A mauzer tank, meaning a 1,000-liter IBC tank in a protective steel pallet, has become one of the most popular water reservoirs on allotments, farms, and construction sites. The problem arises when this water needs to be drawn under pressure for watering, washing, supplying a drip irrigation system, or transferring it to another tank. In this guide, as the Dambat team—a Polish pump manufacturer—we explain how to choose a pump for mauzer tanks so that it physically fits through the opening, operates reliably, and does not seize up after a single season. All the specifications we provide come from the product data sheets for our IBO brand pumps—not from guesswork.
The key limitation: pump diameter versus the mauzer tank lid
Before we even move on to flow rate and delivery head, we need to resolve a purely mechanical issue. The upper inspection lid of a mauzer tank has an internal diameter of 155 mm. This is a hard limit—no pump for a mauzer tank lowered through this lid can have a larger body diameter. In practice, you need to leave room for the cable, safety rope, and discharge hose, so the more clearance there is, the easier installation and servicing will be.
For example, our Multi IP 1000 AUTO submersible pump (1 kW, 230 V) has a diameter of 150 mm. This means it will fit through the 155 mm opening, but it will be a tight fit—the pump will practically fill the lid, and lowering it with the hose attached requires care. If you want convenient installation and free water circulation around the body, consider slimmer designs such as our NEPTUN series pumps, with a diameter of just 102 mm, or 4" borehole pumps with a diameter of approximately 100–124 mm. We discuss each of them below.
Submersible pump or borehole pump for a mauzer tank?
Two equipment families are suitable for an IBC tank: a submersible pump and a borehole pump. They differ in design and in what they are best suited for.
Submersible pumps are usually shorter, compact units designed to operate while submerged, often with a built-in float switch or pressure controller. They work particularly well where the water is clean or slightly contaminated, and the goal is to water the garden or transfer rainwater. You can find the complete range in the submersible pumps and accessories category.
4-inch submersible well pumps are slim and multistage, allowing them to achieve significantly higher pressure. They are a good choice when water needs to be delivered from the tank over a greater distance, uphill, or to a system requiring stable pressure (for example, several sprinklers at once). The range includes deep-well pumps and well equipment, while the specific subcategory intended for tanks with a shallow water column is pumps for ring wells.
Specific pump models that fit a water tank
Multi IP 1000 AUTO – the convenience of automatic pressure control
Our Multi IP 1000 AUTO submersible pump is a model with a built-in automatic controller. It responds to the opening and closing of the outlet valve, maintaining pressure in the system without the need for a separate pressure tank. Specifications: 40 m head, 100 l/min flow rate, 1 kW power, 230 V power supply. It has an AISI 304 stainless steel body, built-in dry-run protection, and a cooling jacket, so the pump does not need to be fully submerged. Its diameter is 150 mm – it fits through the 155 mm opening, although tightly. This is the choice for anyone who wants “turn on the tap – water flows” without additional automation.
NEPTUN 50-60 and NEPTUN 40-110 – slim and versatile
If easy installation is the priority, we recommend the NEPTUN series, with a diameter of just 102 mm. NEPTUN 50-60 reaches a head of 50 m at a flow rate of 60 l/min (0.5 kW) – it is a “pressure” model, well suited to applications where water needs to be delivered higher or farther. Meanwhile, NEPTUN 40-110 focuses on flow: 110 l/min at a head of 40 m and with a 1¼" connection, making it a good choice for quickly filling watering cans and barrels or transferring water. Both pumps feature an AISI 304 stainless steel body and shaft, as well as a 10 m H07RN-F cable. Thanks to the 102 mm diameter, there is plenty of clearance around the body within the 155 mm opening.
SWQ 180 – small, lightweight, for clean water
When low weight and low energy consumption are priorities, the SWQ 180 pump is a good solution. It has a housing diameter of 115 mm, weighs just 3.8 kg, and has a power rating of 0.18 kW. Its flow rate of 70 l/min at a head of 5.5 m makes it a typical pump for transferring water and supplying small low-pressure irrigation systems. However, its limitation should be kept in mind: with a head of just 5.5 m, the SWQ 180 may not generate enough pressure to supply an entire, longer drip line evenly – the emitters at the end of a long loop may receive noticeably less water than those near the pump. For extensive drip irrigation, it is better to choose a model with a higher head, such as the NEPTUN 50-60 or a 4 OLA borehole pump. Use the SWQ 180 for short sections, water transfer, and manual watering. Important installation note: the impeller passage is only 2 mm, so the SWQ 180 is intended exclusively for clean or slightly contaminated water – leaves, silt, or fine sand may clog the impeller. In an IBC tank, where the water is usually clear, this is rarely a problem, but if you collect rainwater from a roof, make sure to install a pre-filter.
4 OLA and 5 OLA borehole pumps – when pressure is needed
Where a submersible pump is not enough, our 4-inch borehole pumps with cooling jackets come into play, also ideal for ring wells and tanks with a shallow water column:
- 4 OLA 60 AUTO (0.45 kW) – head of 58 m, flow rate of 55 l/min, diameter of 124 mm, with automatic control and a cooling jacket for the motor.
- 4 OLA 100 AUTO (0.8 kW) – head of 58 m, flow rate of 90 l/min, diameter of 124 mm. It combines high performance with the convenience of automatic operation.
- 4 OLA 60-60 INOX with float switch (0.8 kW) – head of up to 72 m, flow rate of 60 l/min, diameter of just 106 mm. The built-in float switch protects against dry running.
- 4 OLA 70-100 INOX with float switch (1.1 kW) – head of 71 m, flow rate of 100 l/min, diameter of 105 mm. A powerful model for demanding installations.
- 4 OLA 60-60 (1.0 kW) – head of 60 m, flow rate of 60 l/min, diameter of 100 mm, 1¼" connection.
- 5 OLA 80-150 (1.5 kW) – a 5-inch version with a diameter of 134 mm: a head of 81 m and a flow rate of 150 l/min. This is the most powerful of the pumps described and is suitable when the IBC tank serves as a buffer in a larger irrigation system. Keep in mind that with 134 mm, the clearance inside a 155 mm cover is minimal.
All 4 OLA and 5 OLA models feature an AISI 304 stainless steel construction, a 20 m power cable, and continuous-duty operation, which is genuinely important when using a working IBC tank.
Multi Dive 6-45 – beware of the lack of a cooling jacket
It is also worth discussing the Multi Dive 6-45 submersible pump with a float switch (0.75 kW) separately. It delivers a flow rate of 115 l/min and a head of 45 m, while the built-in float switch protects it from running dry. It is also suitable for pumping water containing chlorine. However, there is an important design difference: the Multi Dive 6-45 does not have a cooling jacket. The motor of this type of pump releases heat directly into the surrounding water. That is why this model performs best when the IBC tank is buried in the ground—the water in a buried tank is cooler and more thermally stable, the temperature difference between the motor and the liquid is smaller, and cooling is more effective. In an IBC tank standing in the sun, where the water can become very hot and quickly diminish, a pump without a cooling jacket operates under more difficult conditions. This is a practical installation guideline, not marketing.
Does an IBC tank need to be buried? And is it worth covering it with a sheet?
These are questions we receive regularly, so let’s clear up any doubts. Burying the IBC tank is not mandatory, but it offers specific benefits. A buried tank has cooler, more temperature-stable water, is shielded from light (which limits algae growth), and does not spoil the appearance of the plot. It also provides an optimal environment for pumps without a cooling jacket, such as the aforementioned Multi Dive 6-45. The drawbacks are labor-intensive installation and the need to protect the tank from pressure exerted by the soil—the plastic IBC container is not structurally designed to withstand the full load of surrounding earth, so decide to bury the IBC tank consciously and with appropriate reinforcement.
If the tank remains above ground, it is definitely worth covering the IBC tank with a sheet or an opaque cover. Limiting light access is the simplest way to prevent algae and keep the water in better condition, while a thermal cover reduces water heating in summer. For the pump, this means cleaner liquid and gentler operating conditions.
Equipment that extends the life of a pump in an IBC tank
The pump itself is not everything. In an installation based on an IBC tank, it is worth considering several components. A float switch protects against dry running when the water level in the IBC tank drops – if the pump does not have one as standard, you can select it from the float switches category. A controller or hydrofor automation system allows you to automate pump operation without a built-in automatic controller – you will find them in the controllers and hydrofor automation systems categories. If the installation is to maintain constant pressure, a diaphragm tank will be helpful, while for precise pump speed adjustment, consider devices from the inverters category (in our range, an inverter regulates the operating conditions of a water pump and has nothing to do with a solar inverter). If the water from the IBC tank is sometimes contaminated, consider water filters to protect the impeller. A pressure switch also provides full control over switching the pump on.
How to select the hose diameter and convert parameters
When selecting a pump for an IBC tank, do not forget about the installation’s flow capacity. A discharge hose that is too narrow will “choke” even an efficient pump and cause pressure losses. For quick diameter conversions, use our pipe diameter calculator, while the complete set of engineering tools – including cable cross-section selection and pressure-loss calculations – is available on the Dambat calculators page. This really helps avoid a situation in which a properly selected pump disappoints simply because the installation cannot keep up with it.
Do you need help selecting a specific model for your application? Contact us via the contact form – we will advise you based on real parameters. We provide warranty and post-warranty service directly: details are available in the service section. Premium models with an extended warranty are available under the IPRO brand, while a complete range of accessories for submersible pumps can be found in the submersible pump accessories category.
Summary – which pump should you choose for an IBC tank?
The shortest guide: if you want convenience and an automatic pressure controller, and the opening can be tight, choose the Multi IP 1000 AUTO. If easy installation and a slim body are important, choose the NEPTUN 102 mm. For light-duty tasks and clean water, choose the SWQ 180. When you need high pressure, choose 4 OLA/5 OLA deep-well pumps. And if the IBC tank is buried in the ground, choose the Multi Dive 6-45 with a float switch; the lack of a cooling jacket is not a problem in cooler, thermally stable water. However, always start with the diameter: 155 mm is a limit that cannot be bypassed.
