What Return Pump are you running and why.

[reefrider777]

Sicce SDC 7.0...wifi compatibility and 5 YEAR WARRANTY...NO OTHER PUMP GIVES THAT KIND OF WARRANTY!!

 

[DarthSimon]

Neptune Systems Cor20. First I have tons of Apex gear.... Controllability with Apex with this pump is great.....
Secondly, it's just a great, well made pump. I have mine running 150 Gallons of total water volume, custom manifold, powering a frag tank, refugium, and main display.

 

[saltyhog]

Awesome!!!!!! I was told they fixed the issues with the pumps and their customer service has been outstanding. They sent out new pumps to anyone who had problems. Not everyone had issues. It's defiantly a silent pump! ;Headphone

The M1 has actually nit had any significant issues. It's the larger L1 is the one that had all the problems. I've been impressed with Ecotech's customer service the one time ive needed it(new gaskets for my MP40's)

 

[JoshH]

Sicce SDC 7.0...wifi compatibility and 5 YEAR WARRANTY...NO OTHER PUMP GIVES THAT KIND OF WARRANTY!!

Abyzz come with a 10 year, but you sure pay for it

As for myself I run a Mag 7 on my RSM C130 and love it, quiet and virtually bullet proof.

 

[GoldeneyeRet]

Fluval sp pumps for me. Because they work. Always.

 

[Mark Teitelman]

I just put a Varios S2 on my 50 gallon nano, to replace the stock pump that came with the tank. I just didn't trust it in the long run. So far really like the S2. I only run it at medium power and that's perfect for the tank.

 

[Tom Blevins]

Jebao DC12000 now, tried the Ecotech L1 twice with the same outcome JUNK IMO! you can have 1 RUNNING AND 2 of the Jebaos
for back up for the price of 1 L1

 

[Amps Reef Life]

Sicce SDC 7.0...wifi compatibility and 5 YEAR WARRANTY...NO OTHER PUMP GIVES THAT KIND OF WARRANTY!!

That's awesome and I didn't know about the warranty. Sicce makes a great pump I have had a few myself. Thanks for sharing.

Neptune Systems Cor20. First I have tons of Apex gear.... Controllability with Apex with this pump is great.....
Secondly, it's just a great, well made pump. I have mine running 150 Gallons of total water volume, custom manifold, powering a frag tank, refugium, and main display.

That's really impressive. I looked at buying the Apex pump as I have a full Apex setup myself with dosing and I absolutely love it. I couldn't find enough reviews about them and I wish they made a pump stronger then what they offer currently.

Fluval sp pumps for me. Because they work. Always.

Always that's a bold statement.

I just put a Varios S2 on my 50 gallon nano, to replace the stock pump that came with the tank. I just didn't trust it in the long run. So far really like the S2. I only run it at medium power and that's perfect for the tank.

Awesome another Varios user. Love it I'm looking forward to mine. I just got home and it was here waiting for me

Jebao DC12000 now, tried the Ecotech L1 twice with the same outcome JUNK IMO! you can have 1 RUNNING AND 2 of the Jebaos
for back up for the price of 1 L1

I'm not sure I'd say they are junk that had some issues with the first generation and its said to be fixed. There costumer service is awesome though. They will replace those pumps for you. I agree Jebao makes a good pump and they are priced really well. I have been using them for years on many many reef tanks.

 

[Amps Reef Life]

The M1 has actually nit had any significant issues. It's the larger L1 is the one that had all the problems. I've been impressed with Ecotech's customer service the one time ive needed it(new gaskets for my MP40's)

You are right. I completely forgot it was only on the L1 pumps. Those are the pumps my friends where running and had replaced. That was the same pump I was looking at getting.

 

[jda]

Laguna Max Flow and Fluval SP4 on two of my tanks - askoll block pumps are fantastic for efficiency and reliability. Ampmaster on another one. If I had a super-head pressure application, then PanWorld, Iwaki or GenX.

I am simple. I just need them to work. All of these are decade+ pumps without downtime or issues. I bit on some DC pumps a few years back and it was a big mistake... back to the tried and true now. This is too important of a feature to get cute with... I consider a return pump and heater controller the lynchpins of my operation.

 

[choss]

I run a Varios 6 on my 93 cube and am running it at the lowest setting. I bought it for the Apex control, reputation and recommendation from my LFS. Plus I run a manifold so wanted extra power for that and possible upgrade in future. It is dead silent and has feed modes. Lastly, it fit perfectly in my sump. You will be happy with the 8 and it will be more than enough for your 180.

+1 on Varios 6 - 96 gallon tank. I run it full tilt on a 3/4" return and bean animal overflow. Quiet, reliable, and just a great pump.

 

[roberthu526]

I’ll tell you why. When the power goes out, water back siphons and spins the pump impeller the wrong way. If you attempt to restart the pump while it is back spinning it will not restart properly and can do damage to the pump. You need to wait until the back siphon stops before restarting.

With my apex, I have it delay the start of my main pump for 2 mins after power is restored.

Thank you! I have never thought of that! Makes total sense now!

 

[ca1ore]

Thank you! I have never thought of that! Makes total sense now!

Yeah, I ‘discovered’ this a couple of years ago when my panworld wouldn’t restart after a brief power cycle. Almost burned the thing out before I realized what was happening. It may be the only sensible use for a check valve LOL

 

[Pntbll687]

I run all mag drive pumps. I have 2 x 1200 on my 200g, a 700 on my 29g, and going to run a 1200 on my 20 long. The 20 long will have a manifold and four different returns so I needed a little extra and went with the 1200.

I like the mag drives, I have never had any issues with the ones I have, or others I have used. They work, they cleaned once a year, and that's it.

 

[AquamanE]

Sicce SDC 7.0...wifi compatibility and 5 YEAR WARRANTY...NO OTHER PUMP GIVES THAT KIND OF WARRANTY!!

I agree. Im not into the WiFi stuff cause I dont care for a return pump. I expect to turn it on and forget. And that exactly what i am getting from this pump. Dead silent, little if any heat transfer, little energy draw.

I was with a friend thats a biomedical engineer at MACNA New Orleans and we spoke to their engineer and their thought process into the engineering of this pump was everything you want in a pump.

It’s Flawless!!!!

 

[fermentedhiker]

I've been running Deepwater aquatics Bdlc5's on my freshwater 125(2+ years) and my 90 mixed reef(1 year) with almost no issues. The reason was strictly budget at the time. They are quiet and I can only hear them if I run them full bore and leave the cabinet doors open, in which case I just hear a faint high pitched whine for lack of a better word. The only trouble I have with them is during power outages. If the power goes out and stays out they are fine and kick in 20 mins after the power comes back on(it sees a power outage as the same input as a feed mode selection) but if the power flickers on and off and ends up staying on the controller sometimes get confused and doesn't restart the pump.......ever unless I manually give it the nudge. I've debated about putting them on a small UPS to prevent this especially if I'm going to be away, but haven't bit the bullet yet(also not sure where I would squeeze on in given how crowded it is under the stand

 

[TexasTodd]

I just plumbed a Varios 4 last weekend. So far so good. Checked by unplugging and back and started back up after some sort of built in delay. Tank temp dropped a bit this week. Probably pick up a 6 also if this does well for a while. LFS said the few they've sold have been rock solid.

 

[Amps Reef Life]

Loving all of the post. Thanks for sharing everyone. Some solid information being passed around. Let's keep it going. Return pumps are a question I see floating around often. Great information here! I'm working on plumbing my Varios 8 tonight. Just left Lowe's for a last minute item I didn't think about. Plus I need a few ceiling hooks to hang my wife's new light fixture. Cheers.

 

[SteadyC]

Sicce SDC 9.0, it’s been great so far. Very easy to clean. I had Iwaki before, power hog, loud, and not submersible. Not that submersible is hugely important day-to-day, but it’s nice to throw a pump in a bucket of vinegar and water and let it clean itself, just easier. And they disassemble in less than 10 seconds with no tools. I had two Vectra M1s, one pump died (was replaced), and two power adapters died, so they are now backups to the Sicce, they are not trusted.

 

[Potatohead]

Can you send a link, I'm interested....

An A400 does 34-3500 at 13 feet, using 400 watts. Not sure what your current pump uses power wise. That’s also not using the boost mode. They were working on an A1200 a couple years ago too, I don’t know if that’s available commercially now or not. I guess if money is no problem you could use three A400’s turned down a bit.