Small Apex Ready DC Pump

herring_fish · Sep 19, 2017

Can anyone suggest a small Apex ready DC pump?

I have a dump bucket style Algal Turf Scrubber that is installed over my tank. I have used it for about 25 years and love it. I moved it to my new tank and the latest but old AC pond pump is too loud, as install. I think that I need to buy a new small pump. 250 gallon per hour is about all that I need but I could see running as much as 500 GPH on occasion.

I want to connect the pump to my Apex controller but I don't want a big pump. Price in not a huge factor.

I looked around and found a Waveline DC2500. Is this a good pump and can I do better?

Thanks in advance.

MaddyP · Sep 19, 2017

I have two RO Varios pumps and they are well built and silent. I have the Varios-6 on my tank as return and a Varios-4 on my mixing station.

Due to many unexpected failures, I have a hard time trusting the Waveline pumps. That is not to say some aren't happy with their performance.

mcarroll · Sep 19, 2017

I know you didn't ask for this, but I'd just get a new right-sized AC pump that'll last you another 20 years. DC pumps aren't there yet and are so much more expensive it's not really funny.

A Quiet One 1200 or 2200 would do it for your app, for example....flow is adjustable (manually), they cost around $50, they come with a 5 year warranty, and they're very, very silent. My Quiet One 4000 is the quietest thing on my whole tank...I think I have heaters that are louder. The smaller models (I have a 2200 as well) would be even quieter. They're a Sicce pump design....and the design is Sicce's most quiet....so this is not just me saying it or some "magic" in my setup.

If you want the authentic Sicce model, look at their Syncra Pro line....same warranty, same pump specs, only made in Italy. You'll pay a little extra.

BTW, isn't the dump bucket itself the actual loud part?

herring_fish · Sep 20, 2017

Thanks

Yes the dump bucket is A loud part but definitely not the annoying part. The motor has some years on it but I don't think that it is much louder than when I bought it.

I put a custom 6" cube external box with 1/4" thick plastic on the back drill hole in the tank. The vibrations are transferred to the box, then to the tank and to the hood. I get the humming sound when the hood is closed. I think that if I affixed the output tube to the wall so that the motor didn't touch the sides or bottom of the box, things might be quieter but that is another can of worms.

The water discharge has been design to be stretched out, natural and soothing. The sound of a motor blows the whole feeling.