Return pump suggestions.

[tyler1503]

Hey everyone. My return pump crapped out last night. I put the heater in the DT, but I'm now running without a sump, skimmer, refugium and mechanical filtration. Plus I received my filter socks in the mail today and can't even use them now. Murphy's law I guess.
Does anyone have any suggestions for an economical return pump that moves about 600-800 GPH at 4ft? Not looking to spend a huge amount of money on this one.
My old one was an Eheim which I was very happy with up until last night. It served me well!

 

[billwill]

Internal I'd recommend Sicce, external Pan World/Blue Line. Quiet, dependable, and somewhat affordable. You can have quiet, dependable, and cheap; but you get any two at the expense of the third.

 

[J062682l]

Love my jebao return pump !

 

[mikey_p]

i have the jebao pump n like it

 

[huuta]

Just get another Eheim.Can't go wrong there

 

[joekool]

Fish street.com

Jecod dct 12000 8 adjustable speeds. Works great I have been using one for months and love it. Not as quite as my main pump which is a reeflo but you can't beat these pumps especially for the money.

 

[tyler1503]

Thanks for the suggestions everyone. I'll look into these ASAP. I'm currently getting a quote from the LFS for whatever pumps he has in stock at the moment.

This is when the pump shut off and started a back siphon. I got it just in time!

I think I need to create some kind of siphon break to prevent this happening again :S

 

[mfinn]

Eheim or Sicce is my vote.

 

[tigerdragon]

Thanks for the suggestions everyone. I'll look into these ASAP. I'm currently getting a quote from the LFS for whatever pumps he has in stock at the moment.

This is when the pump shut off and started a back siphon. I got it just in time!

I think I need to create some kind of siphon break to prevent this happening again :S

I got the siphon buster that customaquarium.com has this thing really works
http://customaquariums.com/c-8-siphon-stopper.aspx

 

[tyler1503]

I got the siphon buster that customaquarium.com has this thing really works
http://customaquariums.com/c-8-siphon-stopper.aspx

Thank you! Looks simple enough to DIY something like that. I'd just T off the return line, add a reducer to an airline hose and clamp the airline in place above the water line

 

[Reefer88]

Or just drill a small hole above the water line. Just check it every now and then do it doesn't get clogged.

 

[tyler1503]

Or just drill a small hole above the water line. Just check it every now and then do it doesn't get clogged.

I've heard of that too. What concerns me is wouldn't it create a Venturi type effect and draw air into the hole and create micro bubbles in the DT? I'm not using PVC I'm using 22mm (I think it's 22mm. If not, it's something close to that) flexible hose which by my logic, could be likely to create the Venturi effect :S I have no real scientific understanding of it though.

 

[Reefer88]

I've heard of that too. What concerns me is wouldn't it create a Venturi type effect and draw air into the hole and create micro bubbles in the DT? I'm not using PVC I'm using 22mm (I think it's 22mm. If not, it's something close to that) flexible hose which by my logic, could be likely to create the Venturi effect :S I have no real scientific understanding of it though.

I used to do it on my old tank and it just had a small stream of water coming out. So I had to do it where the water would just go into the tank. My new setup is different now. I just have the line-loc return pointed to so when the DT water level lowers it creates its own vac break before the sump can overflow. But to answer your question I don't think it would cause bubbles. I think it would just be a small stream of water. But I've never tried it on what your referring too.

 

[welder1]

I drilled a small hole in the return elbow( on the bottom) before the loc-line. If I keep the waterline right at the hole I have no micro bubbles. I have plugged my hole and split my loc-line so that it discharges at three differ water heights, one just below the surface to break the siphon. No micro bubbles at all now.:bigsmile:

 

[Justin1997]

I have a reef octopus pump on the way I haven't used one yet but has adjustable speeds seems kind of handy, also true slow start up might help in the long run. http://www.marinedepot.com/Reef_Oct...m_Pumps-Reef_Octopus-CV25153-FIWPEPOT-vi.html

 

[Rob Top1]

Mag 7 would do what you are looking for. They typically are around $100. I have a few different mag pumps and have gotten my money out of them for sure. One I had had since 1999. Couple of impellers along the way but other than that no issues

 

[Rob Top1]

That siphon stopper is pretty cool. Now time to DIY it

 

[tyler1503]

I was fiddling with the old pump late last night and it seems to be trying to kick back on. The motor is working, but the impeller just vibrates in it's housing as opposed to rotating. Could I just need a new impeller? I used a piece of airline to try to kickstart it, it rotated three or four times, then stopped again. Frustrating!

 

[joekool]

Yes it could very well be the impeller. Is yours a mag drive unit?

 

[Ebone]

I have a Mag 5 and after it "broke in" the thing has been silent (with silicone mat under) my mp's make more noise... inexpensive and can always keep for backup if don't like it, fairly common to get a hold of