Return Pump recommendations - newbie red sea reefer

[Darins]

Hi all,

I am looking for recommendations / cosign to my return pump plan.

Red sea 625, manufacturer recommended flow 1600 gph.

I am thinking to continue the ReefOctopus theme with my build and go with VarioS 8 controllable dc pump which is max 2700 gph.
My initial plans for the tank are simply skimmer/ return / powerheads .. but watching some modifications on youtube might have me creating a manifold down the road to add some other gadgets. With that in mind, i like the ability to ramp up the pump down the line if i need more power.

Option A
I also wanted a backup that will be used in my RODI system to get water over to the tank from the rodi reserovir.
its just under 30 feet from RODI reservoir to the tank, and system height is just under 5 feet for water changes.
Then, in an emergency, i could rip the pump from the RODI system and swap it into the DT. For this, i cant imagine dropping another $400 unless i need to replace the Varios down the road.
I was debating an ac pump that could run above the 1600 gph so that i could plug and play it into the DT
After watching BRS's best of series, it seems like running an ac would be relatively cost effective at $125 and reliable/recommended - Quiet One Lifeguard Aquarium Pump - 1876 gph

- Thoughts on this, or just paying the extra $100 for a better backup pump?
- Newbie question - is having that gph on an ac going to have any negative impact on doing water changes/topoffs?
- other recommendations?

Option B
I was also debating just placing my RODI reservoir on a heavy rated casters, rolling it next to the tank and getting a very cheap pump to do water changes/top offs. This leaves me needing to buy a backup to the DT pump rather than having a backup in use elsewhere.


Insight/experience is always helpful!

 

[mfinn]

I did a quick google search on a Red Sea 625 and came up with a 133 gallon tank.
Is this right?
There is no way I would ever try and run 1600 gph through a 21-27 gallon sump. EVER.
IMO you really only need 4x to 6x the tank volume through the sump. Anymore is just unnecessary. But that's just my opinion.
IMO you should consider pumps that will give 600gph to 800gph after headloss.

 

[jda]

That is a lot of flow. I would look around 800 GPH as well.

I would get a cheap used AC pump to move water and have as a backup - you are on this. Mag Drive 9.5 or 12 are great - tireless workhorses that can overcome lots of pumping pressure and head. You don't want to mess with a controller or anything on a mobile pump. Lifeguard are pretty good pumps. See if you can find a Laguna, Fluval or MagDrive first, though, since I think that they are slightly more reliable and more powerful.

I also use AC pumps for return pumps since I do not care at all about a controller or speed changes or any of that. I just want them to be as reliable as possible and there are no DC pumps under $1000 that are anywhere near as reliable as AC pumps. Laguna or Fluval are good here since they can last more than a decade, are quiet, powerful and not energy hungry. There are literally dozens of DC options out there of which each has their own sets of concerns and nice features - you kinda have to go on some promises here since there are none that have been out long enough without iteration to where they can be judged to be truly reliable (other than RD or Abyzz).

Battery backup is more important short term for your flow pumps, which are usually WAY less wattage. Battery is best used to just make it a few minutes to an hour until you get a generator going - can help while you get home, or have to run out for a bit. Battery backup is not made for longer term running unless you buy a HUGE battery. Even then, heaters, return pumps and lighting will suck a huge batter down quickly. Flow pumps are enough in the short term to keep the water flowing and oxygenated. If you live in an area where power outages are frequent, then invest in both a small battery backup but also a semi-reliable generator and some nice cords.

Also, people will ignore your threads if you just give trade models and brands. Be sure and represent your tank in dimensions, gallons... and the same with a sump. Most of the people who are able to help you probably won't know what a red sea 625 is and most of them will just move on rather than be kind and look it up like mfinn did. Help people help you.

 

[Montiman]

I run a Varios 8 on my 750XXL and I had to purchase a Y adapter for the outlet nozzel to stop the sand from blowing around. I would likely go with a 4 or 6 for a tank your size. Even then I would still purchase the RedSea Y nozzel to disperse the flow in the tank.

 

[trmiv]

Keep in mind that the Red Sea return recommendations are at ZERO head. So they aren’t saying to put 1600gph through the sump, they are saying to use a pump rated at 1600gph. The Red Sea plumbing is very restrictive so there won’t be nearly 1600 gph going through the sump. I have a 350 and they recommend a pump rated at 792 gph . I have my DC pump tuned to that, but I calculated the actual flow after head loss to around 350 gph.

 

[Darins]

That is a lot of flow. I would look around 800 GPH as well...

Thanks so much for the input and advice on asking questions here. Ill be checking out the ac pumps you mentioned and lower gph. glad i asked!

 

[jda]

You can find countless threads on DC vs AC pumps, but here is the breakdown real quick...

DC pumps are less reliable - not been on the market long. You can change speeds and shut them off for feeding. They are good with lots of flow, but cannot take much back pressure (head). They can be really quiet since they usually come with stuff to make them so - they spin slower which helps with noise, but not with strength. You can put some of these on an Apex or other aquarium controller if you see fit. There are a lot of Chinese patent-stealing knockoff pumps that you can only buy from international web sites that are low quality - be sure that you really know what you are doing if you want to get one of these.

Good AC pumps will often last decades, or more. They are great with back pressure and can work in a wide variety of situations. They do not do speed control and to turn them off at feeding, you need to cut the power. These can be noisier, but they also can be nearly silent if you set them up right with just a slight hum. Basement sumps, lots of restricting plumbing and the like are good reasons to use AC pumps.

Both will take nearly the same wattage to do the same job - most AC pumps use a bit more power, but a DC pump will to do the same job (if it can) which is usually overcoming head pressure.

I use AC pumps because i just need them to work and do not want to risk any downtime. Once the same brand of DC pumps is around for 5+ years, then I will consider them reliable, but they are constantly changing them so other than maybe the $1000+ models, not any of them that are 5 years old are even sold anymore with a new iteration. Plus, AC pumps are a lot cheaper and the wattage difference would hardly pay off in many, many years. I don't care at all about a slight hum.

 

[Mastiffsrule]

Evening

I‘ll chime in my vote. I ran Ehiem for ever. Great pump, rock solid. A great go to, 1262 would be great at a good price. But, I just recently put in a Maxspect Jump DC 8? Very easy to use and adjust. So far no complaints and very happy with it. Can’t say long term reliability yet