Latest thinking on return pumps?

[pjr]

Hi all:

I would appreciate thoughts from r2r members on the latest thinking on return pumps. My tank (6-foot wide 135g) has been running since January 2005 with an Iwaki 30 (fanless model, 900gph) hard-plumbed under the tank into a pair of returns. T I have a ball valve which cuts the flow a bit before hitting the T.

Many components have changed over time (lights, skimmers, heaters) but this pump runs like a champ without incident. And, speaking of evolving tech, flow pumps have dramatically improved in the past 13+ years! I now have a pair of Vortechs... Much better than the alternatives at the time of the initial setup.

Which gets to my question... This tank initially relied on the return for flow, which, with the MP40s, is no longer the case. Curious on opinions for what people would use if they were setting up the tank in 2018.

Many thanks!

 

[jt17]

I like DC pumps. Super quiet, low energy consumption and you can control the speed. I have a vectra L1 on one system and Red Dragon on another system and am very pleased with both. Eheim pumps are a good AC return pump as well.

 

[ca1ore]

I think there are certainly a wider array of choices now, but the underlying physics hasn't changed. DC pumps certainly 'appear' to offer more flow per operating watt, though this is achieved mostly due to impeller/volute design and the ability to modulate speed. Both of those things are notable and may be useful under typical applications (low head, high flow). Venerable AC brands like Iwaki and Pan World have track records of reliability that none of the DC brands can yet claim, and will handle pressures that most of the DC pumps will choke on.

 

[csb123]

I just replaced an Iwaki on my koi tank....it was 17 years old!!!!

For some applications, reliability and longevity are of primary importance for me. Only time will tell if all these new DC pumps can compare.

 

[hart24601]

There are some really nice pumps out there. AC only for me, even so there have been some nice refinements and more efficient models released in the past few years. I have many local friends that spent money on DC return pumps, some inexpensive and some very expensive and have had issues, it's just too important equipment for me to switch to DC when I really wouldn't use any of the features anyway while most AC pumps lifetime is measured in decades.