Looking for quite return pump

Popeye · Sep 15, 2016

Moving tank to new house. Instead of having sump in next room, it's going to be under DT. I've been using my canister filter as return pump just because I've never replaced it yet.
I have a 55 gal. tank and 20 gal. sump. I don't think the canister was even pumping enough gph.
So, what size should I get and what is the quietest for a good price.

mcarroll · Sep 15, 2016

You only need between 110GPH and 250GPH of actual flow.....it possible the canister is doing just fine. I'd measure it. Use a bucket and a stopwatch, or whatever you can make work.

ZJedi945 · Sep 15, 2016

Well if you are upgrading to a sump a great low cost option are the Jabeo DC line of pumps I would say a dc4000 would be more than enough flow in your tank plus if you think it is too much you can turn down the flow.

Popeye · Sep 15, 2016

ZJedi945 said:
Well if you are upgrading to a sump a great low cost option are the Jabeo DC line of pumps I would say a dc4000 would be more than enough flow in your tank plus if you think it is too much you can turn down the flow.

Yep, that one looks right up my alley price wise too. Pretty quite pump too?

ZJedi945 · Sep 15, 2016

Oh yeah! You will hear the water flowing before you hear the pump. (Well maybe a little exaggerated, but hey it's close!) I am actually planning on getting 2 for replacements on a RedSea max C250.

NanaReefer · Sep 15, 2016

Check out the Sicce Syncra pumps. They're not called Silent Ones for nothing [emoji1]
Been running the 2.0 for 2yrs. 5' from my couch, zero sound.

Popeye · Sep 15, 2016

ZJedi945 said:
Oh yeah! You will hear the water flowing before you hear the pump. (Well maybe a little exaggerated, but hey it's close!) I am actually planning on getting 2 for replacements on a RedSea max C250.

That's a sweet setup. Did not know you could buy an all in one package like that. All mine has been slowly pieced together part by part over time.
I think I'll slowly save up for a setup like that!

ZJedi945 · Sep 15, 2016

Well it isn't my main setup. Plus I bought it used knowing that it had only one working pump.

jsker · Sep 15, 2016

I have this one and the price is right. And the pump is adjustable

ZJedi945 · Sep 15, 2016

jsker said:
I have this one and the price is right. And the pump is adjustable

Wow that's a great price on a waveline!

jsker · Sep 15, 2016

ZJedi945 said:
Wow that's a great price on a waveline!

When I bought mine in April it was 129.00, yes the price is great.

Ebone · Sep 15, 2016

I have had a silent mag 5 then changed to a sicce syncra 3.0 equally silent... both make me happy and are in main living room! skimmer makes more noise honestly

steve&mari · Sep 15, 2016

I also recommend a dc pump for return. Quiet and energy efficiency is better.

mcarroll · Sep 16, 2016

A properly fit AC pump will be at least as efficient and they can be so silent you don't even hear them – don't buy into theDC pump hype IMO. If you have an application that actually calls for adjustable speed, there's an argument for one.

A skimmer and a return both take a fixed flow rate, so you'd be better off with a fixed-speed pump in both cases.

I'd second the Mag's or Sicce's that were suggested earlier. Mag's are stronger, yet still very quiet. Sicce's, and possibly QuietOne's which are a clone, are even more quiet. I can't even hear my QuietOne 4000 running when it's the only thing on in the house and I'm sitting right next to it.

Almost all submersible pumps are going to be pretty quiet for a pump this small, BTW...if you used the cheapest pump you can find, it's likely that it'd be just as quiet. Longevity would be the main question to me. Mag, Sicce and QuietOne have pretty extensive track records.

2¢

justingraham · Sep 16, 2016

I don't know what ur price limit is and it seems like u want in the 150 range. But in saying that it is ur return pump and u don't want it to die on u and some of those dc pumps die not saying all will.
So I opted for the ecotech m1 I don't even know it's on I really thought it wasn't on for the longer at time. I hear nothing and the tank is in my living room. Only thing I hear is the water in my sump splashing from draining from the display tank. It was worth every penny for me. Good luck and happy reefing
Justin