Using power heads to pump water up

[Scapexghost]

Not sure if a power head is what should be used in this scenario, but if they are how do you know which one is strong enough to pump up water a few feet are the correct rate in the case of a sump or refilling a tank? 

[Mmiller2001]

You would probably be better off using a pump. Most will have a graph with distance and head pressure.

[MJV Aquatics]

Yes, you want a submersible pump - they are rated as to GPH and head height. Even relatively inexpensive pumps will typically pump up to six feet.

[Torrey]

On 10/9/2021 at 6:54 PM, Scapexghost said:

Not sure if a power head is what should be used in this scenario, but if they are how do you know which one is strong enough to pump up water a few feet are the correct rate in the case of a sump or refilling a tank

A submersible pump.

Either a pond pump for larger quantities of water/ greater distance, or even small "indoor fountain" pumps work if you are limited by wattage.

Tons to choose between, and oddly the indoor small aquarium/small fountain ones are more expensive than the mid size pond pump:

 

This is a $9 small pond pump that runs my "water fall" in my 4' tank. So lift of 20" and length of 4', and if I move the 1/2" ID hose to a bucket, it drains the tank in under 15 minutes (I move the hose to multiple buckets).

If we weren't in an apartment, I would run a hose outside 🤷‍♂️