jaskeen
New Member
Hello all,
I recently joined the forum. I'm a relatively experienced FW/planted tank aquarist, running a 5' WaterBox 6025. My tank is going well enough but one of my large (FX-series) filters is starting to make more noise than I'd like. I changed out the impeller on it, and cleaned the impeller-motor interface, and that didn't fix the issue, so it appears to be a motor problem. Looking at the price of a replacement Fluval FX6 motor, I went down the rabbit hole of not replacing the motor but instead, buying a variable speed, DC pump. I've inquired with several different posters on here in the classifieds but unfortunately they had been sold.
My understanding, from engaging with people who keep both, is that pumps used for saltwater purposes have a significantly harder life than those that live in FW. So, what better place to ask than a reefkeeping forum?
So, here are what I'm working with and what I desire.
1) Closed loop. Theoretically, head height of 0ft. Just the friction of the pipes and bends. From where it would be mounted to the top of the aquarium is ~4ft. All of the plumbing is soft (silicone tubing), aside from the inlet and outlet pipes, which are 3/4" PVC.
2) I'd like to keep the wattage at 50w or less. We don't run the A/C much in the summer time and I'd rather not dump any extra energy into the water if I can avoid it. My tank's heater only came on at night during the months of July and August last summer. 76F or bust! This is one reason I'm not considering something like an Iwaki; they use too much energy and that goes into the water.
3) I'd like to be able to adjust the output. And this the biggest thing: I don't have a good idea of how much it currently puts out. Manufacturer rates the pump itself at 925gph and the filter (accounting for media, tubing, and set up under an aquarium) at 563gph at 43w.
4) I'm after a VERY long lasting pump. I don't want to think about it, or hear it. I'd like to open it up once a year, if that. Given my water conditions (out of the tap here is <100ppm and my KH is 1.5 or so; very soft water), I think that's pretty reasonable.
5) I will keep the other canister running as-is for redundancy. I will not plumb them both together.
6) I don't need it to be part of an "ecosystem" like APEX or similar. I just want it to run, flawlessly, for years.
Options I'm considering:
1) Royal Exclusiv Red Dragon ECO 5 25w.
2) Royal Exclusiv Red Dragon X40.
3) Sicce Syncra SDC 6.0.
What would you guys recommend?
I recently joined the forum. I'm a relatively experienced FW/planted tank aquarist, running a 5' WaterBox 6025. My tank is going well enough but one of my large (FX-series) filters is starting to make more noise than I'd like. I changed out the impeller on it, and cleaned the impeller-motor interface, and that didn't fix the issue, so it appears to be a motor problem. Looking at the price of a replacement Fluval FX6 motor, I went down the rabbit hole of not replacing the motor but instead, buying a variable speed, DC pump. I've inquired with several different posters on here in the classifieds but unfortunately they had been sold.
My understanding, from engaging with people who keep both, is that pumps used for saltwater purposes have a significantly harder life than those that live in FW. So, what better place to ask than a reefkeeping forum?
So, here are what I'm working with and what I desire.
1) Closed loop. Theoretically, head height of 0ft. Just the friction of the pipes and bends. From where it would be mounted to the top of the aquarium is ~4ft. All of the plumbing is soft (silicone tubing), aside from the inlet and outlet pipes, which are 3/4" PVC.
2) I'd like to keep the wattage at 50w or less. We don't run the A/C much in the summer time and I'd rather not dump any extra energy into the water if I can avoid it. My tank's heater only came on at night during the months of July and August last summer. 76F or bust! This is one reason I'm not considering something like an Iwaki; they use too much energy and that goes into the water.
3) I'd like to be able to adjust the output. And this the biggest thing: I don't have a good idea of how much it currently puts out. Manufacturer rates the pump itself at 925gph and the filter (accounting for media, tubing, and set up under an aquarium) at 563gph at 43w.
4) I'm after a VERY long lasting pump. I don't want to think about it, or hear it. I'd like to open it up once a year, if that. Given my water conditions (out of the tap here is <100ppm and my KH is 1.5 or so; very soft water), I think that's pretty reasonable.
5) I will keep the other canister running as-is for redundancy. I will not plumb them both together.
6) I don't need it to be part of an "ecosystem" like APEX or similar. I just want it to run, flawlessly, for years.
Options I'm considering:
1) Royal Exclusiv Red Dragon ECO 5 25w.
2) Royal Exclusiv Red Dragon X40.
3) Sicce Syncra SDC 6.0.
What would you guys recommend?
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