Return pump advice

laverda

2500 Club Member
View Badges
Joined
Jun 6, 2008
Messages
2,898
Reaction score
2,134
Location
Anaheim
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Personally I would never consider using either for a return pump. It is too critical to your system health. I don’t want to be worrying about when it will fail. They just have proven to not be very reliable. Many fail within a year. A few last 2-3 years. I would only consider using one for non critical functions, or as a cheap emergancy back up pump.
 

mich2599

Valuable Member
View Badges
Joined
May 19, 2018
Messages
2,090
Reaction score
12,345
Location
ELDO
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Ive had the DCP-4000 since October and it is still going strong. No issues whatsoever. Hopefully I won't have any issues soon.
 

cane

Active Member
View Badges
Joined
Jun 25, 2015
Messages
386
Reaction score
119
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Yes very good pumps. I love them and have DCT-15000 running to my main display on the second floor. It’s been up for a yr. The others were running a smaller setup until I broke it down. Just like the high end/more expensive ones it’s recommended you have a backup pump just in case. So again to me it’s definitely worth it and you save a lot of money.
 

jda

10K Club member
View Badges
Joined
Jun 25, 2013
Messages
14,342
Reaction score
21,756
Location
Boulder, CO
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
They are the least reliable pumps on the market. Some have been running for a few years... some have had many failures, and quick failures. Even if all of them managed to stay running for a few years, this is still infancy for the truly reliable pumps in the Hobby. Check out Laguna Max Flo or Fluval SP Series... they are not expensive and have proven performance for deacde+. If you do choose the Chinese Knockoff Route, there is no warranty and very little chance of repair - just discard and replace.

Do you have any head pressure? DC pumps are horrible at handling this outside of the super-expensive ones. I am talking like basement sumps or 10+ feet of head - anything can handle 4-6 feet.
 

laverda

2500 Club Member
View Badges
Joined
Jun 6, 2008
Messages
2,898
Reaction score
2,134
Location
Anaheim
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
2-years is nothing! I don't understand the people claiming they are reliable after less than a year or two when their are so many failures in less than a year. I have not heard anyone say they have had one for 5 years trouble free. I have had several other brands of pumps for 10 and even 22+ years trouble free. That is reliable.
 

jtl

Well-Known Member
View Badges
Joined
Jul 15, 2009
Messages
916
Reaction score
659
Location
Venice Island, Florida
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
2-years is nothing! I don't understand the people claiming they are reliable after less than a year or two when their are so many failures in less than a year. I have not heard anyone say they have had one for 5 years trouble free. I have had several other brands of pumps for 10 and even 22+ years trouble free. That is reliable.
They may last longer than you think but regardless who really cares what someone else buys.
 
Last edited:

Eggs

Well-Known Member
View Badges
Joined
Aug 15, 2009
Messages
905
Reaction score
517
Location
South Florida
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I bought a 300g aquarium recently and the seller used two Jebao DCT-12000 for returns. He said he had no issues. I haven’t decided yet if that’s the route I’ll take.
 

PDR

<°)))>{
View Badges
Joined
Jul 13, 2015
Messages
3,354
Reaction score
16,274
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I really like the sicce syncra silent pumps. Not the cheapest but still much cheaper than most DC pumps and super reliable.
 
OP
OP
I

IDAN

Active Member
View Badges
Joined
Nov 27, 2017
Messages
163
Reaction score
43
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
It looks like everyone had different experiences with these pumps. I am not sure if they are long enough in the market to determent if they'll less for 5 or more years.
If you guys have alternatives I would like to hear about it, again I am not looking for the most expensive this is the easiest to find. (And please don't tell me, "so be ready to replace every 6 months bla bla lba").
I am looking for reliable, 3000 GPH and up, I don't care if it's DC or not, and to be able to control the speed\flow rate.
 

Sarah24!

2500 Club Member
View Badges
Joined
Feb 6, 2017
Messages
3,280
Reaction score
11,610
Location
Idaho
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Hello,

I run two current 3100 gph dc pumps on my 240 one per overflow. They have been amazing and the customer service and warranty is fabulous. I have had mine 16 months and to be honest this weekend will be the first time they get a vinegar bath. Still only run them about 65-70%, but you definitely know when you turn them up to 100%. The price point on these is also really nice and they are Bluetooth linked as well. Even at 100% they are dead silent and they do an amazing job.

It’s nice to reach out to get an idea of what others use. What most don’t realize is 95% of all this equipment is made in China, or assembled, or something, but designed and stationed here in the states. Anybody can have a gorgeous beautiful reef tank when you spend tons of money. What fun is that? It gets more fun when your tank looks as good as the one where someone spent 30k on, and yet you spent a third of that or less. Have some and experiment, (sometimes things do kinda suck, but the experience you gain from it is priceless. People by super expensive return pumps (because they don’t want it to fail). Well what happens if it does? I spent 1200 (example only), and it failed. At least when they do fail, you know what to do and faster at it. We can always blame equipment, but 75% or even 80% it fails because we become too dependent and or complacent.
 
Last edited:

laverda

2500 Club Member
View Badges
Joined
Jun 6, 2008
Messages
2,898
Reaction score
2,134
Location
Anaheim
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
It looks like everyone had different experiences with these pumps. I am not sure if they are long enough in the market to determent if they'll less for 5 or more years.
If you guys have alternatives I would like to hear about it, again I am not looking for the most expensive this is the easiest to find. (And please don't tell me, "so be ready to replace every 6 months bla bla lba").
I am looking for reliable, 3000 GPH and up, I don't care if it's DC or not, and to be able to control the speed\flow rate.
AC pumps have proven to be the most reliable by a significant amount. I had 3000gph @ 6' spa pump by LM Lin Company for over 20 years. It came with my tank when I bought it and was about 5 years old then. It was still performing like a champ when I donated it with my tank to a local collage. During the time I had it I replaced the seals twice and cleaned it only twice that I remember. I would definitely recommend their pumps. The only reason I got rid of it was I wanted a larger sump with an internal pump and did not want that much flow.
I have been using a Deepwater BLDC10 for the laat 2.5 years and am very happy with it so far. It has been 100% reliable to date, however I don't expect it to last 20+ years and have a backup pump on hand. It was more than a jeabo, but I was able to buy 2 for less than the Vectra pumps that had not been released yet.
 
Last edited:
OP
OP
I

IDAN

Active Member
View Badges
Joined
Nov 27, 2017
Messages
163
Reaction score
43
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Hello,

I run two current 3100 gph dc pumps on my 240 one per overflow. They have been amazing and the customer service and warranty is fabulous. I have had mine 16 months and to be honest this weekend will be the first time they get a vinegar bath. Still only run them about 65-70%, but you definitely know when you turn them up to 100%. The price point on these is also really nice and they are Bluetooth linked as well. Even at 100% they are dead silent and they do an amazing job.

It’s nice to reach out to get an idea of what others use. What most don’t realize is 95% of all this equipment is made in China, or assembled, or something, but designed and stationed here in the states. Anybody can have a gorgeous beautiful reef tank when you spend tons of money. What fun is that? It gets more fun when your tank looks as good as the one where someone spent 30k on, and yet you spent a third of that or less. Have some and experiment, (sometimes things do kinda suck, but the experience you gain from it is priceless. People by super expensive return pumps (because they don’t want it to fail). Well what happens if it does? I spent 1200 (example only), and it failed. At least when they do fail, you know what to do and faster at it. We can always blame equipment, but 75% or even 80% it fails because we become too dependent and or complacent.
What is the make and model of your pumps?
 

Sarah24!

2500 Club Member
View Badges
Joined
Feb 6, 2017
Messages
3,280
Reaction score
11,610
Location
Idaho
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Hello,

I have two of the current usa 3170 eflux dc return pumps model numbers should be model 6011. They have been amazing and well I still havnt cleaned them. They can be found on amazon for 254 or lfs, my had them for the same price as well. For the price they are really really good pumps and would have no problem in trusting them.
 

TOP 10 Trending Threads

WHAT AMOUNT OF LIVE ROCK AND SAND SHOULD BE PRIORITIZED FOR OPTIMAL BIODIVERSITY/FILTRATION?

  • 100% live rock + bagged sand

    Votes: 34 28.1%
  • 100% dry rock + 100% live sand

    Votes: 41 33.9%
  • 50/50 live/dry rock, 50/50 live/bagged sand

    Votes: 27 22.3%
  • 75% live rock, 25% live sand

    Votes: 11 9.1%
  • 25% live rock, 75% live sand

    Votes: 8 6.6%
Back
Top