Be careful not to bang head on benches when placing pump in tank. Also, use caution with the extension cord around water.
Around 15-20 minutes per tank
| Step | Image |
| The ebb-and-flood tanks in the greenhouses need to be drained at the
end of each project, or as requested. |
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| When draining tanks, it is necessary to use a pump. DO NOT drain tanks by tipping them. The tanks have been leveled (this is not easy to do) and it is best if they are not moved. Also, do not take out the drain plugs on the side of the tank. The threads on these plugs will strip easily. | |
| The pump and extension cord can be found inside the gray cabinet in 1030 PSL. | |
| If draining tanks in 2E5, power points can be found along the west side of the greenhouse or overhead in the center aisles. | |
| Hook the pump up to the extension cord near the tank to be drained. | |
| To begin draining, simply put the pump in the bottom of the tank. It will begin draining automatically. Do not allow the pump to remain out of water for long once it is plugged in, because doing so will burn out the motor. | |
| Place the pump tube on the rocks outside the tank. The water can drain into the gravel there. Check the tube periodically to make sure it is not spraying water all over the walkway. | |
| When the water level in the tank gets less than 2 inches high, hold the pump down so that the white grill is completely submerged. This allows the water in the bottom of the tank to be drained. | |
| To completely empty the tank, it is often necessary to use a vacuum cleaner after the pump has done all it can.. Be sure to empty out the vacuum cleaner after use. |