what is a better pump

[Justin D]

Hello on a 650 gallon aquarium what is a better pump dolphin or Reeflo I'm hearing Dolphin Pumps have better seals and last longer and they are more energy efficient then Reeflo

 

[tigerdragon]

I'd say reeflo gold hybrid

 

[fab]

Justin D,

With a tank that size you should be planning 2 or 3 return pumps for redundancy. They do not have to be equally powerful.

If you can, use speed controllable pumps and run them at "best efficiency points," not at full head pressure. Then when one dies you can up the operating point of one or both of the other pumps while you sort out the failed one and get it repaired or replaced.

 

[jduck]

Why not several of the the New Vectra Pumps??

 

[Justin D]

Justin D,

With a tank that size you should be planning 2 or 3 return pumps for redundancy. They do not have to be equally powerful.

If you can, use speed controllable pumps and run them at "best efficiency points," not at full head pressure. Then when one dies you can up the operating point of one or both of the other pumps while you sort out the failed one and get it repaired or replaced.

Who makes those pumps what the manufacturer's name? What I was thinking was 1 return pump and 2 closed loop pumps or if I do not do the closed-loop I will get 2 or 4 gyres

 

[fab]

I was going to do 2 closed loop returns, originally. That is how I have done tanks before and liked it. But now, with the speed controllable circulation powerheads, I decided not to do closed loop circulation. I can get all the flow I want with them and I can move them around with no plumbing limiting my options. These have really moved up in their being superior to plumbed loops in my judgement. I have a mix of Ecotech MP 40 Vortech and Neptune Systems WAV powerheads. I opted for the MP40 over the MP60 so I could use more of the smaller powerheads rather than fewer of the largest ones, thereby having more versatility in my configuration and flow patterns.

The Vortech and the WAV flow patterns are different from each other, so that is another configuration variable I can use to my advantage.

I use 3 independently plumbed and controlled DC return pumps for redundancy and backup options as I described in a post above.
fab

"Two things are universal, hydrogen and stupidity."