I'm doing a 120g build with a 40g breeder sump. The tank is 4 foot long and 2 foot deep and 2 foot tall. I was thinking of getting the ecotech m1. Any thoughts or options picture is the actual tank. Thank you
Help picking a reliable pump for 120?
- Thread starter RCs reef
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aquaman30k
Active Member
I have two m1's and love them. A good alternative would be a Sicce Syncra.
Oscar47f
Valuable Member
I have the Eco tech L1 and its amazing it would also be useful for a future upgrade and either the L1 or M1 can power most of everything you'd wanna put on the tank if you plan to have a manifold. Good pumps but i also like the Jebao/Jecod line they work very well I've had mine for over a year no issues
Thank you guy for the info. The tank does have an overflow in the left corner. And two spots drilled in to the rite side why idk. I got the tank used I'm in the process of replacing all the seals on the tank also a new overflow. My sump is drilled for an external pump but wouldn't be nothing to plug the hole up I'm just looking for something to give me the turnover rate that's need with reliability.
Betty1964
Active Member
I have an eco tech L1 on a 55 gallon tank. Dialed to minimum, it is still pretty much overkill. It will be going on the new 265 in January. It is quiet, efficient, and extremely powerful. I can recommend it whole heartedly.
I'm running a reef octopus varios6, I was going to go with the m1. Varios is cheaper, apex ready and comes with all the output fittings out of the box. Look in the coralvue forums, I posted a video of the pump there!
Bpb
2500 Club Member
Big NOPE on sicce. Had one burn up in under a year and they refused to honor the warranty despite me not voiding it in any way. You want reliable? Eheim classic hobby pump. Period. I hear the ecotech is nice though
mcarroll
10K Club member
Just to throw a nutshell view out there...
A 120 would, at most, need (x4) 480GPH of actual flow. Let's call it 500 GPH for easy math.
I don't see where you're putting the sump in your basement, so let's say you'll have about 5' of head pressure.
Five feet = 1.5 meters
500 GPH = 2000 LPH
A Sicce Syncra Pro 4000 would more than do it, using less than 60 watts. Cost is about $140.
You could easily give up just a little flow and go with a 3000 at only 50 watts/$115.
A Syncra 3.0 or 3.5 would also do it....just a little less quietly.
The Eheim 1260 and 1262 would also appear to be top contenders for about $170-$190.
These are some of the sweetest pumps out there and I didn't even mention some of the sweet externals available.
Or you could spend double ($285??), for what appears to be quite a bit of overkill (70 watts) and a few features that will be of minimal use.
If you're dedicated to try out the Reef Octopus, it seems like the model 2 would be a more sensible fit.
(Did I miss where you're putting this in a basement sump config?)
A 120 would, at most, need (x4) 480GPH of actual flow. Let's call it 500 GPH for easy math.
I don't see where you're putting the sump in your basement, so let's say you'll have about 5' of head pressure.
Five feet = 1.5 meters
500 GPH = 2000 LPH
A Sicce Syncra Pro 4000 would more than do it, using less than 60 watts. Cost is about $140.
You could easily give up just a little flow and go with a 3000 at only 50 watts/$115.
A Syncra 3.0 or 3.5 would also do it....just a little less quietly.
The Eheim 1260 and 1262 would also appear to be top contenders for about $170-$190.
These are some of the sweetest pumps out there and I didn't even mention some of the sweet externals available.
Or you could spend double ($285??), for what appears to be quite a bit of overkill (70 watts) and a few features that will be of minimal use.
If you're dedicated to try out the Reef Octopus, it seems like the model 2 would be a more sensible fit.
(Did I miss where you're putting this in a basement sump config?)
Thank you so much for the detailed info.no the sump will be under the tank. its only a 40 gallon witch is drilled.Just to throw a nutshell view out there...
A 120 would, at most, need (x4) 480GPH of actual flow. Let's call it 500 GPH for easy math.
I don't see where you're putting the sump in your basement, so let's say you'll have about 5' of head pressure.
Five feet = 1.5 meters
500 GPH = 2000 LPH
A Sicce Syncra Pro 4000 would more than do it, using less than 60 watts. Cost is about $140.
You could easily give up just a little flow and go with a 3000 at only 50 watts/$115.
A Syncra 3.0 or 3.5 would also do it....just a little less quietly.
The Eheim 1260 and 1262 would also appear to be top contenders for about $170-$190.
These are some of the sweetest pumps out there and I didn't even mention some of the sweet externals available.
Or you could spend double ($285??), for what appears to be quite a bit of overkill (70 watts) and a few features that will be of minimal use.
If you're dedicated to try out the Reef Octopus, it seems like the model 2 would be a more sensible fit.
(Did I miss where you're putting this in a basement sump config?)
I think my head pressure will be choose to 10 give or take a foot. 1 inch return, 2 90s, and some t ball valves, so I can add a few things into the loop later on. Reason I'm looking for mid to high flow is I'm going manly sps btw.
mcarroll
10K Club member
- Considering your corals, what you may really want is more/better powerheads for the display tank...not more/bigger/variable speed return flow.
- Have you already planned this out in detail? 10' seems unlikely unless the sump is remote from the display tank.
- Your vertical lift (from sump waterline to top of return) will ordinarily dictate 99% of your head loss, but you still really want the return plumbing to be as direct as it can be.
- Plan your return with 45º bends rather than 90º's to eliminate some extra head loss.
- Avoid hooking other things up to your return like reactors when possible.
- Always use separate pumps for accessories like media reactors when possible.
- Consider using >1" plumbing to maximize pump efficiency and to allow the smallest pump possible.
- Here's a plumbing comparison with 1" vs 1.5" PVC at 500GPH and 5' of pipe:
- Pressure Loss (psi): 3.76 vs 0.62
- Head Loss (ft): 0.8 vs 0.1
- This head loss number gets added to your vertical lift number (which is included in the 5' number I used to run these calculations).
- Upgrading to 1.5" eliminates almost 20% of head loss....reducing fiction loss to near-zero.
- Numbers from http://www.freecalc.com/fricfram.htm
Thank you for the info. The 10 foot was just a rough guess with adding 2 90° adaptors in.I will have 1" plumbing for my return...of course there's always more than one way to skin a cat.
- Considering your corals, what you may really want is more/better powerheads for the display tank...not more/bigger/variable speed return flow.
- Have you already planned this out in detail? 10' seems unlikely unless the sump is remote from the display tank.
- Your vertical lift (from sump waterline to top of return) will ordinarily dictate 99% of your head loss, but you still really want the return plumbing to be as direct as it can be.
- Plan your return with 45º bends rather than 90º's to eliminate some extra head loss.
- Avoid hooking other things up to your return like reactors when possible.
- Always use separate pumps for accessories like media reactors when possible.
- Consider using >1" plumbing to maximize pump efficiency and to allow the smallest pump possible.
- Here's a plumbing comparison with 1" vs 1.5" PVC at 500GPH and 5' of pipe:
- Pressure Loss (psi): 3.76 vs 0.62
- Head Loss (ft): 0.8 vs 0.1
- This head loss number gets added to your vertical lift number (which is included in the 5' number I used to run these calculations).
- Upgrading to 1.5" eliminates almost 20% of head loss....reducing fiction loss to near-zero.
- Numbers from http://www.freecalc.com/fricfram.htm
Iballhog
Community Member
Some great suggestion in this thread. I've been struggling with the same choices for a return pump. At first I thought awesome, Adjustable DC and ability to connect to a controller. Ecotech, Reef Octopus and the new Sicce DC pumps were on the top of that list. The more and more I've thought about it, why, Its a return pump, why do I need it adjustable ? Why do I need it connected to a controller? It just seems like it adds more complication and more areas for something to fail. The last thing you want is return pump drama. Now I'm back to a Sicce Syncra pro for a return.
Bummer to hear someone with Sicce issues, I've had a few and they have always been rock solid.
Bummer to hear someone with Sicce issues, I've had a few and they have always been rock solid.
