Reef Octopus Various-8

EHaddad · Dec 27, 2018

I am starting a build and I have a Reefer XXL 750 and I am looking at the Various-8 as the pump for the build. Any opinions and also how long has yours been running?

Bradley Keck · Dec 27, 2018

EHaddad said:
I am starting a build and I have a Reefer XXL 750 and I am looking at the Various-8 as the pump for the build. Any opinions and also how long has yours been running?

I had a Varios -6 running for 12 weeks. Then one day I was cleaning a little algae off it and it started making a somewhat loud humming noise. It still worked, but was now the loudest thing running. It would also, slow down every now and then. I loved how well it worked before that, so I bought a Varios-8 to replace it and am keeping it as a back up. So far my 8 has been running for 8 weeks and I am very happy with it. Much better flow than my 6 was. I have it for a 5x2x2 150g.

wangspeed · Dec 27, 2018

I have 2 Varios 8 pumps. Love them!

TX_Punisher · Dec 27, 2018

8 is too much for the reefers plumbing imho. I have mine on speed 3. A 6 would probably suffice.

EHaddad · Dec 28, 2018

TX_Punisher said:
8 is too much for the reefers plumbing imho. I have mine on speed 3. A 6 would probably suffice.

So you have an 8 and you have a Reefer 750? I wanna have too much than not enough because a pump that you run at a lower speed should technically last you longer.

TX_Punisher · Dec 28, 2018

EHaddad said:
So you have an 8 and you have a Reefer 750? I wanna have too much than not enough because a pump that you run at a lower speed should technically last you longer.

Yes.

Then get the 8. Be aware of the plumbing needs. 8 has a 1.25” outlet. Reefer has a 1” return.

CMO · Dec 28, 2018

I've been running a varios 8 for a year now on my 165 with no issues. It has performed great and dead silent. I also have a flow meter on it and am only getting about 700 gph total flow. Not sure what the plumbing is like on the red sea but keep in mind these pumps lose a lot of flow with a bit of head pressure so i would not be too concerned with too much flow. Definitely better to have more than enough flow and run it on a lower setting than not enough. Also, I've lost about 100 gph of flow over the course of the year (from about 800 gph when first installed) due to buildup in the pump so the extra power might be nice to compensate for lost flow if you don't clean the pump regularly. I clean mine thoroughly annually.

Bradley Keck · Dec 29, 2018

I have my 8 plumbed to 1in and have it running on 2. I'm not sure what was going on with my 6, but I had it on 5 and still had issues. I think I received a bad one or something. I agree, you should go with the 8. I have heard of people having trouble with them if they try to plumb to too small diameter, but as long as you are using 1in and do not have too many crazy bends, you should be fine. I don't think you will find it to be too much flow when it's down on 1-2.