Which external return pump?

Discussion in 'Filters, Pumps, etc..' started by Infantry1327, Sep 25, 2009.

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  1. Infantry1327

    Infantry1327 Fire Shrimp

    Joined:
    Feb 8, 2009
    Messages:
    309
    Location:
    Cali
    So I am in the process of building a new tank and I only have a few more parts i need to finish setting this thing up. I have been researching pumps for awhile now and I have found a bunch that i am thinking about. I would appreciate any input or experience you guys have with these pumps.

    The tank: 63"L x 30"W x 23"H = 185G
    The sump: 55G
    Refugium: 25G

    There is 11.2' of horizontal plumbing using 1" pipes, and 1.11' of vertical piping. The return will be hooked up to a ocean motion super squirt where the 1" return will turn into 4- 3/4" allternating returns
    Total losses are 5.05 feet of head pressure, or 2.18 PSI.

    The overflow will be on the opposite side of the returns. There will be 2 drains. 1-2" bulk head flowing to the sump and a 1" drain flowing to the refugium.

    So these are the pumps I am considering. Keep in mind I am trying to stay under $300, the ocean motion can only handle up to 2500gph and only 2 of the return heads are on at a time. But I may split the 4 heads into 8 heads. I also will not be running a chiller so I would like to keep the excess heat down and I need it to be as quiet as possible.

    MD 55 External Water Pump, 1,125 gph- $119.95
    Little Giant 'Quarium Pump 4-MDQX-SC 1325gph- $155
    Gen-X/Mak4 External 1200gph- $132
    Gen-X Pumps PCX-70 1537gph $211
    GEN-X5 - PCX-100 1548/GPH - $240
    Turbo-Sea Circulation Pump - 1268 gph- $210
    Iwaki MD 70RLT - 1500gph - Japan- $285
    Iwaki American WMD-40RLXT, 1,344 gph- $276
    Pan World 100PX-X 1266gph- $199
    Pan World 200PS 1740gph- $298
    Pan world Blueline 70HD 1750gph- $250
    Coralife Turbo-Sea 1270 Aquarium Pump- $199
    Sequence ReefFlo Snapper Pump 2500gph- $299
    PanWorld 200PS - 1750gph- $249



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  3. Otty

    Otty Giant Squid

    Joined:
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    6,467
    Location:
    Elizabethtown, IN
    I went with a Reeflow HammerHead and hooked it to a manifold to run other things in the tank. I run chiller, reactors, shimmer...etc off it. Better to really over size your pump and dial it back with a valve if it too much then to have a undersized pump. Just because you OM is 2,500 gpm doesn't mean you should rate your pump for that unless it's the only thing it's feeding.

    Just remember to plan for future expansions. You say that you don't have a chiller but may need one in the future if you have heat problems. If you don't plan for it now you will spend twice as much later to fix the problem and have equipment collecting dust in the garage.

    Just my $.02
     
  4. Infantry1327

    Infantry1327 Fire Shrimp

    Joined:
    Feb 8, 2009
    Messages:
    309
    Location:
    Cali
    The only thing this pump will be running will be the return threw the OM. I am leaning towards the reefflo snapper. Does anyone know about this pump. Is it noisy or create alot of heat
     
  5. Daniel072

    Daniel072 Giant Squid

    Joined:
    May 30, 2008
    Messages:
    3,677
    the snapper is a great pump. I ran on when I had a cls on my 50 gallon tank and it was a beast. I really liked it. It was pretty quiet and no heat exchange at all.
     
  6. GoToSleep

    GoToSleep Torch Coral

    Joined:
    Jul 6, 2008
    Messages:
    1,170
    Location:
    Central Virginia
    I headed Otty's advice and went with a HammerHead. It's about $100 more than your budget but with the manifold it allows me to run everything with one pump and still be preparded for future expansion. The benfits of one pump (compared to 2 or more) include better energy efficiency and fewer thngs with moving parts to maintain.
     
  7. Av8Bluewater

    Av8Bluewater Giant Squid

    Joined:
    Aug 27, 2008
    Messages:
    3,401
    Location:
    Dallas
    I didn't listen to Otty due to lazyness. Finally replumbed a reeflo to run most things. Like said above if you don't do it now it will cost more later.