Educate me. Return pumps?

[F i s h y]

Just getting back in the hobby. Will be building a new system. 72x30x24 DT. 2 corner overflows set up Herbie style. 2× 1.5inch E drains 2× 1 inch main drains. 75 gallon tank converted into a sump with a 20 gallon ATO system. 2 × 3/4 or maybe 1 inch returns on the tank. No manifold, no additional equipment. Sump will have 3 sections, left will be skimmer, center is return, right is refugium. What else do you need to know?

Looking for a mid priced return pump. What recommendations do you have and why?

Years ago I just had a pond pump running my setup. 10 years out of the hobby things have really changed.

 

[CK00020]

Look at jaebo if you want to go with a less expensive dc controllable pump, you can buy 2 for the price of anything else

 

[F i s h y]

@CK00020 Explain DC to me? I wont be using any controllers for a while. Will be adjusting flow using gate valves.

 

[CK00020]

Basically battery power, but you get a controller with the pump which makes it variable speed. Instead of using a standard ac pump that just flows at a certain rate unless it is adjusted with a valve, that is also where the energy savings come in

 

[CK00020]

I kind of explained it butt backwards, but do you understand?

 

[Snoopy 67]

DC pumps allow for incremental speed increase or decrease. Valves not needed. Beneficial for optimum flow on returns & save some energy. HOWEVER, they do NOT handle back pressure well with 2 expensive execptions.
So bigger is better. They often run cooler internally.
Varios is a good one.

 

[Fourstars]

I still prefer external AC Japanese Iwaki pumps.

 

[ca1ore]

Depends a lot on where the sump will be. If it’s in the stand with reduced head pressure requirements then the options are extensive. Also do you care about noise level. If I had a sump in the stand and wanted quiet I’d probably go with one of the fluval seas models.

 

[ryshark]

Fluval SP6

 

[dwest]

Just getting back in the hobby. Will be building a new system. 72x30x24 DT. 2 corner overflows set up Herbie style. 2× 1.5inch E drains 2× 1 inch main drains. 75 gallon tank converted into a sump with a 20 gallon ATO system. 2 × 3/4 or maybe 1 inch returns on the tank. No manifold, no additional equipment. Sump will have 3 sections, left will be skimmer, center is return, right is refugium. What else do you need to know?

Looking for a mid priced return pump. What recommendations do you have and why?

Years ago I just had a pond pump running my setup. 10 years out of the hobby things have really changed.

Sounds like you might have used to use danner mag drives in the past. So did I. I still do.

 

[Lasse]

I run one Coral Box DCA 4000 l/h for a 80 gallon DT. With the contra pressure from all pipes, bends and the hight (1 m) - it deliver around 2.500 l/h at 100 %. I´m very satisfied with it. This is a development from an older Jebao DCA/DCS 4000. I run such a pump for 3 years without any problems at all but change to the Coral Box type because I use the 1-10V option (my aquarium computer manage the speed of the pumps). There is pumps in this serie between 3000-12000 l/h (800 - 3,200 gph in the US. If you use this type of pumps (high flow and not very high pressure) - use as large pipe as possible (I use 32 mm (1") to my 4000 l/h pump.

Sincerely Lasse

 

[PedroYoung]

One other advantage of DC pumps is they tend to be quieter. At least mine is (but it's one of those 2 expensive exceptions).

 

[Blue Spot Octopus]

Fluval SP4 that is what I have my future build 72'' x 30'' x 24"'

 

[ryshark]

Fluval SP4 that is what I have my future build 72'' x 30'' x 24"'

I mentioned Fluval above, but I should have been more specific. Its super reliable, quiet, plug and play. I didn't want to deal with another controller, I have enough of those for my powerheads and apex. I use a SP4 on my 120-gallon.

 

[ksed]

+2

I run one Coral Box DCA 4000 l/h for a 80 gallon DT. With the contra pressure from all pipes, bends and the hight (1 m) - it deliver around 2.500 l/h at 100 %. I´m very satisfied with it. This is a development from an older Jebao DCA/DCS 4000. I run such a pump for 3 years without any problems at all but change to the Coral Box type because I use the 1-10V option (my aquarium computer manage the pumps speed). There is pumps in this serie between 3000-12000 l/h (800 - 3,200 gph in the US. If you use this type of pumps (high flow and not very high pressure) - use as large pipe as possible (I use 32 mm (1") to my 4000 l/h pump.

Sincerely Lasse

 

[NS Mike D]

i've been running a Sicce Syncra Silent for several years in my return. My first choice was DC type as they run more quiet than AC pumps and can run variable speeds, but their price was above what I wanted to spend.

The Sicce users had a lot of good posts on this site, mostly about good quality and being less noise than a lot of other AC pumps. Mine is hooked up to flexible pipe which is then connected to pvc with a ball valve. I used Sicce's chart to select which pump and so I haven't needed to dial down the flow with the ball valve.

The Sicce claims their magnets are better quality and thus cut down on noise, as do the longer suction cup feet, fwiw. I used the flexible pipe to connect to the pump to reduce vibration noise.

 

[F i s h y]

I appreciate all the responses and information. I'll do some research on the suggestions and I'm sure I'll have questions. @dwest you are right I plugged in an old danner and just let it do its thing.