BioCube-Quiot retuen pump ???

427HISS · Jul 5, 2014

I have setup a 29g BioCube and bought the Media Basket with the "upgrade" Cobalt MJ 1200 series return pump. Man,....this pump is pretty noisy. I can hear it several feet away in the living room with the TV on, 4 dogs messing around and a cockatoo bird. lol

I thought the vibration noise may be against the bio section's wall, so I placed the pump in the display, and it really vibrates, so that's not the issue.

Is this pump just bad quality ?

Should I opt a different manufactures pump ?

The MJ1200 is 295gph, and seems like the gph flow is pretty good, so I'll need a power head of about the same.

Rjramos · Jul 5, 2014

I'll be following cause I was about to upgrade my biocube 29 pump. But I haven't heard about the pump being noisy.

reid429 · Jul 5, 2014

It's that pump. I have the same one an mine is not loud at all

saltyphish · Jul 5, 2014

Agreed got a bad pump! I had a mj1200 in my 29 biocube and never heard it running. I now use the Rio 6HF pump with 350 gph @15watts. More flow with less heat than the mj1200 with 295 gph @20 watts. People complain those are noisy but mine is just as quiet as my mj1200 was.

427HISS · Jul 5, 2014

I'm going to call the business I bought it from. Even out of the water is really,....vibrates bad. So, their has to be something wrong with the magnet or the pump motor.
The shaft is nice and straight.

Does yours vibrate at all ?

427HISS · Jul 5, 2014

saltyphish said:
Agreed got a bad pump! I had a mj1200 in my 29 biocube and never heard it running. I now use the Rio 6HF pump with 350 gph @15watts. More flow with less heat than the mj1200 with 295 gph @20 watts. People complain those are noisy but mine is just as quiet as my mj1200 was.

If I need to replace it, I may look into the Rio or the Sicce 1.0. 251 gph and it's adjustable. I've heard good reviews about them.

Sicce Syncra Silent 1.0 Pump (251 GPH) - Bulk Reef Supply

Your Rio having 350 gph, isn't too strong ?

I just did a short search for prices and reviews on the Rio. You know how different reviewers can be. And trough the years, it's odd that some company's from the factory,...has good and bad pumps !

On BRS site, it has a good review, but on Amazon it has mixed results, of being noisy.

http://www.amazon.com/Rio-6HF-HyperFlow-Water-Pump/dp/B003SNOWVE

saltyphish · Jul 5, 2014

no the 350 gph isn't to strong i split the flow on the return with a y and helped a lot. And no, no rattling. I bought my Rio off of Amazon and cant complain. just need to make sure the mount is secure and the pump is not touching any of the sides and your good.