Return pumps are underrated

[exnisstech]

However, I have to ask, why would you not clean such a critical device for 6 years?

Mostly because I don't like having to crawl around working in the sump if I don't have to so if they're working ok I let them do their thing. I suppose partly I'm lazy but I also have hip, knee, and back pain that makes crawling around in the stand and getting back up a very unpleasantness experience so I try to avoid it when I can. I have a rolling stool I use but I have to actually get down on the floor to swap out a return.
TLDR I'm old and it hurts to crawl around

 

[jmaneyapanda]

Mostly because I don't like having to crawl around working in the sump if I don't have to so if they're working ok I let them do their thing. I suppose partly I'm lazy but I also have hip, knee, and back pain that makes crawling around in the stand and getting back up a very unpleasantness experience so I try to avoid it when I can. I have a rolling stool I use but I have to actually get down on the floor to swap out a return.
TLDR I'm old and it hurts to crawl around

Fair enough. Thats a pretty reasonable excuse!!

 

[Dakota_reef]

I use a COR20 that's pushing about 450 gph for my 150g display. I have a closed loop Vectra on one side (so you can see from the side) and Vortecs on the other side. Central return.

Now, I have an unused UV that I will eventually add and this is plumbed to T off of my return but lately I've been thinking it will have it's own return pump so it's a backup if my main return fails. I have a weird circuit that will randomly trip the GFCI (and i DO mean randomly, a few times a year). So this way I'll have the UV return on another circuit.

 

[dwest]

Mostly because I don't like having to crawl around working in the sump if I don't have to so if they're working ok I let them do their thing. I suppose partly I'm lazy but I also have hip, knee, and back pain that makes crawling around in the stand and getting back up a very unpleasantness experience so I try to avoid it when I can. I have a rolling stool I use but I have to actually get down on the floor to swap out a return.
TLDR I'm old and it hurts to crawl around

Yep. I used to clean return pumps. But after a few decades, I got tired of it.

I also now use Jebao pumps. Two dedicated pumps with their own independent return lines. I’m guessing each is putting out 1-2 tank turnovers per hour.

 

[lowkeymon12]

Wow 30 times an hour?! That seems like a lot of flow, do you see any benefit for that high of turn over?

Sorry that was a Typo I meant to say 10 times per hour. I like a higher turnover so my skimmer can work a little more, currently have a lot of SPS frags and goni frags, parameters are at .06 phos, 5.5 nitrate and alk is sitting steady between 8.3-8.5

 

[Afrashz]

Sicce ftw

 

[atoll]

Jebao 8000 on a 100 gallon system had for 5 years no problems at all. Great VFM pump.

 

[areefer01]

I believe return pumps receive limited attention despite being the unsung heroes across our systems.

Critical life support component. Return pump(s) should have a considerable reefing budget at the start but often don't and cheapest is selected.

New tank, one or two years old easy enough to restart if a pump fails that leads to a catastrophic loss. On the other hand a 5, 10, 15 year old tank with large colonies, mixed bag of fish or even rare / expensive, the same catastrophic loss leads to an exit of the hobby. Some fish may not even be able to be replaced due to collection bans and/or limitations.

How does that $200 USD pump look now...

I currently run a Core 15 and it’s served well over the last two years.

They are decent pumps when properly plumed as is the Cor 20.

 

[ReefingRory]

I believe return pumps receive limited attention despite being the unsung heroes across our systems.

Which return pump do you currently use?
Do you operate with high flow or minimal flow?
What is your estimated turnover rate?

I currently run a Core 15 and it’s served well over the last two years. What is your go to choice?

I'm currently running a Royal Exclusiv Red Dragon X as my return pump. I've been really happy with it so far, it's very quiet, the controller is easy to use, and it's been reliable for me.
One thing worth mentioning is that it's actually a rebranded/upgraded ZKSJ pump. If that doesn't bother you, it's definitely a solid option in my experience.

 

[Saltsavage504]

I believe return pumps receive limited attention despite being the unsung heroes across our systems.

Which return pump do you currently use?
Do you operate with high flow or minimal flow?
What is your estimated turnover rate?

I currently run a Core 15 and it’s served well over the last two years. What is your go to choice?

Tunze 1073.008 210gph I have on max. Thats another problem I have. I got a ato but my return section fluctuates so much I can't use it. I dont wanna water whip my salt lol. I dont lose any really and check my salinity everyday and its always 34 to 35

 

[Privateye]

I still use a Danner Supreme Mag Drive on my 90 gallon reef, and have for 10 years. Still runs like new, I've never had to do any maintenance on it, and given their track record I'd expect to get another 10 years or so out of it before I need to replace any parts. I have the flow reduced with a ball valve. I'd estimate I get about 300-400 GPH. The rest of the movement comes from my powerheads.

It's amazing how these trends change over time. 15 years ago Danner pumps were a staple. Sicce showed up and took some of their business somehow (I assume through marketing) but I've never been impressed with Sicce long-term. They always fail or rattle within the first few years. I went through 4 Sicce pumps in 5 years. The only one that still lives is the tiny guy driving my in-tank protein skimmer. Or at least I assume it works. It did when I removed the skimmer years ago.

Then DC pumps hit the market and everyone went wild for them. Danner is still making the same pumps, with the same reputation for longevity, but they really don't do much marketing. I think that's why I'm not seeing them in this thread. They're true workhorses!

 

[steveschuerger]

A little biased on brand as I’ve pretty much been an IM user almost from the start. So yes return pumps are important. And MightyJet has been my preferred even as an after market. Running my !M with a MJ 326 which I got used on eBay as I bought the starter package for the tank.

 

[areefer01]

I'm currently running a Royal Exclusiv Red Dragon X as my return pump. I've been really happy with it so far, it's very quiet, the controller is easy to use, and it's been reliable for me.
One thing worth mentioning is that it's actually a rebranded/upgraded ZKSJ pump. If that doesn't bother you, it's definitely a solid option in my experience.

I thought I read recently that they are back to making their own? They ran into a supply issue I thought they said - but of course take that with a grain of salt.

The original RD3's are pretty nice pumps. Still have one in a box saved for a project I didn't start...one day.

 

[keagan]

I've always ran a Jebao my last one ran fine for 5 years before a huge storm knocked power out for weeks and I lost everything. It's interesting how people equate more money to better equipment, I would argue this isn't always the case.

 

[areefer01]

It's interesting how people equate more money to better equipment, I would argue this isn't always the case.

Actually, they don't. It comes down to design and hobbyist risk level. Maintenance also comes into play which if you read various social media posts some do not do. Some items in our hobby play a vital role and when they fail it can lead to a total loss depending on if one is present or away or doesn't have plans in place for mitigation.

Sometimes price does carry a warranty but of course that will vary. Abyzz has 10 years. So factor that into the price. Tunze has 5 year warranty. Again, factor that into the equation.

Price is just one variable but there are others such as warranty, energy efficiency, etc.

I understand that some do equate price to quality and/or name brands inside, and outside, our hobby but not sure I would just assume.

 

[Quietman]

Tunze Silence 1073.005 DC. Haven't cleaned it since I installed it Feb 20. Just keeps running. I don't use the speed changer often, but when I had to change the speed a few times to support different UV flows it came it very handy. Daily feed mode is only interaction I have with it regularly.

If that's not an unsung hero, don't know what it.

I should add that I turned off my power heads several months ago. Just didn't think they were doing much in my softie tank. RSR 170. Now the one pump is handling everything.

 

[ReefingRory]

I'm currently running a Royal Exclusiv Red Dragon X as my return pump. I've been really happy with it so far, it's very quiet, the controller is easy to use, and it's been reliable for me.
One thing worth mentioning is that it's actually a rebranded/upgraded ZKSJ pump. If that doesn't bother you, it's definitely a solid option in my experience.

I thought I read recently that they are back to making their own? They ran into a supply issue I thought they said - but of course take that with a grain of salt.

The original RD3's are pretty nice pumps. Still have one in a box saved for a project I didn't start...one day.

I can only speak about the Red Dragon X series, as that's the one I'm currently using. From what I've seen, I also believe the RD5 Eco is based on a zksj pump, although I could be mistaken.
Before this, I had a Red Dragon Mini 2500, which was built around an Askoll block. Those pumps were on another level in terms of build quality. I really miss how overbuilt and solid they felt. They were true workhorses.
That said, I've been happy with the Red Dragon X so far. It does exactly what I need it to do.

 

[marcus aurelius]

110%
My upgrade is going to have 2 external return pumps.

 

[keagan]

Actually, they don't. It comes down to design and hobbyist risk level. Maintenance also comes into play which if you read various social media posts some do not do. Some items in our hobby play a vital role and when they fail it can lead to a total loss depending on if one is present or away or doesn't have plans in place for mitigation.

Sometimes price does carry a warranty but of course that will vary. Abyzz has 10 years. So factor that into the price. Tunze has 5 year warranty. Again, factor that into the equation.

Price is just one variable but there are others such as warranty, energy efficiency, etc.

I understand that some do equate price to quality and/or name brands inside, and outside, our hobby but not sure I would just assume.

"Critical life support component. Return pump(s) should have a considerable reefing budget at the start but often don't and cheapest is selected."

It seemed like this was insinuating that less money=worse pump that's why I said what I did. My apologies if I misinterpreted. I've seen more old systems running Jebao than most of the name brand return pumps. If it lasts a decade then craps out I can still afford another 3 before I'm at the same cost as a return pump with a warranty.

 

[dwest]

Over the past several decades my return pumps have evolved mainly from eheim to danner to Jebao. My internal flow pumps have gone mainly from maxijets to mp40’s to Tunze orca.

The biggest changes have been with internal flow IMO.