Hi Lads. As above which pump would you recommend and which pump you have on daily basis to pump water to your tank?
I was loathed to cut the lid of my newly acquired IBC tank to fit a submersible pump inside.
I went for a Machine Mart SPE 800 transfer pump with a 1" hose through the removed vent valve of the filler cap. I fitted a foot valve at the end inside the tank.
The pump lives in a cupboard above the IBC tank. The cupboard also has a small bulb inside which can be switched on keep the pump from freezing up.
I need to prime the pump to get it going if I have drained the pump down which I did when we had that very cold spell for 6 weeks 2011/2012.
I've had that transfer pump for around 14 years now. It isn't as fast as an equivalent submersible. It delivers around 40lpm which seems to take forever to fill my 650 liter tank on the van when I stand and watch it. The moment I walk away it instantly fills the van tank and floods the van's floor out.
If the pump failed I would probably buy another pump and set it up the same as it works for me.
The advantage a submersible has is that its more efficient as it doesn't have to suck and pump. Its also sitting in the water and due to the size of the IBC tank will never freeze in our climate with minimal frost protection.
The disadvantage is that you have to cut the lid of the IBC tank to fit a submersible inside.
