Need a very basic timer

I've been trying to figure out how I'm going to time the running of the pump from the sump tank up to the fish tank. I've looked on the forum and there are some pretty elaborate systems out there - I don't have the know-how to do anything that detailed.

Basically, I want a timer that will run my pump for 5-6 minutes (the amount of time it takes to drain down to the point of the pump about to suck air), then be off for about 20 minutes or so, while the grow bed fills again, then siphons. All the timers I've looked at are set to a 24-hr clock, with limited amounts of settings you can program in. The one I bought (but not sure how to even get it set up) allows for 24 settings, but that won't cover the whole day as I will need more than one cycle per hour.

Am I missing something? Is there a simple electric timer that isn't set on a 24-hr clock, and that can simply turns on and off repeatedly for the timeframe I'm looking at?

Thanks for any help.

Sounds like you'll need a slower pump or a bigger sump tank! I strongly recommend the ones that can manually be set in 15 minute segments. I've used digital ones but when they go wonky (if they get wet/too humid) they will reset to constant on and drain your ST.

Thanks, Cj. I've been "shopping" around on line to see what I could find. I did find a digital one that allows up to 50 settings per 24-hour period that I ordered, but I really did want one that I could just have repeat on a cycle like you describe. I just haven't been able to find that type [yet]. I can add more water to my sump tank (it's big enough for when I add my second grow bed), so that I could manage a longer pump time; I just didn't want the grow bed refilling before it could get drained.

Do you know where I can find one of the manual timers you mentioned? Thanks!

http://www.amazon.com/Titan-Controls-734110-Intervals-120-volt/dp/B007KID0YI/ref=sr_1_1?s=lawn-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1400929707&sr=1-1&keywords=24+Hour+Timer%2C+15+Minute+Intervals

or google "15 minute timer outlet"

Thanks, Cj!

Hi Nancy,

You can find those here and here.

Oh, thank you, Jeremiah! This is great! I had another one on order, but it might be harder to program. I have one now that will only go as low as 15-minute increments, but my sump tank empties faster than that, and I don't know what sucking air for another 7 minutes or so might do to the pump over time. I just ordered one of these and opted to pay extra to get it here by Friday. Thanks for the info!