Supreme mag return pump

[rusty dowell]

I have used a supreme mag pump for the past 15 years. (Still running) I replaced the impeller once. Is there any reason not buy another? I’m thinking about buying the biggest one the 3600 gph.

 

[theMeat]

They make a lot of heat and aren’t the quietest but if that’s not a concern they’re pretty bulletproof

 

[rusty dowell]

Thank you
Looks like I’m getting the 2400

 

[bradreef]

Not controllable, uses more power than newer pump. But, i have used them in the past and they work.

 

[HuneyBear]

I use a mag9 for making water changes. No need to use a heater lol. It’s got enough power to keep everything mixed and nothing reaches the bottom when pouring in salt. I’ve cleaned it 3 times since I bought it in 2004. I even ran it dry for 2 days by accident. If you are alright with the noise, the heat, and the fact it’s uses more power than a space heater they are virtually unkillable.

 

[Sean Clark]

Not broke, don't fix it. Nobody is posting about their 15 year old DC pump still kicking (and they never will).

 

[vetteguy53081]

I have used a supreme mag pump for the past 15 years. (Still running) I replaced the impeller once. Is there any reason not buy another? I’m thinking about buying the biggest one the 3600 gph.

Supreme is perhaps the BEST pump ive run other than current SICCE unit and it ran 8 years and I included it with the sale of a cube system and two years after heard it was still in use

 

[redfishbluefish]

MAG pumps are indestructible pumps. I too ran a MAG 9.5 for years....to the point that I called it old four screws because two of the stainless screws rusted out leaving only four screws on the faceplate. I also ran a MAG 24 for a becketted skimmer. I now only use MAGs for water changes....a MAG 18 and a MAG 9.5. My complaint for continuous use was power usage. If my little brain remembers correctly, the MAG 24 pulled 285 watts. Newer DC pumps can do the same job for a fraction of the electrical usage. When I was running both the MAG 9.5 and MAG 24, I don't think my heaters ever came on.

Found a picture of Old-Four-Screws:

 

[KStatefan]

If that one has worked for you for 15 years I would replace it with another

 

[HuneyBear]

MAG pumps are indestructible pumps. I too ran a MAG 9.5 for years....to the point that I called it old four screws because two of the stainless screws rusted out leaving only four screws on the faceplate. I also ran a MAG 24 for a becketted skimmer. I now only use MAGs for water changes....a MAG 18 and a MAG 9.5. My complaint for continuous use was power usage. If my little brain remembers correctly, the MAG 24 pulled 285 watts. Newer DC pumps can do the same job for a fraction of the electrical usage. When I was running both the MAG 9.5 and MAG 24, I don't think my heaters ever came on.

Lol screws on the pump face are the only part that don’t last. I went on a quest for replacements after I broke the 3rd one off because it had me paranoid because it was brown. The new true stainless ones I bought look great.

 

[HuneyBear]

If that one has worked for you for 15 years I would replace it with another

I wouldn’t recommend one for anything but utility purposes to be honest. As return pump,?no way ever. There are so many more efficient a/c pumps if that’s your thing. And you can’t beat control of d/c pumps. Will a dc last this long…. Maybe..doubt it. But as both @redfishbluefish and I have stated the pure power they use is astounding to say the least. Lol.

 

[Sean Clark]

AC pump < $100 uses more power yes, lasts forever, no heater required, pass it down to your kids when you die.
Dc pump > $400 uses 20% more power than its advertised power usage when measured at the wall before the 80% efficient ac/dc power conversion brick, finiky electrical circuits means more points of failure, all that energy your are "saving" is transfered to your heater circuit, last 3 years if you are lucky. Oh but you can vary the speed which is invaluable... as in has no value.

 

[JC1977]

Glad to see I’m not the only one wondering why d/c pumps get so much love? If you go to BRS and start looking at d/c pump reviews there are lots of bad reviews. And most of the good reviews are right after purchase which doesn’t really convince me to switch from a mag drive that simply runs and runs and has a proven track record. Yes they are louder yes they do produce more heat and use more electricity. But in the end it’s the piece of mind I can go out of town or be at work and know the mag drive is not going to fail me.

 

[theMeat]

If this is going to be an ac pump are the best convo then Ehiem hobby pump needs to be in it.

 

[rusty dowell]

I went with this instead

 

[theMeat]

I went with this instead

On a 14 foot head height application I tried one of these. The pump was rated for 20 feet so…. After about 9 months I noticed gph fell off, way off. Tried cleaning, nada. Bought another one which lasted about 6 months. Bought an iwaiki ac pump that has been working for 6 years now. My lfs has a mag drive from his rodi reservoir in the basement. It has about 15 feet height and 40 horizontal run that has been working for over 20 years.

 

[Rmckoy]

I’ve used a mag 18 for a return pump for many years with no issues .
in the end I believe it was cleaning with vinegar that killed it .
the stainless screws for the impeller housing were so rusted they wouldn’t come out .. and to replace it with dc pumps was more affordable .