Input/output Pump Needed

[notg2009]

Hi all, I have been searching for a pump that has BOTH input and output openings. Why? I want to be able to pump water out of the tank while vacuuming and then get fresh, treated water back in using the same pump, so that I would not have to carry 2, 5 gallon buckets between the faucet and the tank for water changes!
I have been looking for one all over hardware stores (Home Depot, etc), local fish stores, etc and all they have is the submersible fountain pumps! Does anyone know where I can find one in the US?

Thanks.

PS. I was told that Python systems can do this without a pump, but they waste a lot of water!

 

[saltynay]

Turn the pump around.... The impellers in many pumps cannot do reverse as they are designed for optimum efficiency and flow in one direction.

 

[notg2009]

This is what I have in mind:

 

[Tolak]

With many pumps you can pry off that small screen & attach a hose. Danner Mag Drive pumps are made to be run either in line or submersable, if you are looking to run a pump outside the tank with two lines connected to it.

 

[saltynay]

Maxi-jets do that but at a right angle if that makes sense bit like this:
http/t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQBuRJas9GmyYWJCrd2VF4s0WB2GCoic3B-KcdfgegYjKJjEek28A

Something like that would work either in or out of the aquarium. What your searching for is a powerhead and many of the ones with grates can have the grates removed to have hose mounting as tolak said. I haven't seen any that work in a horizontal plane as you drew as I would suspect it would be a challenge to make it low profile in that way with the motor sticking out.

 

[notg2009]

thanks a lot! I will look into removing the chassis of a fountain pump and see if I can attach a tube to the intake part. Will also look at powerheads.