Return Pumps

[JimOB]

I am in the process of building a 200g display with a basement sump. Although I have gotten a 60x18x16 sump, I can’t fit 2 return pumps in my return chamber. The pumps I have identified are intended to give me 1056 gph each at 20’ of head pressure. The pumps are suitable for external hard piping. I’m unsure of how to configure the piping. It would be drastic to drill 2 holes in the base of the sump and pipe in the pumps off the end of the sump. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[56longroof]

Your going to have to drill holes for a external pump.

 

[mfinn]

You have 2 choices. In sump or external. External means drilling holes in the sump and using bulkhead fittings to run pipe to.

 

[mmorrison55]

This guy did it. He’s here on r2r

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/anyone-running-the-vectra-external.235295/

 

[mmorrison55]

You have 2 choices. In sump or external. External means drilling holes in the sump and using bulkhead fittings to run pipe to.

Thats too funny… I just found the other thread you showed your setup with your ecotechs

 

[mfinn]

Thats too funny… I just found the other thread you showed your setup with your ecotechs

Now I see. Got it.

 

[mfinn]

Thats too funny… I just found the other thread you showed your setup with your ecotechs

For what it's worth, that tank originally had a dart/snapper hybrid on my closed loop and a eheim as the return.
Then after I got tired of the noise, I went Vectra L1 on the closed loop and Vectra M1 on the return.
Now it has a pair of Red Dragon 3 pumps.
So what's so funny?

 

[mmorrison55]

For what it's worth, that tank originally had a dart/snapper hybrid on my closed loop and a eheim as the return.
Then after I got tired of the noise, I went Vectra L1 on the closed loop and Vectra M1 on the return.
Now it has a pair of Red Dragon 3 pumps.
So what's so funny?

Funny as in what’s the odds. That I pasted the link to your other post showing how you did it at just about the same time.

Did I offend you somehow? That was not my intention.

 

[mfinn]

Funny as in what’s the odds. That I pasted the link to your other post showing how you did it at just about the same time.

Did I offend you somehow? That was not my intention.

Maybe I took it wrong. Sorry.
Only 1/2 a cup of coffee this morning

 

[mmorrison55]

For what it's worth, that tank originally had a dart/snapper hybrid on my closed loop and a eheim as the return.
Then after I got tired of the noise, I went Vectra L1 on the closed loop and Vectra M1 on the return.
Now it has a pair of Red Dragon 3 pumps.
So what's so funny?

Did you end up having problems with the Ecotech or just wanted to upgrade to the red dragons?

Ive thought about doing similar and replacing mine with abyzz, deltec or royal exclusiv. But that abyzz price is hard to swallow. Deltec and royal exclusiv would be an easier hit on the wallet, and hopefully still provide the German quality at a fraction of the price.

 

[mfinn]

Did you end up having problems with the Ecotech or just wanted to upgrade to the red dragons?

Ive thought about doing similar and replacing mine with abyzz, deltec or royal exclusiv. But that abyzz price is hard to swallow. Deltec and royal exclusiv would be an easier hit on the wallet, and hopefully still provide the German quality at a fraction of the price.

I had problems with the Vectra L1. Went through 2 in less than a year.
Had the second replacement installed ( L2) when I saw a ebay auction for RD3 150 watt and won that.
I decided to replace the Vectra M1 with a RD3 80 watt.
I'm a big fan of the RD3's.

 

[mfinn]

Did you end up having problems with the Ecotech or just wanted to upgrade to the red dragons?

Ive thought about doing similar and replacing mine with abyzz, deltec or royal exclusiv. But that abyzz price is hard to swallow. Deltec and royal exclusiv would be an easier hit on the wallet, and hopefully still provide the German quality at a fraction of the price.

Royal Exclusiv did away with the RD3 line and now have RD5 Eco pumps.
I have a 200 watt version, but may not use it. I like the way the RD3's are working right now.

 

[areefer01]

Now it has a pair of Red Dragon 3 pumps.

How do you like your RD3's? I have sitting on my shelf. I've been holding off swapping as it is no longer made. I reached out to RE and they mentioned they will be making them again in Germany but didn't give an ETA.

Edit: just saw the other post, sorry - I hit reply and didn't finish. Do you know if the RD5 is import or made in Germany?

 

[mfinn]

How do you like your RD3's? I have sitting on my shelf. I've been holding off swapping as it is no longer made. I reached out to RE and they mentioned they will be making them again in Germany but didn't give an ETA.

Edit: just saw the other post, sorry - I hit reply and didn't finish. Do you know if the RD5 is import or made in Germany?

I love my RD3's. One thing about them that isn't great are the controllers. They are a little delicate. You aren't supposed to just cut the power to shut them off. You are supposed to turn down the speed ( watts)to 0, before cutting the power. It shortens the life of the controller. Or so they say.
Plus they have an internal power supply. So if you fubar it ( repeated on/off cycles without cutting watts) you end up replacing the whole thing. It's directly wired to the pump.
Other than that, I like them. Just some basic precautions. A UPS on them would protect against power surges ( electrical storms), and give you time to power them down, before starting you generator.
Cleaning them is a no brainer too.
The subject came up in another thread where someone said they were not made in Germany ( far east?) any more, so I went on Facebook and asked Scott Leif the question he replied;

"Controllers are assembled in Germany. Motor blocks are potted in Germany as well. I think they have the injection molding for the motor blocks done overseas. We CNC cut our own pump heads and rotors at the factory. The rare earth magnets are sourced by a company out of Germany as well


The power supplies are sourced from overseas. I believe they are produced in Taiwan"

 

[areefer01]

I love my RD3's. One thing about them that isn't great are the controllers. They are a little delicate. You aren't supposed to just cut the power to shut them off. You are supposed to turn down the speed ( watts)to 0, before cutting the power. It shortens the life of the controller. Or so they say.
Plus they have an internal power supply. So if you fubar it ( repeated on/off cycles without cutting watts) you end up replacing the whole thing. It's directly wired to the pump.
Other than that, I like them. Just some basic precautions. A UPS on them would protect against power surges ( electrical storms), and give you time to power them down, before starting you generator.
Cleaning them is a no brainer too.
The subject came up in another thread where someone said they were not made in Germany ( far east?) any more, so I went on Facebook and asked Scott Leif the question he replied;

"Controllers are assembled in Germany. Motor blocks are potted in Germany as well. I think they have the injection molding for the motor blocks done overseas. We CNC cut our own pump heads and rotors at the factory. The rare earth magnets are sourced by a company out of Germany as well


The power supplies are sourced from overseas. I believe they are produced in Taiwan"

Thank you for the information. Also on the controller part. I did not know that. Really appreciate your insight.

 

[mfinn]

Thank you for the information. Also on the controller part. I did not know that. Really appreciate your insight.

I only learned about from talking with Scott on FB. My first 80 watt pump only lasted about 7 years before it started acting up. Plus the 80 watt versions were older pumps and at the time I bought the one on ebay, had been discontinued in favor of the 100 watt version.

The new RD5's are different. They have a separate controller and a separate power supply.
They are supposed to be much more advanced.

 

[mfinn]

I am in the process of building a 200g display with a basement sump. Although I have gotten a 60x18x16 sump, I can’t fit 2 return pumps in my return chamber. The pumps I have identified are intended to give me 1056 gph each at 20’ of head pressure. The pumps are suitable for external hard piping. I’m unsure of how to configure the piping. It would be drastic to drill 2 holes in the base of the sump and pipe in the pumps off the end of the sump. Any help would be appreciated.

If this is going to be a basement sump, have you considered a old powerhouse pump like a Reeflo series pump. These are know to last decades. The only downside is the noise IMO.
You would still have to drill the sump. There are videos and kits available these days. I've used a couple kits and drill tanks in the past.

 

[Bubule]

Hello,
I asked myself this question when setting up my basement system, which had a 4.5m lift (from the basement floor to the top of the tank). I needed 4,500 L/h (1 200 Gl/h) for my 900 L (240 G) in the living room.

I had considered using two pumps for safety, but in fact, I use only one, the second is spare cause the flow rate is very high with one.

The problem was finding a pump with sufficient flow at 4.5 meters. And I didn't want 'RD' pump because I had already used them on skimmers and had been bothered by their reliability. For their price… I could find two for one.

I first found a Jebao 18000 which was able to push water at more than 4 500 l/h at this height (9m max).

This was mesurements I made on my system.

After few months of use, I realized that the 18 000 was oversized and bought the 15 000 Jebao (7m max), which is currently running at 90W to bring my water flow up to 3000 L/h. The 18 000 is in spare in the sump, ready to be restarted.

For me, the most important thing is to limit pressure losses in the pipes and bends. These pumps run 24/7. Every watt saved is important. My riser and fall pipes have a nominal diameter of DN50 (2").
The riser pipe, as straight as possible.

Both pumps are extremely quiet (it’s not a problem in basement). And given the price, even if they break down after 4 or 5 years, I won't have any qualms.

My basement

If it can help