Suggestions for return pump

[Abhishek]

Hi ,

Looking for a return pump for my 30 in x30 in x18 in tank .
Was thinking about Laguna max flo 1350 as I want to run a Mrc FMC 415 reactor on manifold with it .
Should I go for the 900 or the 1350 itself ?
Any other pump suggestion ? I know vectras and red dragons are awesome but I don't have money for them sadly .

Head height will be around 4-4.5 feet .

Regards,
ABHISHEK

 

[Anthony Wood]

Go with a jebao DC pump until you can afford or decide you want to invest into an expensive pump. Get a jebao with a tad more flow then you need because it's a DC pump and is adjustable. I mean there are other pumps out there but for the price point and how quite and little vibration the jebao puts off. The price point is hard to beat. Keep the jebao clean and free of obstructions and you should never have an issue with it.

 

[nemo1017]

+1 for jebao pump

 

[surfnsalt]

Just got the jebao pump. It is quite and controllable. +2

 

[mcarroll]

Hi ,

Looking for a return pump for my 30 in x30 in x18 in tank .
Was thinking about Laguna max flo 1350 as I want to run a Mrc FMC 415 reactor on manifold with it .
Should I go for the 900 or the 1350 itself ?
Any other pump suggestion ? I know vectras and red dragons are awesome but I don't have money for them sadly .

Head height will be around 4-4.5 feet .

Regards,
ABHISHEK

I'm curious: why run the reactor off of your return pump?

A Mag 5 or 7 or an Eheim 1260 would be all you'd need for a straight return. Then the reactor could be run with just about any medium sized pump. You also get a bit of redundancy that way.

A Mag 9.5 or Eheim 1262 would probably run the manifold too, but you lose a bit of redundancy.

I've heard Laguna are good pumps, but do they sell a normal pump, or are they all built with that gi-normous-looking intake grate?

(I'm still in the DC-pumps-make-no-sense-for-returns camp. And they're either too cheap or too expensive AND still too new.)

 

[Anthony Wood]

I'm curious: why run the reactor off of your return pump?

A Mag 5 or 7 or an Eheim 1260 would be all you'd need for a straight return. Then the reactor could be run with just about any medium sized pump. You also get a bit of redundancy that way.

A Mag 9.5 or Eheim 1262 would probably run the manifold too, but you lose a bit of redundancy.

I've heard Laguna are good pumps, but do they sell a normal pump, or are they all built with that gi-normous-looking intake grate?

(I'm still in the DC-pumps-make-no-sense-for-returns camp. And they're either too cheap or too expensive AND still too new.)

One may not need the adjustability of a DC pump but the reason for having a DC pump is for the noise and vibration factor. Not to mention the power consumption for the output you get. There isn't a AC powered pump out there that'll match the noise level and vibration of a DC pump. These are the main factors to consider going with a DC pump. If you can deal with noise and vibration go AC if you want quite go DC. I can tell you from experience a mag drive is loud as hell and will vibrate like no tomorrow. I've had one, had a jebao still use one on one of my tanks and I also have the Vectra L1 (had the m1 also). From experience of having all these the vectra is by far the best pump I've ever had and will be the last I ever buy because of the noise level....there is none. Not to mention the output I get with its power consumption.

DC return pumps are nothing new they have been used for countless other applications. It's just that the aquarium industry manufactures are just starting to realize the benefits and really started to shift towards making DC return pumps. Look at ecotech they have been making the vortechs for years and are proven, that dry side magnet is DC powered.

Yes there are junk ones out there and there are real good ones made by top rated companies. You get what you pay for. I agree with you though run a seperate pump for the manifold let the return pump only return water to the tank.

 

[mcarroll]

I'd bank on an Eheim, or Sicce as being as quiet and - when well placed into an application - just as efficient. I have yet to see a return application where the difference in reality was as clear cut as the marketing.

What Sicce and Eheim have that Jebao and the rest of the DC pump resellers don't have, is a track record. That's the burden of being the new guy.

I named Mag's because they are probably the most bullet-proof pump out there and very available, not because they are the most silent. I've never had a noise issue with them - they are pretty darned quiet - but I can also recognize that my QuietOne (which is a Sicce) and Eheim pumps are more-silent. :)

The only way I hear the QuietOne is with the entire system shut off and the house HVAC system not running. Even with my wide-open stand and my head right there in the vicinity, the QuietOne (running the return...usually the last thing I power down for major maintenance) is virtually inaudible.

 

[Anthony Wood]

Everyone is entitled to there opinion. But put an AC pump of your choosing side by side a vectra and the vectra will 100% come out on top. I would bet my brand new truck on it. I've had sicce and eheim also. Haven't had a quiet one but can guarantee it wouldn't compare to a vectra e.g. a DC pump. I've done the side by side with all these pumps except the quiet one. First hand experience noise and vibration level are not in the same ball park as the vectra. Again have your own opinion but you are respectfully wrong about DC pumps.

 

[USMC 4 LIFE]

I have a quite one 4000. I like it. It's controllable and cheap. I would prefer the DC ones for obvious reasons but I don't mind the little buzz that comes from a quite one. Can't be to anal about everything.

 

[Abhishek]

Thanks guys for the amazing discussion !!
Well to be honest , am not much concerned with noise . But yes I would like to reduce the heat transferred as I will have enough of heat from my halides ..
I will surely look into the possibilities of running the return separately from the reactors .

Regards,
ABHISHEK

 

[mcarroll]

Everyone is entitled to there opinion.

Again have your own opinion but you are respectfully wrong about DC pumps.

I'm not sure what to make of this...seems like nonsense.

I guess it's calling me a liar since I was relating my own experience, not spouting an opinion.

Have a nice day and I hope you enjoy your Vectra for years to come. :rolleyes:

 

[Anthony Wood]

I'm not sure what to make of this...seems like nonsense.

I guess it's calling me a liar since I was relating my own experience, not spouting an opinion.

Have a nice day and I hope you enjoy your Vectra for years to come. :rolleyes:

What I'm getting at is that your experience is only that of a AC pump never have had a DC pump to experience. Idk if their was a miscommunication or that I can't comprehend what I'm reading tonight. Either way your experience with what you think of quiet is and what my experience of what quiet can be out of a DC pump are different. No intention of being rude but in a long drawn out way I was just stating that a DC pump is going to give off less noise and vibration then every AC pump out there from first hand experience owning them all.

 

[mcarroll]

Well to be honest , am not much concerned with noise . But yes I would like to reduce the heat transferred as I will have enough of heat from my halides ..

I think a Sicce (QuietOne's are now made in china...can't swear the performance would be the same as the old Sicce-made ones from a year or more ago) would probably be the best fit....it's very low-wattage and also happens to be crazy-quiet.

I'd go with the Silence 2.0 - 35 watts max and should give you the flow you need at only 4.5 feet of head...even over 5' of head.

If you decide on the manifold, select the Silence 3.0

:)

 

[Mrx7899]

I have quite one 2200 it's very quite and it's adjustable not bad for 50 bucks it runs to reactors off a manifold at about 5 feet of head pressure been running for 2 years. When it's goes I want to go DC either a jebao or a vectra

 

[Gustavo Martinez]

Is it possible to use a slightly bigger/stronger return pump than what's recommended for your system so that you don't have to use wavemakers or powerheads in the system?

 

[mcarroll]

Plumbing is the best way to kill flow, so not really....you can do it but it takes a lot more than just a slightly larger pump.

A powerhead can do better with 10-15 watts than a return pump could do with 300 watts. The disparity is huge. :)

 

[Gustavo Martinez]

Awesome... Thanks for the advice...