DC RETURN PUMPS!

[Hamada]

Been trying to decide on what return pump to use for my new 75gallon reef. I choose these 3 pumps because they seem affordable and good quality.

AquaMaxx Magnus VSG-6000 DC Water Pump by Sunpole

Reef Octopus VarioS-2 Controllable DC Circulation Pump

Current USA eFlux DC Flow Pump


What do you guys think i shojld go for and why.

 

[BigHildy53]

Can you provide more information about the setup. For example, are you going to use a manifold? Will you be splitting the return back into the tank. What is the distance from the pump to the tank return.

 

[dmw913]

I have a Reefer 250 (56 g display) and have a varios 6. It's great. Dead silent and plenty of power. I run it on level 2 of 5. I wouldn't go any less than varios 4 for your tank and maybe even consider the 6.

 

[scriptmonkey]

I have a 75 gallon and have a Current eFlux running on it now. I initially had an issue with the controller but Current support had a replacement to me in 2 days. I also have a VarioS-8 sitting in a box.

So here are some of the pro's and cons's:

Eflux Pro

• It is pretty quiet
• Support was outstanding
• Plenty powerful for my needs.

Eflux Con

• It did have issues out of the box with the speed dial, it worked but couldn't adjust speed without it rebooting and could not get to full speed.
• I could only get it to work with a barbed fitting as it did not have a hard line adapter in the box and the normal NPT of PVC did not seem to mesh right with pump treads so I went soft line to my hard plumbing (about 7 inches)

VarioS-8 I really do not have experience with as I just took it out the box to look at. I like that it has the float switch that can turn the pump off. I also like it has pvc unions to connect hard plumbing. It comes with two schedule 80 1 1/4 slip/threaded union. I would have installed this pump after the eflux was flaking out as I told Current they were racing BRS on who can get me a working pump first, the VarioS from BRS or a working controller. The part that got me was my hard line plumbing is 1" and the schedule 40 1 1/4" to 1" reducers that Lowes and Home depot had were too loose so i ordered a Schedule 80 from BRS and it fits much nicer.

Hope it helps. I got a little long winded and I am sorry.

 

[Tyler Flynn]

Jumping aboard this thread as i am currently in the market to upgrade my sicce syncra to a much quieter unit. I am looking at....
Current usa's eflux
The new ecotech vectra being released
And the reef octopus varios line

I run a 60 gallon with 20 gallon sump/refugium. Be about 5 feet from the pump to return inlet. I have the rubber feet on the pump and a pad underneath, i also have a chunk of flex line off the pump. Noise level is still too much for my liking.

Thoughts? Ideas?

 

[MaddyP]

I have a Reefer 250 (56 g display) and have a varios 6. It's great. Dead silent and plenty of power. I run it on level 2 of 5. I wouldn't go any less than varios 4 for your tank and maybe even consider the 6.

I completely agree with this! I had a Varios 4 on my 75g to start but it wasn't cutting it. Varios 6 has been perfect!

 

[skim]

Wow Varios 4 on 56 gal and 75 gal and not enough. You must be using it to run some other things too. I hope you are not relying on the pump to supply the water movement within the Aquarium. 1050 g/hr. not enough, you should be looking at 1 to 3 times tank volume per hour as a turn over. You start getting too high in turnover and things start not to work at their full potential, as the water is just moving too quickly for Skimmers and reactors to processes the water.

 

[Big G]

Been trying to decide on what return pump to use for my new 75gallon reef. I choose these 3 pumps because they seem affordable and good quality.

AquaMaxx Magnus VSG-6000 DC Water Pump by Sunpole

Reef Octopus VarioS-2 Controllable DC Circulation Pump

Current USA eFlux DC Flow Pump


What do you guys think i shojld go for and why.

I have a Reef Octopus varios 2 on my 90 gal. tank. It pushes plenty of water through my sump. It's completely quiet. I put a silicone pad under it and connected it with a piece of soft silicone hose to the return pvc line. Zero vibration. I like the pump a lot. Had a Jebao DCT4000 on there but it was noisy. Moved lots of water, but a loud whine at all speeds. I also like that RO has readily available parts and customer service if I need help. That's a huge deal breaker for me if there is zero customer service.

 

[MaddyP]

Wow Varios 4 on 56 gal and 75 gal and not enough. You must be using it to run some other things too. I hope you are not relying on the pump to supply the water movement within the Aquarium. 1050 g/hr. not enough, you should be looking at 1 to 3 times tank volume per hour as a turn over. You start getting too high in turnover and things start not to work at their full potential, as the water is just moving too quickly for Skimmers and reactors to processes the water.

My Varios 6 on my 75g is running at 50% pushing 580 gph through the sump and feeding 65 gph through a reactor. This is with (2) 1" returns. With the Varios 4 plumbed the exact same way, it was 100% pushing 460 gph through returns and 55 gph through reactor.

 

[bif24701]

I have a Reefer 250 (56 g display) and have a varios 6. It's great. Dead silent and plenty of power. I run it on level 2 of 5. I wouldn't go any less than varios 4 for your tank and maybe even consider the 6.

I second the Varios-4 for your system, could be helpful to have more information though.

I have the Varios-6 pump and after years of having many many AC pumps and a few DC I love the Varios the mostest. Taking them apart is easy for cleaning, includes all/any fitting you will need, controller is really nice, silent, APEX Ready out of the box (just need the cable), includes a really nice intake screen, low power usage, integrated float switch, and well made. Large ceramic bearings and a unique motor cooling system that's well made for external usage. It's also compatible with the Icecap battery back-up.

If you plan on using the pump strictly as a return than I'm sure the Varios-2 will be plenty. No point having to pay more for a pump only to tune down the flow. But if you want to feed anything else with the pump now or in the future just get the -4.

Good pump, I recommend.

 

[andrew james]

MY opinion but the Varios is the best DC pump on the market today. At least up until you get into big money like a Red Dragon or Abyzz.

 

[DSC reef]

Been running the current eflux 1900 gph on the 75 reef tank and have had no issues at all. Been on roughly about a year, plenty of flow and adjustable speed is great. Price is right and couldn't be happier. Maintenance is easy which I like as well. You won't be dissapointed.

 

[dmw913]

Any of us Various fans running the pump from the Apex? I have taken a set it and forget it approach so far and wonder if there is utility in upping my game on that issue.

Thoughts?

 

[Greybeard]

I have a Current USA eFlux 1900 gph on my 150g tank.

Works great. Quiet. As mentioned above, it only came with hose barb fittings, but I always put a short length of soft hose on the pump anyway. Helps isolate vibration. Been running at 80% or so for about 4 months now. Zero issues. Seems to generate a very stable flow rate. Large, screw on intake grate is nice. Easy speed adjustment, fairly compact... and the price was right.

I intended to buy a pair of their 'loop' system wavemakers as well, but ended up going a different direction.

 

[andrew james]

Any of us Various fans running the pump from the Apex? I have taken a set it and forget it approach so far and wonder if there is utility in upping my game on that issue.

Thoughts?

I control mine with my APEX and one of the biggest things for me is probably not important at all to most people. I have my APEX programmed to slowly ramp up the power on the return pump after feeding. One of my biggest pet peeve is when you return pump kicks back on after feeding and disturbs the media in my reactors hooked up to my return manifold so badly with bubbles and rushing water that it causes some of the media to escape the reactor. Have that programmed slow ramp up completely eliminates this problem for me.

 

[dmw913]

I control mine with my APEX and one of the biggest things for me is probably not important at all to most people. I have my APEX programmed to slowly ramp up the power on the return pump after feeding. One of my biggest pet peeve is when you return pump kicks back on after feeding and disturbs the media in my reactors hooked up to my return manifold so badly with bubbles and rushing water that it causes some of the media to escape the reactor. Have that programmed slow ramp up completely eliminates this problem for me.

Andrew,
Can you program it to drop pump to trickle instead of total shut off during feeding? I saw that feature demonstrated at the Rossmont booth at MACNA and thought it was sweeeeet!