Most reliable quality return pump?

[Cory]

Definitely an external pump like iwaki or panworld. This way if something breaks copper isnt getting into your tanks water like it would with a submersible pump.

 

[davocean]

I’m not a fan of dumping big money into a simple piece of equipment.

I’m a firm believer in having a backup on hand for key pieces of life support

So I have 2 Jebao pumps (1 in use, 1 spare)with battery backup

Total cost $250.

If I had a jebao, I would absolutely feel the need to have a back up pump.
I never once felt that way nor needed in all my years having an eheim, and I've had many on different tanks over the years, they are so reliable

 

[davocean]

I use a Tunze 1073.02 currently. Those are probably the only three brands I would use for (submersible) return pump at the moment, or an Askoll. Mind you if someone gave me a Red Dragon or Abyzz I wouldn't say no.

I'm running the same tunze right now, and I love tunze products, but this for me was a hair on low side turnover wise when I first got it, and in looking at my tank display level it seems to fade in what it pushes over not a long period of time.
It needs to be cleaned and maintained more often.
I plan to use my tunze for mixing water, and I can't wait to give that mag away!

 

[Potatohead]

I'm running the same tunze right now, and I love tunze products, but this for me was a hair on low side turnover wise when I first got it, and in looking at my tank display level it seems to fade in what it pushes over not a long period of time.
It needs to be cleaned and maintained more often.
I plan to use my tunze for mixing water, and I can't wait to give that mag away!

It's funny you mention that. The water level in my overflow falls over time too, and I had no idea why, so it must be a trait of the pump. I turn the pump off and a few seconds later back on, and it's back to normal. Mind you I have not completely taken it out and cleaned it in about two years, I usually just pull off the cover and take the impeller out.

 

[mta_morrow]

If I had a jebao, I would absolutely feel the need to have a back up pump.
I never once felt that way nor needed in all my years having an eheim, and I've had many on different tanks over the years, they are so reliable

I have only ever had a Jebao and never had a failure. But I know everything no matter what or made by who, will fail. And you never know if you’re the one with the dud.

So no matter what brand of pump I have, I will have a back up. It may not be the same brand, but I will have one.

 

[davocean]

It's funny you mention that. The water level in my overflow falls over time too, and I had no idea why, so it must be a trait of the pump. I turn the pump off and a few seconds later back on, and it's back to normal. Mind you I have not completely taken it out and cleaned it in about two years, I usually just pull off the cover and take the impeller out.

Same here, exactly, and I had a fluval that was exactly the same, never once had this issue w/ any of my eheims.
I think I've pretty much just sold my own self on just getting the eheim over sicce, just do I try to wait for a black friday sale, or just do it now while I have time to play w/ my tank...and I would like to see reviews or know for sure the compacton is actually a new design by eheim themselves, maybe someone knows this for certain, BRS guys maybe?

 

[Rakie]

Tunze, Sicce, Eheim.

I've come to trust Tunze more than anything else out there. I would heavily recommend looking into them, but their return pump selection is a little lacking.

 

[davocean]

I have only ever had a Jebao and never had a failure. But I know everything no matter what or made by who, will fail. And you never know if you’re the one with the dud.

So no matter what brand of pump I have, I will have a back up. It may not be the same brand, but I will have one.

Yeah understand and I'm hoping I'm not sounding like I'm bagging on your gear choice, and agree no matter what redundant safety's are always a good thing, back ups are nice.
From all I've read it seems a quality control issue on the jebeao's, some love them, some don't, seems to be more fluctuation as to whether you got a good one or not.
It's very rare for me to see negative posts about eheims, unless it's someone that just prefers dc pumps

 

[Potatohead]

Same here, exactly, and I had a fluval that was exactly the same, never once had this issue w/ any of my eheims.
I think I've pretty much just sold my own self on just getting the eheim over sicce, just do I try to wait for a black friday sale, or just do it now while I have time to play w/ my tank...and I would like to see reviews or know for sure the compacton is actually a new design by eheim themselves, maybe someone knows this for certain, BRS guys maybe?

Looks like they are based on an old Marineland design o_O

https://reefbuilders.com/2017/09/13/eheim-compacton-pumps-10-years-old-and-double-the-price/

 

[nereefpat]

Definitely an external pump like iwaki or panworld. This way if something breaks copper isnt getting into your tanks water like it would with a submersible pump.

I'm surprised that I'm not seeing more posts like these.

 

[davocean]

Looks like they are based on an old Marineland design o_O

https://reefbuilders.com/2017/09/13/eheim-compacton-pumps-10-years-old-and-double-the-price/

Hmm...this does not increase confidence...back to waiting this decision out

 

[KStatefan]

Reeflo

Iwaki

 

[richiero]

Definitely an external pump like iwaki or panworld. This way if something breaks copper isnt getting into your tanks water like it would with a submersible pump.

Copper ? Don’t have to worry about that with red dragon or abyzz all the screws and the impeller casing are titanium lol

 

[mta_morrow]

Yeah understand and I'm hoping I'm not sounding like I'm bagging on your gear choice, and agree no matter what redundant safety's are always a good thing, back ups are nice.
From all I've read it seems a quality control issue on the jebeao's, some love them, some don't don't, seems to be more fluctuation as to whether you got a good one or not.
It's very rare for me to see negative posts about eheims, unless it's someone that just prefers dc pumps

I didn’t take it that way. I believe they have improved their products and increased reliability over the last couple years.

I spend more than is probably necessary on other gear like lights and power heads.

In the end, I have X amount of dollars and have to decide where to spend it.

It’s all good @davocean !

 

[Cory]

Copper ? Don’t have to worry about that with red dragon or abyzz all the screws and the impeller casing are titanium lol

Not the screws. Inside are copper windings. Plus a copper electric cable.

 

[richiero]

How many of you guys have VorTech MP 40 power heads? And those that do how many times has your controller failed on the DC Controlled power head ?

 

[rockskimmerflow]

Abyzz if budget is no object. Now, depending on your needed flow rate and if you're budget conscious I recommend: Submersible - eheim universal hobby pump; Fluval SP4 or SP6 External - iwaki or panworld pump

 

[ReefWithCare]

Are the compact eheim pumps still available? They used to have one that had about 1200+ GPH output. I think it was called a Compact Pump +5000

Guess they don’t sell them anymore?

How is he noise with the hobby pumps when run submerged? Looking to replace my current one as it is loud and I know it’s not reliable (Jabeo)

 

[Potatohead]

How many of you guys have VorTech MP 40 power heads? And those that do how many times has your controller failed on the DC Controlled power head ?

I have four of them, controller never died yet, one power supply died. Two are 4-5 years old and two about 2 years old.

 

[redpine42]

I love my Eflux but because of my APEX I am about to change to neptune. I have been studying them and there are a lot of places and people that rank them at the top of the list in number 1 spot. They seem to have very little to no bad feed back.

Happy with my eflux. It was my backup. Bad opinion of my COR20 which failed after a couple of months.. It sucked and so did Apex customer support.