What is the most quiet return pumps?

[Tom R]

I use a Dolphin Amp Master 3000. It is not a high pressure pump however it is rated to move about 3600 GPH. It is the quietest pump around and it only uses approx 90W of power per hour.

I have been using this pump for 7 years without a problem. It uses approx half the power of the Reeflo pumps.

I currently have about 525G in my system all going through the one pump and sump.

Tom R

[i have crabs]

my red dragon is completely silent. impossible to get any quieter

[sphelps]

Ive used an amp master pump before as well, they are quiet but I don't know if they are that efficient. The 4000/3000 model has an average power rating of 170W. The dart has similar flow characteristics but has an average rating of 145W. I do think the amp master may be a quieter pump though, but tough to say as I've never actually had them side by side in the same application.

[BlueAbyss]

I'm ordering one of the new Tunze Silence pumps... the one I'm ordering is too small for what you'd need, but they do have a new synchronous electronic pump that draws 120W and pumps 2192gph. It's called the Master Electronic. http://www.tunze.com/149.html?&L=1&C...-infoxunter051

[sphelps]

Originally Posted by BlueAbyss

I'm ordering one of the new Tunze Silence pumps... the one I'm ordering is too small for what you'd need, but they do have a new synchronous electronic pump that draws 120W and pumps 2192gph. It's called the Master Electronic. http://www.tunze.com/149.html?&L=1&C...-infoxunter051

The master electronic looks pretty similar to a quiet one, especially the impeller, I wouldn't expect it to be very quiet.

[BlueAbyss]

Hmm, yeah I sorta thought so also, but it is a Tunze. And the synchronous drive probably makes it quieter than a regular asynchronous magnetic drive pump.

[sphelps]

Originally Posted by BlueAbyss

Hmm, yeah I sorta thought so also, but it is a Tunze. And the synchronous drive probably makes it quieter than a regular asynchronous magnetic drive pump.

I would assume the quiet ones are also synchronous. Correct me if I'm wrong but I believe this simply means the frequency of the AC motor is consistent and therefore always turns at the same speed. This would likely be consistent with any magnetically driven pump. I'm fairly confident that these two pumps are identical, meaning the same motor and impeller.

[mr_alberta]

I got this message from Roger Vitko over at Reef Central regarding the Master Electronic Pump, maybe it'll be helpful to you:

the 1073.090 can be used submerse or external. It is a large pump and makes some noise and the noise is worse with submerse use because it vibrates against the glass of the sump. External it makes about the same amount of noise as a large Iwaki or Dart pump.

[BlueAbyss]

Originally Posted by sphelps

I would assume the quiet ones are also synchronous. Correct me if I'm wrong but I believe this simply means the frequency of the AC motor is consistent and therefore always turns at the same speed. This would likely be consistent with any magnetically driven pump. I'm fairly confident that these two pumps are identical, meaning the same motor and impeller.

I think synchronous refers to the rotor (impeller) rotating at the same speed as the rotating magnetic field in the coils, which I assume is where the electronics come in.

It's good to know that this pump is not quiet. It is efficient though...

[Raf]

Thanks for the info guys!

For me the snappers are not as quiet as I like, but I think that is more from vibrations than actual fan/motor noise. Any ideas, going to be using rigid plumbing on a closed loop?

BTW, are the RED DRAGON pumps just submersible?

thx