out of 75 gal. res's. I can just use a sump pump for that I guess.
 

ricky6991

Well-Known Member
Just to drain it? Stick tube in hole and suck on tube. Once waters flowing it will continue on its own
 

thinn

Well-Known Member
I got something in my garage just for that! It sort of an air siphon....you connect a compressor to it and you screw this thing into the smaller hole and it will push the water out the 2inch hole (you will have to get a hose for the 2 inch hole) if your interested, i guess i could drag it out and snap a pick of it. It also does the opposite with a flick of the handle, it will fill the barrel also
 
I cut the top off a 55 gal plastic barrel. Drill a hole a few inches from the bottom to receive a sillcock (what you hook your garden hose to) screw it in and seal with silicone. I reached in the barrel and added a nut to the 3/4" fitting on the back of the sillcock for good measure. Installing the sillcock a few inches up allows any debris to settle the the bottom and not be drained into your jugs or hose. Barrel sits on concrete blocks leaving just enuff room for a gallon jug. Or hook a hose to the sillcock and your in business. I prefer this method because of the easy filling of the barrel. Of course rain water only and a claber drip system which requires debris free water.
 
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