Internal or External Return Pumps: Which do you trust the most?

[revhtree Verified Admin]

When setting up a new system one of the biggest decisions is what pump to run as your return pump which is the heartbeat of the system. Normally we talk about the make and model of the pump but today let's talk about why type of pump, external or internal!

1. Is your return pump an external or internal pump?

2. Why did you choose external or internal?


image via @geo

 

[UkiahTheTurtle]

I don't have a sump I have a HOB

 

[runcis]

I don't have a sump I have a HOB

+1

 

[Quietman]

I assume you meant internal/external as configuration not submersible/dry .

 

[DeniseAndy]

I have an external pump on my main system. It has been running for over 14 years and I got it used. I thought, smartly, hey I should get a back up. This one has been running so long and one was on discount. Got same pump. Blueline 55 or something like that (off the top of my head that is what I remember). After a year and a half, it is still sitting in its shipping box.

I just use little cobalt 1200 Maxijets to send water back to my 40g/20g from the sump. Now I have extrenal chillers and protein skimmer and a Carx. These use internal and extrenal pumps. The ca rx is also a blueline (smaller than 55). The internals are the QuietOnes from Lifeguard. Always been good little pumps for me.

 

[Waynerock]

Never had the need for an external (would love to HAVE to have one with big tank and sump in basement) but an external would scare me. With my luck that would be the part that leaked and made a big enough mess that my wife would shut it down. Not so much the pump leaking just the DA that did the plumbing to it. For now I’ll stick with the Varios 2 that is an absolute machine. The last 3 years I have managed to have to replace everything due to wear and tare except the varios. I even have a brand new back up in the box that I have had for a year just waiting for the old one to die. Very impressed with these returns. I run it at 3/4, 24/7 unless I am doing a water change.

 

[sp1187]

When setting up a new system one of the biggest decisions is what pump to run as your return pump which is the heartbeat of the system. Normally we talk about the make and model of the pump but today let's talk about why type of pump, external or internal!

1. Is your return pump an external or internal pump?

2. What did you choose external or internal?


image via @geo

is #2 supposed to be why?

 

[RobB'z Reef]

I don't have a sump I have a HOB

So you have an internal lol

 

[UkiahTheTurtle]

I don't have a sump I have a HOB

Why I got a internal HOB I was a noob and I did not know what a sump is

 

[ca1ore]

If we're really talking 'trust', then decades-proven pumps like Iwaki and Panworld/Blueline will 'win' hands down. External only, of course, so that's a limitation for many ..... plus none of them are exactly quiet. But if you want a decade, maybe even more, of trouble-free performance, hard to beat. No need to futz around with spares or redundant pumps. They'll also pump up from the basement.

For me, reliability and ability to handle pressure means an AC external as my main return pump. I do use internal/submersibles for certain applications though.

It'll be interesting to see the split. I bet its 10:1.

 

[Reefs and Geeks]

Internal only for me. The idea of an external pump or skimmer is just terifying. If it were to start leaking I'd much rather it leek into the sump than on my floor. Plus I don't like the idea of drilling through my sump in order to install a pump. Instead, I upsized my sump to accommodate plenty of room for pumps. Only pump I've had fail on me was a Mag 9. Now I'm all DC pumps and loving how quiet they are.

I personally also prefer the look of everything being in the sump. Keeps it all together.

Related to the question, I have no idea how anyone puts in an external skimmer. With as many times as my skimmer cup overflows, I'd be flooding my floors monthly. At least a return is totally closed and would only make a mess if it leaked.

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

is #2 supposed to be why?

Yep. Fixed it.

 

[HuduVudu]

External pump for me. Heat is a huge issue. I want the heat out of the tank it is easier to deal with there. Also internal pumps get stuff growing on them from the tank, sometimes this causes weird problems I would rather not deal with.

 

[DiefsReef]

Will be External for me due to reliability and sumps in the basement.
Already have 2 Panworlds ready for the job.

 

[dbowman5]

i was using a tempered sided tank to build my sump with so i went internal. i would consider external if i was to do it over using a non-tempered tank, having drilled my DT and seeing that i could do it. The concerns about leaking are balanced by not having the electrical parts in saltwater. My basement configuration would also mitigate the noise concerns.

 

[sp1187]

I picked other, only because... well.....

1. Is your return pump an external or internal pump?
Internal

2. Why did you choose external or internal?
Internal because I have a DIY aquarium sump it fits nicely in to.
Previous tank, back in the 90's, was external due to using one of those wet/dry trickle thing a majjiggies. remember those?

 

[ajjw0828]

Never had the need for an external (would love to HAVE to have one with big tank and sump in basement) but an external would scare me. With my luck that would be the part that leaked and made a big enough mess that my wife would shut it down. Not so much the pump leaking just the DA that did the plumbing to it. For now I’ll stick with the Varios 2 that is an absolute machine. The last 3 years I have managed to have to replace everything due to wear and tare except the varios. I even have a brand new back up in the box that I have had for a year just waiting for the old one to die. Very impressed with these returns. I run it at 3/4, 24/7 unless I am doing a water change.

I agree, don't need the worry of a leak or a reason for my wife to want the tank out.

 

[DaddyFish]

I have both. Some tanks are internal, some external.

 

[Potatohead]

I would imagine most people using external are using it in a basement sump or fish room type of application, probably not that many in cabinets. I also think those applications are where each particular pump shines, save for the real nice DC pumps made for high head pressures.

 

[ScottB]

I have one internal (Sicce DC9) and one external return pump (Core 20).

I chose the former for Sicce brand reliability, and the Core 20 for features. I have inbox backups for each.

The Core 20 is the quietist pump I have ever owned hands down.