Best return pumps in the industry: Who gets your vote?

[Leadfooted]

I've had an AC Danner pump for 2 years, the pump has no doubt also lost power just like DC complaints only the Danner I'm tossing is beyond loud. I've struggled to deal with the rattles too many way for too long and the flow is about half of what it was day one.

 

[Water Dog]

That’s weird. I have a 13 year old Mag 7 that is just as strong as it was on day 1... original impeller too. Ran as my return pump for almost 8 years. It’s my mixing pump now. Not the most quiet pump by any means, but definitely a workhorse.

 

[Whipples]

For those of you with loud return pumps, where are your dosing lines?

 

[Blue Spot Octopus]

I also have a Mag 7 that I bought in 2003 pretty much wore out but still useable, I was bummed to find my new Mag 3 that I purchased a few years ago to have a cracked elec. wire at the base of the pump, I never got to use it.

 

[ca1ore]

Even if I replace 2 or 3 of them due to "quality" issues of Chinese pumps I still come out ahead.

Unless the pump failure takes down your tank - then you'll be hard pressed to come out ahead.

 

[jasonrusso]

Unless the pump failure takes down your tank - then you'll be hard pressed to come out ahead.

His tank can run for months without a pump.

 

[Leadfooted]

That’s weird. I have a 13 year old Mag 7 that is just as strong as it was on day 1... original impeller too. Ran as my return pump for almost 8 years. It’s my mixing pump now. Not the most quiet pump by any means, but definitely a workhorse.

In order to slow/stop flow for feeding I just unplug my Danner. Would the plugging / unplugging just about daily cause my pump to have these ratteling and noise issues?

 

[Water Dog]

I dunno. I’ve never really turned off my return pump for feeding.

 

[CMatlosz]

I'm not sure I understand the sarcasm and negativity towards my comment on this post. The poll was asking for opinions - I gave mine given one of the options already in the poll. At no point did I claim my tank would last "months" without a return pump nor did I suggest my opinion was right, wrong, or better than anyone else's.

 

[mfinn]

In order to slow/stop flow for feeding I just unplug my Danner. Would the plugging / unplugging just about daily cause my pump to have these ratteling and noise issues?

Seems to me it would have to add to the wear on the pump.

 

[ca1ore]

I'm not sure I understand the sarcasm and negativity towards my comment on this post. The poll was asking for opinions - I gave mine given one of the options already in the poll. At no point did I claim my tank would last "months" without a return pump nor did I suggest my opinion was right, wrong, or better than anyone else's.

My comment was neither intended as sarcasm nor negativity; simply an observation that perhaps people don't consider loss of livestock when buying cheap return pumps. I run a panworld on my tank because I'm confident it will last me a decade. I simply won't risk the sizable investment that are my fish and corals to something that is of questionable quality. To do so is to be penny wise, pound foolish as the old saying goes.

 

[Erica-Renee]

This is kinda interesting to see the top picks.

Reliability .. Danner Mag Drive pumps.. (Average water movement )
Pros...
Super Reliable..
Can get Parts anywhere..
Con ..
Can be Loud (usually higher volume pumps.. ) MY Mag drive 24 is LOUD.. MY 20 Year old mag 9 not so much .
Adds heat to the water .. This could be good for some tanks such as basement sumps and very cold climates .
Reeflo pumps
They just work but require changing out a 25.00 seal once every year or so .. (These pumps are SUPER HEAVY DUTY)

Pros
Run forever
It will NEVER DIE..
Almost complete silence
no heat

Con... You have to change out 25.00 seals every year or so takes about 30 minutes .
Con They are not so energy efficient

ALL DC PUMP

PRO... Claim of using less power... But I am not so sure if you calculate controller and converter consumption.
Pro/ Con Puts off less heat in the water.

Con... Electronically controlled so could last for ever or die in a flash .
con. The tend to not like being dirty... Reg cleaning is a MUST.


Number 1... REEFLO... THEY JUST WORK.... (NOT best for under tank sump without water proofing under pump.....) Great Support... But not as good as Danner...
Number 2.. Danner pumps.. Rather its a aquarium pump. Pond pump or sump pump. They run forever and parts are everywhere for them.. SOMEONE PICKS UP THE PHONE IF YOU Call and OWN YOUR PROBLEM..

 

[Brew12]

This is kinda interesting to see the top picks.

Reliability .. Danner Mag Drive pumps.. (Average water movement )
Pros...
Super Reliable..
Can get Parts anywhere..
Con ..
Can be Loud (usually higher volume pumps.. ) MY Mag drive 24 is LOUD.. MY 20 Year old mag 9 not so much .
Adds heat to the water .. This could be good for some tanks such as basement sumps and very cold climates .
Reeflo pumps
They just work but require changing out a 25.00 seal once every year or so .. (These pumps are SUPER HEAVY DUTY)

Pros
Run forever
It will NEVER DIE..
Almost complete silence
no heat

Con... You have to change out 25.00 seals every year or so takes about 30 minutes .
Con They are not so energy efficient

ALL DC PUMP

PRO... Claim of using less power... But I am not so sure if you calculate controller and converter consumption.
Pro/ Con Puts off less heat in the water.

Con... Electronically controlled so could last for ever or die in a flash .
con. The tend to not like being dirty... Reg cleaning is a MUST.


Number 1... REEFLO... THEY JUST WORK.... (NOT best for under tank sump without water proofing under pump.....) Great Support... But not as good as Danner...
Number 2.. Danner pumps.. Rather its a aquarium pump. Pond pump or sump pump. They run forever and parts are everywhere for them.. SOMEONE PICKS UP THE PHONE IF YOU Call and OWN YOUR PROBLEM..

Impressive summation!!!!!

 

[sromero287]

Based in my systems in the last 12 years:

AC Set it and forget it
1)Danner Mag’s
2)Eheim
3)Sicce’s

DC most reliable one [emoji121]️:
Vectras L1/M1, Ecotech Marine service is second to none, outstanding.

Was a beta tester from Neptune with the COR 20, lots of power and a big plus connected to our apex the options are endless. Swap my Vectra for a COR 15 and so far flying colors, let’s see in three years...

Happy reefing [emoji106][emoji225][emoji886]

 

[Alfrareef]

Jebao DC pumps for sure.
A quarter of the price and they work for years...

 

[Erica-Renee]

Jebao DC pumps for sure.
A quarter of the price and they work for years...

How many years do you have on your oldest jebao pump? and How often do you clean it ?

 

[TexasTodd]

I've always said that I wish Ehiem made bigger than the 1262 in that style. They last FOREVER! Just not a lot of flow.
I'd also like to see a DC pump without the controller. I'm sure it adds cost and for sure more points to break. I like them for lower power and heat which is a big deal in S. TX.
I've had good luck with Quiet One in the past. Actually, if you look at one of the Sicce model lines I'm pretty sure they're made by Quite One.

 

[Erica-Renee]

I've always said that I wish Ehiem made bigger than the 1262 in that style. They last FOREVER! Just not a lot of flow.
I'd also like to see a DC pump without the controller. I'm sure it adds cost and for sure more points to break. I like them for lower power and heat which is a big deal in S. TX.
I've had good luck with Quiet One in the past. Actually, if you look at one of the Sicce model lines I'm pretty sure they're made by Quite One.

The whole ac to dc conversion thing .There has to be conversion someplace Rather the dc was a fixed speed or not

 

[Erica-Renee]

I also have a Mag 7 that I bought in 2003 pretty much wore out but still useable, I was bummed to find my new Mag 3 that I purchased a few years ago to have a cracked elec. wire at the base of the pump, I never got to use it.

They have 5- 10 year warranty on most of them.

 

[Alfrareef]

How many years do you have on your oldest jebao pump? and How often do you clean it ?

Oldest DC has nearly 3 years and I do a return pumps clean always on Christmas vacations.