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

[joekool]

Well depends on the tank size. 200 to 450 Id say reeflo super dart/snapper hybrid gold. $300 to $400 depending on who you buy it from.
I use the 4300GPH impeller. little Most DC pumps don't have this.
Mine is quitter than my skimmer pump which is a DCT 15,000 jacod/jebao

Next choice if money wasn't much of a factor over $1K would be a Royal exclusive Red Dragon 3 Speedy $$$ in 4500, 500 gallon 5000, or 600 gallon tank 6340 GPH
dead silent you turn them on and wonder if they are working until you hear water moving in tank. NICE!

 

[FFFishy]

Abyzz. Quiet, efficient, powerful, variable. I use their A200 as a return pump from my basement sump to a 120gal display. I'm also using an A100 on my LifeReef Skimmer.

 

[Sleepydoc]

Simply the best? Abyzz or Red Dragon. Everything else is behind, it's just a matter of how far.

 

[ScottyS]

Iwaki MD55RLT. My sump/fuge is in basement and this pump has a 26.9 feet max head.

 

[Koi Obsession]

I will take the Hammer head gold any day Baldore motors last forever..lolo ..... have been running for 5 years and never a problem plus it drives 6500 gph.

 

[jasonrusso]

I have 2 Eheim 1262 return pumps for the last 4 years on my 210. They just keep going.

 

[Koi Obsession]

Abyzz is a great motor but it costs 3 to 4 times what the Hammer head costs I have a few new in the box when mine fails. You will be down for 3 months while your getting that abyzz fixed. Unless your rolling in the dough and have a spare 1800.00 dollar pump laying around as a back up?

 

[chefjpaul]

I think this totally depending upon the applications.
Say; in sump under cabibet,
Or in sump under basement, closed loop, etc..
Lots of factors to figure.

I do like my little vectra so far, but I still keep my Sicce and mag drives in storage because I feel they'll be there in the end.

 

[Walts O]

Sicce quiet and reliable

 

[KenJ]

Abyzz is the best one I have, red dragon is next up and then Vectra have all three and abyzz is lowest power consumer with the truest head rating the others never equal their stated values.

 

[nervousmonkey]

Sicce and Iwaki

 

[reefnut007]

I am considering buying the affordable ($170) Simplicity DC 3200 pump (3,200 gph). Does anyone recommend it? good? bad? ugly?...Thanks.
found it here: https://simplicityaquatics.com/pumps/

 

[John ob]

would say Jabeo is best bang for the buck. Recently purchased since my pond master fell short after 4 months glad I have live feed to alert me Current is a good pump that's priced well I just couldn't wait a day for delivery. Still say Jabeo even though controller seems to be made poorly. Silent an comes plenty mount options for tubing or hard pipe.

 

[turfster26]

I'm against using any DC return pump so I will eliminate any of the excellent manufacturers that make them as part of this discussion.

Ehiem and Danner Supreme mag drive pumps are both a great value. Quiet, and they just work.

Sicce - Again, quiet and reliable. Gotta love having a 5 year warranty. Adjustable flow without needing an electronic controller.

Iwaki - About as good as it gets for value in a true pressure rated pump.

Great post.....I am old school and been running Supreme Mag Drive, PanWorld, BlueLine and Iwaki for over 16-years and never a failure while operating. Had to replace some wearable parts here and there, but that

I'm against using any DC return pump so I will eliminate any of the excellent manufacturers that make them as part of this discussion.

Ehiem and Danner Supreme mag drive pumps are both a great value. Quiet, and they just work.

Sicce - Again, quiet and reliable. Gotta love having a 5 year warranty. Adjustable flow without needing an electronic controller.

Iwaki - About as good as it gets for value in a true pressure rated pump.

GREAT post....I'm old school and been running Mag Drive, Iwaki and Blueline/Panworld for over 16-years.

The past 10+ years I've been running Iwaki and Bluelines exclusively and run without failure. I've replaced wearable parts here and there, but that's it.

I have no need to change my setup or go to DC pumps. I simply install ballvalve the discharge and regulate the flow that way....KISS IMHO.

 

[gerards_reef]

Eheim hands down. They run forever, are quiet and require minimal maintenance.

 

[joekool]

should add a poll to thread

 

[dbl]

should add a poll to thread

Working on it.

 

[Mjl714]

Eheim, been using 25+ yrs, very dependable. Mag drives also pretty dependable.

 

[rocknut]

Probably jinxing myself, but after using a TON of pumps over the years, I would absolutely say Ehiem.

 

[Sabellafella]

Any and all sicce pumps for me!