What's a practical hose diameter for tank filling/draining?

[ElleDee]

So, I've always had tanks small enough to comfortably use buckets to change the water. I've sized up and am getting used to pumping water from my sink and then draining directly into the garden. It's great, but I think my hose is too big. It's 3/4" ID x 50 ft and it moves the water too fast. I didn't think that could be a problem, but it outpaces my sink even on the lowest pump setting and it drains so fast when siphoning I don't have enough time to clean. Plus, it's heavy.

What size do you guys like? I would hate to make a mistake with the size twice. 😵‍💫

 

[hypnogogia]

I use 16/22 hose.Don't know what that is in imperial.

 

[Aqua sobriquet]

Much depends on the size of the tank and how much water you want to remove at a time. I don’t bother with hoses any more but a 10mm is big enough on something like my 60L. When I had a 250L I used a 12/16 hose and found that more than big enough.

 

[ElleDee]

Thanks, that helps!

For reference, 12/16 is 1/2" and 16/22 is 5/8". The hose I'm using is 19 mm ID for comparison.

 

[richardcunliffe]

I have a couple of these things which are super useful for shutting off flow or just restricting non solid tubing. Here's an amazon link for similar Possibly someone's made something that can be printed. Then you can just keep your tube and restrict the flow. An alternative that might be a bit more fiddly could be a mini plastic g clamp type thing

 

[FrozenShivers]

I use normal 16/22mm hose to water change my 75l & 145l tanks.