The number one rule for me is; *NO internal pump ever, heat, plastic DC NO WAY. The life is so, so short lived any brand!. Ever had a pump go down and be at the mercy of your next pay check..? Not for me period. It is nothing to plump a pump in, I have never had one leak or drip ever!. I also feel like with a external pump I have way more control over my tanks - period. With that being said, there is ONLY one pump I would ever both buy and use. I bought a **Japanese Iwaki 100r 27 years ago it has pumped right at 2160 *PLUS gallons an hour, 36 plus gallons per min at a head height of 39ft at 25psi that's running wide open. I run 265 gallons plus total on my system and it also runs my skimmer as well, it's 5 foot tall. With 2 tanks a 90 and a 110 and a 100 gallon sump of sorts, it is a 100 gallon plastic horse trough with my sump in it, I keep that down in my basement lol. If the power go's off no problem, that way it never overflows in my basement. These are heavy duty pumps and have a huge real head height. They only pump water that you need in your tank or tanks.. Ball valves control the amount of water the pump can push out, because of the magnetic drive.
Mine went bad on me right at about 2 years ago now. It started to just kind of squeal just a little bit off and on... I knew. I shopped very extensively both USED 1st then new lastly. I did buy a new one from BRS for $478 dollars free freight. But I will never use or buy any other pump ever - Iwaki 100 percent..! My old one lasted right at 27 years, yes that's right 365 days a year, 24-7, for 27 years. That breaks down to.. 24 hours a day, 7 days a week = 168 hours a week, 168 hours a week x 52 weeks = 8736 hours in a year, 8736 hours x 27 years = 235,872 TOTAL HOURS THIS PUMP AND RAN NON - STOP... Just one question I have to asked: Can anyone tell me is there a better pump out there really?
I have never changed any part on this pump ever, not the impeller, nor have I ever even cleaned it..! No other pump will last this long ever- not one.... I did talk to the factory direct no changes have ever been made on them at all. And I did get the dark gray replacement pump just like "I" had before, again bought the new one from BRS aquarium ** Japanese Only is the secret **. I also after a little homework, found I can replace $7.90 in good bearings to rebuild my OLD Japanese Iwaki 100r pump. $30.00 in labor using my $7.90 parts, at any local electric motor repair company in your own town. Best advice in the world get one that last's 27 years or just buy plastic over and over again. And having this exact conversation again 3 to 4 years from now... And spending a lot more monies $$$ in the long run, seriously.. Iwaki pumps I highly recommend, they are just one of those products and there are very few left. Some 40+ years with salty fingers here... Good Luck.
