Need Help With Pump - UNS R90

[jabberkaycee]

I’m hoping someone can help me choose a pump for my aquarium that’s delivering Friday. I’m setting up the tank over the weekend and after two weeks of assurances from my vendor, I just found he has still not shipped the Neptune Cor20 and two MP40s. He had assured me twice over the past week that he would get them shipped. They are in stock and showing on his website as shipping next day. I canceled the order today because I no longer believe him.

The tank is UNS R90. It’s 90 gallons total with approximately 60 gallons in the display. Before I place another order with a different vendor, I’d like to get some feedback on the Cor20 - is it overkill for my tank? Is there a different pump you would recommend? My controller is Apex. I want to place the order today so I can have it by the weekend.

Any feedback you have is greatly appreciated!

 

[RoanokeReef]

If you're full Apex I would and did go with a Cor pump. I went with the 15 so it was one less power brick. Another Option is a MXM with a Vectra.

 

[jabberkaycee]

If you're full Apex I would and did go with a Cor pump. I went with the 15 so it was one less power brick. Another Option is a MXM with a Vectra.

Thank you! I was second guessing the Cor20, since I have to place a new order anyway. So do you think the Cor15 would be OK?

 

[RoanokeReef]

I have a 69g with 14g sump and run the COR15 @ 50% so I would think you'd be fine.

 

[jabberkaycee]

I have a 69g with 14g sump and run the COR15 @ 50% so I would think you'd be fine.

I’ve read where some people had an issue with connection due to the British threads. Did you have to buy any additional connections?

 

[RoanokeReef]

I did not, I believe it came with everything needed from memory.

 

[commod0re]

I put a Jebao DCP-5000 in mine and I run it at 45%. It seems like the cor20 is a step or so more powerful than that based on ratings and head curve. I think you might want to look at the cor15 instead

 

[commod0re]

The way I chose was to multiply the approximate water volume by 3 to get my gph target. Then I looked up the “head curve graph” for any pump I’m potentially interested in and check it at around 6ft/2M to see what the rated gph is at that height. Ideally the target is at least 20% below the rating there (running at or below 80% will extend the life of the power supply), but, if you aim for around 40-50% then you won’t need to upgrade it to add a UV or similar later

 

[chazj]

I run a sicce 4.0 syncra silent 4.0 in my UNS 90R. It has been a good pump for me.

 

[jabberkaycee]

I put a Jebao DCP-5000 in mine and I run it at 45%. It seems like the cor20 is a step or so more powerful than that based on ratings and head curve. I think you might want to look at the cor15 instead

Thank you and that’s exactly what I did! Do you know of any other plumbing items I need? I’m trying to get everything together so that I can work on it without having to run to the store five times - lol. I know you’ve already been through the set up process.

@Nan.roti said I probably need to cut the emergency overflow down about an inch, so I’ll do that during set up also.

 

[commod0re]

Thank you and that’s exactly what I did! Do you know of any other plumbing items I need? I’m trying to get everything together so that I can work on it without having to run to the store five times - lol. I know you’ve already been through the set up process.

@Nan.roti said I probably need to cut the emergency overflow down about an inch, so I’ll do that during set up also.

I don't actually know for sure, the DCP-5000 came with a bunch of connections and had everything I needed but it seems like the neptunes only come with slip unions which don't work with flex tubing... @Nan.roti has a COR-20 so maybe he can tell you what he needed to do there

I didn't cut my emergency drain down at all, I just use the gate valve to dial the overflow water level to just a bit below the overflow baffle. it's as quiet as running the water level right at the emergency drain level, it's just a little touchier to get the gate valve adjusted just right

 

[Nan.roti]

Thank you and that’s exactly what I did! Do you know of any other plumbing items I need? I’m trying to get everything together so that I can work on it without having to run to the store five times - lol. I know you’ve already been through the set up process.

@Nan.roti said I probably need to cut the emergency overflow down about an inch, so I’ll do that during set up also.

The COR20 was a very tight squeeze. There is a union that comes with it (i lost mine and had to get it from a local apex reseller). The union screws directly on the cor20. From there you use a short 1 1/4" Pipe to the reducer. You then use a small 1" pipe and wrap it up with the barb adaptor. The tube I cut is no more then 4". The barbs are literally touching inside.

While you're at it, if your DIY skills are up to it, you can plumb a check valve into your return line. For this i cut the line and left an inch on each side and glued the check valve in.

1. 25 mm check valve
2. Union? (Double check this if you need it)
3. Schedule 80 Reducing Coupler 1 1/4" Slip x 1" Slip
4. 1 1/4" x 24" Blue Schedule 40 Pipe
5. 1" Pipe Adapter Spigot x Barb
6. 1" x 24" Blue Schedule 40 Pipe
7. 1” Braided Vinyl Tubing - Kuri-Tec

 

[Nan.roti]

I don't actually know for sure, the DCP-5000 came with a bunch of connections and had everything I needed but it seems like the neptunes only come with slip unions which don't work with flex tubing... @Nan.roti has a COR-20 so maybe he can tell you what he needed to do there

I didn't cut my emergency drain down at all, I just use the gate valve to dial the overflow water level to just a bit below the overflow baffle. it's as quiet as running the water level right at the emergency drain level, it's just a little touchier to get the gate valve adjusted just right

I had mine set up with the stock emergency drain height. It worked well all things considered. Early on while dialing the system in my water level in my overflow box kept rising and dropping, especially after adding bacteria or feeding the corals. I ended up flooding lol. I cut the pipe to avoid that and am working on keeping the water in the overflow box. Its a bit hard to see, but I have water trickling down the emergency drain now. I can get a better pic tomorrow if needed.

 

[jabberkaycee]

The COR20 was a very tight squeeze. There is a union that comes with it (i lost mine and had to get it from a local apex reseller). The union screws directly on the cor20. From there you use a short 1 1/4" Pipe to the reducer. You then use a small 1" pipe and wrap it up with the barb adaptor. The tube I cut is no more then 4". The barbs are literally touching inside.

While you're at it, if your DIY skills are up to it, you can plumb a check valve into your return line. For this i cut the line and left an inch on each side and glued the check valve in.

1. 20mm check valve
2. Union? (Double check this if you need it)
3. Schedule 80 Reducing Coupler 1 1/4" Slip x 1" Slip
4. 1 1/4" x 24" Blue Schedule 40 Pipe
5. 1" Pipe Adapter Spigot x Barb
6. 1" x 24" Blue Schedule 40 Pipe
7. 1” Braided Vinyl Tubing - Kuri-Tec

Thank you so much. I feel like you’ve saved me a lot of time!

 

[Nan.roti]

Thank you so much. I feel like you’ve saved me a lot of time!

I spent a lot of time looking into it

 

[Nan.roti]

The COR20 was a very tight squeeze. There is a union that comes with it (i lost mine and had to get it from a local apex reseller). The union screws directly on the cor20. From there you use a short 1 1/4" Pipe to the reducer. You then use a small 1" pipe and wrap it up with the barb adaptor. The tube I cut is no more then 4". The barbs are literally touching inside.

While you're at it, if your DIY skills are up to it, you can plumb a check valve into your return line. For this i cut the line and left an inch on each side and glued the check valve in.

1. 20mm check valve
2. Union? (Double check this if you need it)
3. Schedule 80 Reducing Coupler 1 1/4" Slip x 1" Slip
4. 1 1/4" x 24" Blue Schedule 40 Pipe
5. 1" Pipe Adapter Spigot x Barb
6. 1" x 24" Blue Schedule 40 Pipe
7. 1” Braided Vinyl Tubing - Kuri-Tec

I edited it, but its the 25mm check valve.

 

[commod0re]

I had mine set up with the stock emergency drain height. It worked well all things considered. Early on while dialing the system in my water level in my overflow box kept rising and dropping, especially after adding bacteria or feeding the corals. I ended up flooding lol. I cut the pipe to avoid that and am working on keeping the water in the overflow box. Its a bit hard to see, but I have water trickling down the emergency drain now. I can get a better pic tomorrow if needed.

Interesting. I have not observed a ton of fluctuation over time so far, but what I have seen is sometimes it takes a while for it to stop moving so I will make an adjustment and then come back and check it again after an hour or two

I’ll have to keep an eye on it over time though for sure, if it becomes a problem I may end up cutting my emergency drain down a bit too

 

[Nan.roti]

Interesting. I have not observed a ton of fluctuation over time so far, but what I have seen is sometimes it takes a while for it to stop moving so I will make an adjustment and then come back and check it again after an hour or two

I’ll have to keep an eye on it over time though for sure, if it becomes a problem I may end up cutting my emergency drain down a bit too

My tank turns off twice a day for feedings.

In the 15 months I've had the tank, the water spilling out only happened once (in the beginning while tuning. It could have 100% been user error on my part.. I'm sure it was ). After it happened, I added optical sensors to send notifications if the water level exceeded a certain height. Also they turned off my ATO if any were triggered.

Cutting the drain pipe, adding the check valve and (soon) adding a standing pipe on the over flow box are more of a back up to never deal with it again. Since cutting the drain pipe, my return chamber water level is extremely stable.

 

[Felixthecat]

Hi
I setup my R90 around few months, may I know what water level your main tank is set?
Currently, i set the water level is around 4.5cm below top of the main tank.
As I observed the dirty cannot be skimmed if water level set higher.
In addition, current water level is a bit far away from the top of the emergency pipe. Considering the need to cut part of the emergency pipe.
I am using ZKSJ 8000 anusing 50% power, expect around ~4000L/hr

Thanks