Basement submersible return pump recommendations

[ESH]

As the title says, I am looking for some basement sump return pump recommendations. If you have pictures of your setups please share!

• Display tank will be a reefer 750
• I plan to use submersible pumps. If I can fit 2 pumps in the sump, I'll have 2 for redundancy (ran into an issue with my current tanks return pump today where, using my hand, found my current tanks refugium resident mantis shrimp stuck in and blocking the intake of my only return pump, still alive. Thought it was a snail due to the lack of light and after removing it I don't know how it didn't bust up my hand)
• Measuring about 15ft max head height (basement floor to tank top) though realistically will be less than that as I haven't figured out how high off my sump will be from the ground. The sump will be on a stand. I also haven't factored in or figured out how any pipe bends impact flow.
• Additional in tank flow will be by a Gyre 250, and 2 vortech mp40s.
• I haven't really set a budget... I have my eye on the Abyzz pumps, have done searches and read great reviews, however, I want to make sure I'm not just spending too much when there are other pumps out there that are just as good and will get the job done. Lots of black friday deals out there, I just don't want to pick up something that might not get the job done.

Thank you for your help!

-Eric

 

[JoshH]

As the title says, I am looking for some basement sump return pump recommendations. If you have pictures of your setups please share!

• Display tank will be a reefer 750
• I plan to use submersible pumps. If I can fit 2 pumps in the sump, I'll have 2 for redundancy (ran into an issue with my current tanks return pump today where, using my hand, found my current tanks refugium resident mantis shrimp stuck in and blocking the intake of my only return pump, still alive. Thought it was a snail due to the lack of light and after removing it I don't know how it didn't bust up my hand)
• Measuring about 15ft max head height (basement floor to tank top) though realistically will be less than that as I haven't figured out how high off my sump will be from the ground. The sump will be on a stand. I also haven't factored in or figured out how any pipe bends impact flow.
• Additional in tank flow will be by a Gyre 250, and 2 vortech mp40s.
• I haven't really set a budget... I have my eye on the Abyzz pumps, have done searches and read great reviews, however, I want to make sure I'm not just spending too much when there are other pumps out there that are just as good and will get the job done. Lots of black friday deals out there, I just don't want to pick up something that might not get the job done.

Thank you for your help!

-Eric

I just posted this question a week orso ago, and the general consensus was to avoid DC and stick with AC pumps. If you did go with an abyzz you would probably have to go with atleast the A200 which is pretty pricey compared to all AC versions.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/what-pump-would-you-suggest.500546/

 

[Flippers4pups]

As the title says, I am looking for some basement sump return pump recommendations. If you have pictures of your setups please share!

• Display tank will be a reefer 750
• I plan to use submersible pumps. If I can fit 2 pumps in the sump, I'll have 2 for redundancy (ran into an issue with my current tanks return pump today where, using my hand, found my current tanks refugium resident mantis shrimp stuck in and blocking the intake of my only return pump, still alive. Thought it was a snail due to the lack of light and after removing it I don't know how it didn't bust up my hand)
• Measuring about 15ft max head height (basement floor to tank top) though realistically will be less than that as I haven't figured out how high off my sump will be from the ground. The sump will be on a stand. I also haven't factored in or figured out how any pipe bends impact flow.
• Additional in tank flow will be by a Gyre 250, and 2 vortech mp40s.
• I haven't really set a budget... I have my eye on the Abyzz pumps, have done searches and read great reviews, however, I want to make sure I'm not just spending too much when there are other pumps out there that are just as good and will get the job done. Lots of black friday deals out there, I just don't want to pick up something that might not get the job done.

Thank you for your help!

-Eric

I run a Panworld 150PS on my 125 gallon Dt upstairs. Around 12ft up from my basement 125 gallon sump. Enough to run a manifold off of.

 

[dwest]

As the title says, I am looking for some basement sump return pump recommendations. If you have pictures of your setups please share!

• Display tank will be a reefer 750
• I plan to use submersible pumps. If I can fit 2 pumps in the sump, I'll have 2 for redundancy (ran into an issue with my current tanks return pump today where, using my hand, found my current tanks refugium resident mantis shrimp stuck in and blocking the intake of my only return pump, still alive. Thought it was a snail due to the lack of light and after removing it I don't know how it didn't bust up my hand)
• Measuring about 15ft max head height (basement floor to tank top) though realistically will be less than that as I haven't figured out how high off my sump will be from the ground. The sump will be on a stand. I also haven't factored in or figured out how any pipe bends impact flow.
• Additional in tank flow will be by a Gyre 250, and 2 vortech mp40s.
• I haven't really set a budget... I have my eye on the Abyzz pumps, have done searches and read great reviews, however, I want to make sure I'm not just spending too much when there are other pumps out there that are just as good and will get the job done. Lots of black friday deals out there, I just don't want to pick up something that might not get the job done.

Thank you for your help!

-Eric

I use a mag drive 18 for this purpose. I have a 180 gal display and the exact power heads you mentioned.

 

[WWIII]

I've done a lot of looking and research on this subject over the past couple years. In the end, with that type of head height it's really either grab the abyzz or drill the sump. The largest varios, or sicce SDC might work, but I doubt the gph charts will be accurate in a real life setup. That and we're not really sure how dependable they are in the long run. Some may even say the largest eflux or jebao. While these pumps will probably get water upstairs to your tank, I'm not sure it will be enough and I would almost guarantee the lifespan would be a couple years at most.

I ended up buying the abyzz a200 and haven't regreted it even for a second after I got to see and hold the pump. Then when I installed it I was grinning ear to ear. I went from an external panworld/iwaki pump to the internal abyzz. It is so silent, I literally had to put my ear to the pipe to make sure it was running at first. It is a ridiculous amount of money, but it will be the last return pump you buy and will give you as much flow as you want. All while running internally and being silent.

 

[WWIII]

Here's my setup. The abyzz is hooked up to the large black pvc that goes across the top of the wall. I'm running it at 76%. The display is a 200 gallon tank upstairs and over about 8 feet...

 

[jda]

Abyzz or Red Dragon will do fine, but they are no less electricity than a Laguna. Laguna 2900 can probably handle this at about 100 watts - I used this pump with a basement sump, used 3/4 ID vinyl tubing and got about 900 is GPH into the display. Panworld, Iwaki, Gen X are all great options too, but require a hole to be drilled.

Mags are great pumps too, but can get a bit noisy over time. Impellers are not expensive and you could probably change an impeller a year for a decade and not spend as much as buying an Abyzz or RD. Mag pumps have an added benefit of also helping to heat your water - this is good for me living in Colorado, but might not be good for people living in Florida or in the Mojave.

Fluval is a great pump, but they cannot handle the head pressure and do not have as much output as a Laguna - these are the same blocks (time test Askoll pumps from Italy), but the impellers and volute are different.

 

[ESH]

All really good considerations! Keep them coming! Electricity consumption for the pump is another good consideration I didn't think of, along with long term maintenance and durability of the pump.

Magdrive pumps defefinity add heat to the tanks. My current setup has Mag pumps and I don't think my heater ever kicks on. I forget what has what. I think my Skimmer has a 9.5 the three media reactors get fed by a 9.5, return pump a 12. I will be reusing the skimmer and media reactors in the new setup. The Mag12 likely won't cut it. Not sure if I need to worry about sound with the pumps being in the basement. However, I do hear my homes sump pump in the living room when it goes off, so anything to reduce the overall noise will be good.

@WWIII : With the Abyzz A200, what kind of regular maintenance do you do with it? I like how you positioned the pump intake so you can view it. Makes it easy to tell if anythings getting clogged in it. Also, what made you decide to switch from external to an in sump pump?

 

[ESH]

update: picked up the abyzz A200. Thanks again for those that provided feedback. Now on to figuring out pipe sizes. Appears the pump is a 1.5" , though I will have to reduce it by the time it gets up to the tank.

Does anyone use a check valve on their return to prevent backflow? This is something I've always used, and I picked up a 1.5" Wye one from BRS while they were on sale. One thing I've never figured out is where the best placement for this is? As close to the sump as possible?

 

[JoshH]

update: picked up the abyzz A200. Thanks again for those that provided feedback. Now on to figuring out pipe sizes. Appears the pump is a 1.5" , though I will have to reduce it by the time it gets up to the tank.

Does anyone use a check valve on their return to prevent backflow? This is something I've always used, and I picked up a 1.5" Wye one from BRS while they were on sale. One thing I've never figured out is where the best placement for this is? As close to the sump as possible?

I would say the best placement is wherever you can maintain it the easiest. I myself will never rely on a check valve preventing backflow into my sump. I will design my sump to handle any backflow that might occur. This is really the only 100% fool proof method to prevent your sump from overflowing. Nothing against check valves as they do function properly probably 98% of the time but it's the 2% I worry about. All it takes is it failing once and you'll have a mess on your hands and an ugly one at that. Now in saying all that, proper maintenance schedule can prevent them from failing and keep them functioning properly but in order to do that you have to shut the return off and if your sump can't handle the excess water you have to drain it from your system before hand to keep it from overflowing while you clean the check valve.