Return pump which 1?

[Reef.]

Wondering if I should try a new return pump or buy the same brand again.

I have a Sicce 0.5 in a Nuvo 14 which is far too loud, I have tried everything to get it quiet, no luck, so it’s either buying the same brand again and hoping I get a silent one as they describe the pump or trying the im mighty jet Dc pump, it being 4 times the cost of the Sicce.
Anyone have experience of these pumps?

 

[Ron Reefman]

A) I'd try contacting the seller if you bought it recently.
B) Otherwise, I'd try a different brand. I run two different return pumps. Both are multi-speed DC pumps and at the lower end of the price range. They both run absolutely quiet. I wish my skimmer pump were as quiet!

 

[chowberg]

Weird, I had the same pump in a Nuvo 10 and it was dead silent. Sounds like it might be a faulty pump since it sounds like you've done most things (i.e. clean impellers, soak in vinegar, etc.). Also curious, how do you have it plumbed? I used vinyl tubing and it wasn't touching any walls.

 

[Reef.]

Weird, I had the same pump in a Nuvo 10 and it was dead silent. Sounds like it might be a faulty pump since it sounds like you've done most things (i.e. clean impellers, soak in vinegar, etc.). Also curious, how do you have it plumbed? I used vinyl tubing and it wasn't touching any walls.

I’ve used the supplied fitting that came with the Nuvo, a vinyl tube. I plan on buying some Eheim tubing with the new pump, whichever I choose.
The IM pump is out of stock for 2-3 weeks, plus as said a lot more expensive, but if it gets me a quiet pump it’s worth it, it’s just annoying as many claim the Sicce is silent, but do I want to chance another one!

I’ve tried sitting it on a silicone mat, wrapping the mat around it, hanging it from the tube so it’s not sitting on the base, taking it apart to check for damage etc I’ve not vinegar soaked it as there is nothing on it to remove, I checked it’s not touching the walls of the tank, no joy.

Oh and just to add, whilst I was testing it in a bucket of water, I did notice it acted a be weird, it would get louder even when I was holding it off the base of the bucket, it would get noticeable louder if I moved it towards the side of the bucket or base of the bucket even if I didn’t let it touch the bucket, not sure why it did that?

 

[chowberg]

I’ve used the supplied fitting that came with the Nuvo, a vinyl tube. I plan on buying some Eheim tubing with the new pump, whichever I choose.
The IM pump is out of stock for 2-3 weeks, plus as said a lot more expensive, but if it gets me a quiet pump it’s worth it, it’s just annoying as many claim the Sicce is silent, but do I want to chance another one!

I’ve tried sitting it on a silicone mat, wrapping the mat around it, hanging it from the tube so it’s not sitting on the base, taking it apart to check for damage etc I’ve not vinegar soaked it as there is nothing on it to remove, I checked it’s not touching the walls of the tank, no joy.

Oh and just to add, whilst I was testing it in a bucket of water, I did notice it acted a be weird, it would get louder even when I was holding it off the base of the bucket, it would get noticeable louder if I moved it towards the side of the bucket or base of the bucket even if I didn’t let it touch the bucket, not sure why it did that?

You tried a lot of remedies! From my experience, I noticed the noise is usually either due to cleaning, plumbing or touching the walls. It doesn’t sound like it is any of those for you. If it was me I’d see if I could find a Sicce locally and test it out, maybe our tolerance on noise is different also.

Also, I wonder why it gets louder when not touching the bucket.

 

[ksed]

Get yourself a RO Varios 2

 

[yeldarbj]

I've got the Sicce 1.0 in a Nuvo 20, and it's silent. I've cleaned it once in 2 years only because I felt like it probably needed it. Have you completely disassembled the Sicce and clean all parts? Something is clearly off with it. The Tunze 1073.008 is another small pump (same design as Sicce - but Tunze support) that should be available and is outstanding. I use one in my ATS.

 

[Reef.]

I've got the Sicce 1.0 in a Nuvo 20, and it's silent. I've cleaned it once in 2 years only because I felt like it probably needed it. Have you completely disassembled the Sicce and clean all parts? Something is clearly off with it. The Tunze 1073.008 is another small pump (same design as Sicce - but Tunze support) that should be available and is outstanding. I use one in my ATS.

I’ve had it apart, not cleaned it with vinegar as it’s new and been noisy from day one, I’ll give it another try in a bucket of water to see if I can work out where the noise is coming from, and also vinegar it.
I did notice the noise reduces a lot when pressure is place on it in certain areas when holding it down, sounds it could be a balance issue from inside?

 

[mfinn]

I’ve had it apart, not cleaned it with vinegar as it’s new and been noisy from day one, I’ll give it another try in a bucket of water to see if I can work out where the noise is coming from, and also vinegar it.
I did notice the noise reduces a lot when pressure is place on it in certain areas when holding it down, sounds it could be a balance issue from inside?

If I remember right sicce pumps have a type of valve on the suction side. One that you spin one way and it opens up. Turn it the other way and it closes up. A friend mine had a noisy sicce pump and I asked him if he had this valve closed up. He didn't know anything about it and when he messed with it a little he said it quieted down alot.

 

[Reef.]

If I remember right sicce pumps have a type of valve on the suction side. One that you spin one way and it opens up. Turn it the other way and it closes up. A friend mine had a noisy sicce pump and I asked him if he had this valve closed up. He didn't know anything about it and when he messed with it a little he said it quieted down alot.

Do you mean the flow adjustment? As I believe it quietens down if you have the flow on full, noisier if you restrict the flow, I have mine on full flow.

I think this is what you mean as I can’t see any other dial.

 

[Reef.]

Get yourself a RO Varios 2

Thanks for that expensive suggestion lol, only 10 times the cost of the Sicce!

But it looks a good contender if it fits, I’ll check the dimensions.

 

[DS204]

Owner of a bunch of Sicce's. Sicce .5, three or four 1.0's, a 1.5, an AC Syncra 4.0, and an SDC 6.0 and they're all quiet in my opinion. I will say they tend to have some vibration noise but I don't find that to be too bothersome.

One of the 1.0's is in a Fluval 13.5g and it does hum, but nothing that I note to be too loud. The SDC 6.0 is in my larger tank and it definitely vibrates but my skimmer noise is much louder than any pump noises so I don't notice it until the skimmer is switched off.

Probably a bit of a Sicce fanboy over here, but I read almost everywhere that they're super reliable. Maybe try contacting support and voice your concerns? They might be willing to replace it or provide some insight!

 

[fcmatt]

How long do you think you will be in the hobby for? That would determine how much I would spend. For a return I do not mind spending big bucks because it is a core piece of gear and I want it dead silent. Bad enough having power heads and a skimmer causing noise but the return should be "silent". By silent I mean really silent. Head in the cabinet listening for it silent. High end Bosch dishwasher silent.

 

[johnston]

sicce are known foe reliability but inmy experience a little noisy, not much but some of these new pumps are crazy quiet. I am gonna try the apex pumps next

 

[DS204]

I am gonna try the apex pumps next

I was considering a COR-20 for my next return pump but it looks somewhat harder to disassemble compared to the Sicce SDC models (no tools required). Can anyone chime in what the COR is like to disassemble and clean? I know being bothered by removing 4 screws is kind of picky, but hey - if my hands are wet in the slop sink and dripping - I don't want to be scrambling for tools.

 

[Reef.]

Owner of a bunch of Sicce's. Sicce .5, three or four 1.0's, a 1.5, an AC Syncra 4.0, and an SDC 6.0 and they're all quiet in my opinion. I will say they tend to have some vibration noise but I don't find that to be too bothersome.

One of the 1.0's is in a Fluval 13.5g and it does hum, but nothing that I note to be too loud. The SDC 6.0 is in my larger tank and it definitely vibrates but my skimmer noise is much louder than any pump noises so I don't notice it until the skimmer is switched off.

Probably a bit of a Sicce fanboy over here, but I read almost everywhere that they're super reliable. Maybe try contacting support and voice your concerns? They might be willing to replace it or provide some insight!

Maybe I’m expecting too much but the box says 100% silent, it’s only a hum, I think because it’s in an aio there just isn’t enough space from the walls to stop the hum.

 

[mfinn]

Do you mean the flow adjustment? As I believe it quietens down if you have the flow on full, noisier if you restrict the flow, I have mine on full flow.

I think this is what you mean as I can’t see any other dial.

yeah, that was it.

 

[Reef.]

How long do you think you will be in the hobby for? That would determine how much I would spend. For a return I do not mind spending big bucks because it is a core piece of gear and I want it dead silent. Bad enough having power heads and a skimmer causing noise but the return should be "silent". By silent I mean really silent. Head in the cabinet listening for it silent. High end Bosch dishwasher silent.

Thanks for that, I agree, I want it silent, you’ve just convinced me to go for either the im mighty jet or the RO Varios 2 if it fits.

Edit just checked the size of the RO Varios , it’s too big, I’ll go for the im mighty jet.

 

[Blue Spot Octopus]

Watch some Marine Depot videos they have does it fit videos that should be a lot of help.

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