What return pump would u buy??
 

Need a return pump for a new build I'm starting... Display will be 48x36x24. Will be coast to coast overflow with a bean animal setup. In tank flow will be provided by 2 tunze 6155s and 2x 6105s. So Thinking 1000-1500ish gph will be enough. Quiet is important as it will be in a living area and the wife ain't to fond of pump noise...Cost is slightly a factor but would consider $$$. To keep the wife happier
What would u buy???
Thanks for your thoughts

submursible or external? I'll probably get bashed senseless for this, but my Jebao has been quiet and flawless for a year now.

Prob submersible they tend to be quieter and one less place to leak from

For my 180 I just setup I am running a fluval sp4. It is an askol pump with ceramic bearings and is dead silent. And I believe it only uses something like 88 watts.

I'll keep recommending my fave for tanks in our range;
Eheim 1262

For your 180 you'd only need approx 1000 gph through the sump to satisfy your skimmer

I put my pump on a pad cut from this stuff.
Everyone who's ever heard my sump can tell you it's dead silent :biggrin:

Pump's been running for 3 years this coming May with not 1 issue, and only 1 or 2 cleanings

Only drawback I'll admit to is the 80w rated power usage

i run a reeflow snapper for return and also run carbon and gfo reactors off it. I wasnt a fan of submersible pumps constant cleaning and impellers

I've had reeflo the past... Found them to be loud and also had a grafite seal go on me... New house with hardwood

My initial build included an external return pump.
Just weeks after we replaced all the carpet in the house I ran a system test with freshwater and the plumbing leaked a whole lot of water - enough that I had to strip my sump room to dry out the brand-new carpet and underlay, and the wood flooring.

I sealed my sump bulkhead and haven't looked back since :smile:

Sounds like you need an internal pump, ya ? :biggrin:

Don't buy a Mag, it's fr3@kin loud. I just wasted a $100 on a noisy pump, it's over rated :redface:

I've been running the same mag18 on my tank now for over 5 years. Doesn't seem noisy to me. No one ever seems to mention it (any noise). Maybe I'm desensitized. I'll have to ask Brett the next time he's over.

Found Mag pumps to produce a lot of excess heat.

I've used 3 mags over the years and never liked any of them
They lack mounting options/plumbing options, are bulky/heavy, and the ceramic shafts are too delicate (I've broken more than 1)

Which helps me save on my energy bill by reducing run time on my heaters :lol:

Guess we're all going to have different opinions
At least there's lots of input for the OP here :smile:

Pretty much. With every post comes the disclaimer : your mileage WILL vary. :-)

Had a MAG 12 on the 180 for years, loved it. I have an old MAG 3 running my Ca Reactor, I have to feel it to make sure it's running. I do find the newer ones I have are a bit louder.

Ya, the little ones aren't bad
I had a mag12 and eventually a mag18 running the chiller on my 125g freshwater
Things were brutes and even sitting on the carpeted floor with all silicone hose they could be heard in the next room ... hmmmmmmmm
And they were pretty warm to touch. Guess it's a good thing they were external

Mags are so much less money than Eheims, so it's hard to decide isn't it ...

I use a MAG 12 now in my 50g mixing barrel. It heats the water to 78. Works perfect -lol

:lol:
Maybe they should have marketed them as pump/heater units :rolleyes:

Eheim 1262 is about as good as it gets for a return pump. I use them EVERYWHERE!

I have experience with the mag9.5 and mag12 and both produce lots of heat and they are nowhere near silent. In a 55g brute, mixing salt, the mag12 will heat the water.

Jebao pumps for me :D pretty quiet, low power take, and controllabillity

Same. In fact, running a 12 in my 180, my heaters never came on. Worked out well, but they are big bulky beasts with some noise.

Eheim 1262 going on its 12th year. Hmmm didn't know you had to clean them.

Eheim pumps run everything (skimmer, ca reactor) on my system for years with no issues so far. Downside is wattage consumed - upside is dead quite, run cool, reliable, great customer service and very durable.

I use an eheim on my smaller tank and a Quietone on my 180. Both are dead quiet, have low heat and low power draw (the quietone is anyways). Highly Recommended. I agree on the Fluval, ended up returning it because I couldn't get it quiet. Not a fan of mags either.

Everytime I'm over you've got your junk exposed so it seems a bit noisy to me. I'm sure with your stand doors closed it's a lot quieter.

Like the others I love the eheim. My mag 12 was pretty quiet, 18 a bit noisier and the 24 makes a serious racket now.

Gonna go with the Jebao DCT12000 for my new build. Reviews seem to be good for its price/performance.

Can't beat Jebao for the price.

With that said, if you need warranty, be prepared to wait.

OMG, remind me never to visit Kien when he has his "junk exposed". :crazyeye::crazyeye::crazyeye::nono::jaw:

having experience with both Royal Exclusiv and Deltec with warranty I can only chuckle at this even tho you're right. I think the only time we hobbyists ever get decent warranty service is with more common, mid-priced goods.

I run a Mag 950 never had any issues with it in 18 months runs quiet and while it does run a little hot I take that as a bonus saves my heaters from over working themselves

Thanks for bringing this up, at least I have better use of this hummmm maker. Why didn't I thought about that? Dang! :lol:

I run a Jebao DCT 12000 at 100% on my 300 gal. Its been running since November with no issues. Super quiet and 85 watts at 100%. You could probably get away with running 60-70% and save some power too.

why didn't I think of this???

Hey Skimmin, for my 165g (+55g sump) build, do you think I will need the DCT12000, or is that overkill? Maybe I can get away with one model down?

i have 2 running and with the door on my stand i cant hear them over my light fans so it doesnt really bother me.
I have 1 that has the seal leaking but its 5 years old and seals are wear and tear items so its not an issue in the big picture. I also have the entire bottom of my stand lined with like 1/8 inch thick rubber and an alarm that lets me know when there is water in it. ($10 at any heating or plumbing company.) I hear you on the flooring tho I just laid all new flooring last year and would not want to do it again anytime soon.
I went through 3 different mag pumps and a couple impeller shafts in 2 years so i decided Id try the external pump route, and run reactors off the return pump and Id need some serious convincing to go back to submersible pumps.

Venotec Abyzz a200. Dead silent.

A bit out of my budget... Looks perty tho

Brian, IMO overkill is good. Always better to have too much than too little. Plus you can always dial it down and/or tee off for reactors, chiller, etc.