Return pump options.

[Mr. Leemr]

Looking for suggestions on a return pump. I have a basement sump and frag tank setup. I will be plumbing my SCA 100 directly above the sump. I would prefer an in sump pump but will entertain other options. If you have a similar setup let me know what you’re running and why.

 

[dwest]

Looking for suggestions on a return pump. I have a basement sump and frag tank setup. I will be plumbing my SCA 100 directly above the sump. I would prefer an in sump pump but will entertain other options. If you have a similar setup let me know what you’re running and why.

I run a mag drive 1800 and a redundant mag drive 900 from basement sump to my 180 display. Can’t get a more reliable pump for the price IMO.

 

[Mr. Leemr]

Do you know how much GPH you’re pushing at the tank? I do agree with the reliability. I ran a mag18 to feed my old PM bullet 2 skimmer. Thing ran for years with just basic regular maintenance.

 

[jda]

Mag, Laguna or Fluval will be your best bets. Laguna have more high end GPH and Power than Fluval and use less wattage than a Mag. I used a Laguna 2900 from a basement sump (it was elevated) and it did about 900-1000 GPH into the tank on the main floor.... they make bigger ones, even. Mag are great - relaible and cheap, but the do get noisy for me, but who cares when the pump is in the basement.

I tried a few different DC pumps and none of them could handle half the head that I was trying to get. It was a joke.

 

[Montiman]

I would go iwaki but they are external only. When doing installs at an LFS we would commonly come across iwaki pumps that were 15-20 years old and the owners reported never cleaning them. Since it is in the basement noise isn’t an issue and they have pretty high head ratings.

 

[Dripdroppin]

I have an sca 80 cube and I’m a fan of old fashioned ac pumps so I run an Eheim 1260 on mine. Hasn’t skipped a beat

 

[dwest]

I have an sca 80 cube and I’m a fan of old fashioned ac pumps so I run an Eheim 1260 on mine. Hasn’t skipped a beat

The eheim 1260 is my all time favorite pump. However, I don’t believe it will be able to deliver the head pressure required from the basement to the first floor of a home (if I understand the op question).

 

[Aardvark1134]

If you are going to pump up a whole story I would get a reefflo or pan world. Sadly both are externals

 

[Dripdroppin]

The eheim 1260 is my all time favorite pump. However, I don’t believe it will be able to deliver the head pressure required from the basement to the first floor of a home (if I understand the op question).

Oh I think you are correct. I missed that part in the original post

 

[Mr. Leemr]

Thanks for all the feedback. I have an Iwaki 40RLXT and it looks like it will work. I was trying to see if there was a DC option as all my other pumps ( skimmer and manifold) are controllable DC pumps. Doesn’t appear that the low voltage pumps are pressure rated and can handle the high head. Hopefully soon.