Quiestest Return Pump

E-A-G-L-E-S · 04/25/2010, 07:35 PM

Looking for the most quiet return pump giving ~400gph give or take @ 4.5'.

mfinn · 04/25/2010, 07:46 PM

I use a eheim pump and a ocean runner pump and they are both pretty quiet, but my ocean runner is giving me a startup problem occasionally, so my vote is the eheim.

sjm817 · 04/25/2010, 07:52 PM

Poseidon Velocity. Dead -touch it to see if it is running - Silent

mfinn · 04/25/2010, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sjm817

Poseidon Velocity. Dead -touch it to see if it is running - Silent

I agree completely. In fact I use 3 on my 240 soft coral tank.
But since it wasn't in his poll, I figured I'd stay on track. ( for once

)

mfinn · 04/25/2010, 08:03 PM

Oopps, now I see the "other catagory"

E-A-G-L-E-S · 04/25/2010, 08:12 PM

Please excuse the mistype...

E-A-G-L-E-S · 04/25/2010, 08:13 PM

1. It needs to run submerged in my sump.
2. If voting "Other"...I would love to hear reccomendations.

Voyager22 · 04/25/2010, 09:13 PM

OceanRunner 2500 is SILENT!!!!!

old salty · 04/25/2010, 09:22 PM

No matter what pump you choose, the way you connect it can have an impact on the noise as well. To remedy this, I glue vinyl tubing to the bottom of the pump; this goes a long way towards reducing the vibrational hum that can sometimes be heard on the other side of your house.

sjm817 · 04/25/2010, 09:44 PM

Since it needs to be a submersible, the Eheim 1260 gets my vote.

nickman · 04/25/2010, 10:16 PM

I have an ocean runner 3500 on my tank and have been happy with it. its bigger than a magdrive but runs quieter. it does have feet/suction cups on it to reduce vibration noise.

do you Poseidon Velocity pump users have heat problems with those pumps?
i have always heard they run hot and stayed away from them for that one reason.

E-A-G-L-E-S · 04/25/2010, 10:20 PM

My current pump, even suspended mid-column(by the tubing which then leads to a barbed fitting that I have clamped at the bulkhead) is not as quiet as i'd like....it is not touching anything.

colotl · 04/25/2010, 10:22 PM

My Mag 18 is quiet. I also did what Old Salty suggested and I can't hear it.

E-A-G-L-E-S · 04/25/2010, 10:25 PM

O.k., for frame of reference, a Mag18 is 'super loud' to me. My tanks, like this current one, are always right in my living rooms.

BlueFaceAngel · 04/25/2010, 10:41 PM

if your mag is super loud ... its the way its placed in your sump...try elevating it with your hand, see if that makes the sound go away...Styrofoam works great for silencing a pump

E-A-G-L-E-S · 04/25/2010, 10:48 PM

I don't have a Mag18, but have owned a 5, 7, 9 and 18 in the past and all were loud in my opinion.
Much louder than the Ocean Runner 2500 I used to have.
As I said above my return pumps dont make contact with my sump....I suspend them mid-column.

But all pumps have a hum in water, I am wondering which of these have the least as these are known as the quietest submersibles on the market.

colotl · 04/25/2010, 10:51 PM

My Mag is on Vinyl tubing to keep it off the glass bottom of my sump and I dont here it. I had a Mag7 on a 55 also quiet that is why I chose to go with a Mag 18 on my 150.

Maybe im just used to the sound it makes, still a good pump

E-A-G-L-E-S · 04/25/2010, 10:58 PM

Definitely reliable pumps, I agree.....just looking for the most quiet I can find.

sjm817 · 04/26/2010, 05:25 AM

People will have dramatically different opinions on what is quiet and what is not. Eheims are way quieter than Mags. I dont consider OR (Halia) the same quality/reliability as Eheims. They went through a period where they were getting many complaints of statup problems and all out failures. Maybe that has improved. I dont see the complaints lately. Eheims last forever. The quietest pump I have ever seen s the Poseiden, but they are external. The Askoll pumps are also extremely quiet, but have more GPH than you are looking for. A 1260 is a very quiet, (not as quiet as the Poseidon or Askoll) pump that is right in the GPH range you are looking at.

liz62 · 04/26/2010, 08:01 AM

I have an Eheim 3000 and it so quiet you have to put your hand at the intake to see if it is running. Dead silent pump!

GSMguy · 04/26/2010, 09:41 AM

I would go for the 1260 with the optional suction cups on the bottom.

tkeracer619 · 04/26/2010, 09:48 AM

Ehiem

E-A-G-L-E-S · 04/26/2010, 11:24 AM

Has anyone bought a new Tunze return pump? The Silence line?
Tunze makes good products and if it is as quiet or ~ the same as the Eheim that would save me a decent chunk of money.(~35-40%)
Also, the Reef Octopus new line-up isn't out yet to purchase right?

GSMguy · 04/26/2010, 11:35 AM

they are nice and quiet with low energy consumption but do not handle headpressure like the eheims.

KafudaFish · 04/26/2010, 11:37 AM

I looked into the Tunze not that long ago. I asked the question on the tunze sub forum and Roger told me that of the two the larger one was a better more powerful pump (yes imagine that). I was looking to do pretty much the same thing as you for my return: around 4 - 500 gph and 4 ft. He said the smaller would not cut it. There is a graph showing the performance of it but it really was off. This was from him not me.

I would have tried it but I found a 1260 on sale locally and am using it. I am vey happy with that pump. Before I could not hear my TV when I was near the tank due to my Mag return including a 12 and a 7. Now I have no problems.

The only "negative" aspect of the 1260 is the size. People report issues with plumbing with PVC but I did not. All I used was a male threaded 3/4 to 1 inch fitting and some plumbers tape.

View Poll Results: Quietest Return Pump(for my tank)
Eheim 1260	32	52.46%
Ocean Runner 2500	2	3.28%
Tunze 1073.020(Silence pump)	12	19.67%
Other	15	24.59%
Voters: 61. You may not vote on this poll

04/25/2010, 07:35 PM	#1
E-A-G-L-E-S Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Lehigh Valley, PA Posts: 7,038	Quiestest Return Pump Looking for the most quiet return pump giving ~400gph give or take @ 4.5'. __________________ Smug Egotistical Contemptuous It's difficult to get a man to understand something that his salary requires him not to.

04/25/2010, 07:46 PM	#2
mfinn Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Olympia. WA. Posts: 8,648	I use a eheim pump and a ocean runner pump and they are both pretty quiet, but my ocean runner is giving me a startup problem occasionally, so my vote is the eheim. __________________ 240 gallon soft coral tank 50 gallon lps tank

04/25/2010, 07:52 PM	#3
sjm817 On Yer left! Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Northern VA Posts: 18,777	Poseidon Velocity. Dead -touch it to see if it is running - Silent __________________ - Scott

04/25/2010, 08:03 PM	#5
mfinn Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Olympia. WA. Posts: 8,648	Oopps, now I see the "other catagory" __________________ 240 gallon soft coral tank 50 gallon lps tank

04/25/2010, 08:12 PM	#6
E-A-G-L-E-S Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Lehigh Valley, PA Posts: 7,038	Please excuse the mistype... __________________ Smug Egotistical Contemptuous It's difficult to get a man to understand something that his salary requires him not to.

04/25/2010, 08:13 PM	#7
E-A-G-L-E-S Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Lehigh Valley, PA Posts: 7,038	1. It needs to run submerged in my sump. 2. If voting "Other"...I would love to hear reccomendations. __________________ Smug Egotistical Contemptuous It's difficult to get a man to understand something that his salary requires him not to. Last edited by E-A-G-L-E-S; 04/25/2010 at 08:25 PM.

04/25/2010, 09:13 PM	#8
Voyager22 Moved On Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 19	OceanRunner 2500 is SILENT!!!!!

04/25/2010, 09:22 PM	#9
old salty Genius Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: The Island of Misfit Toys Posts: 3,131	No matter what pump you choose, the way you connect it can have an impact on the noise as well. To remedy this, I glue vinyl tubing to the bottom of the pump; this goes a long way towards reducing the vibrational hum that can sometimes be heard on the other side of your house. __________________ "The man who reads nothing at all is better educated than the man who reads nothing but newspapers." Thomas Jefferson Current Tank Info: Out of the marine aquarium hobby

04/25/2010, 09:44 PM	#10
sjm817 On Yer left! Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Northern VA Posts: 18,777	Since it needs to be a submersible, the Eheim 1260 gets my vote. __________________ - Scott

04/25/2010, 10:16 PM	#11
nickman Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 144	I have an ocean runner 3500 on my tank and have been happy with it. its bigger than a magdrive but runs quieter. it does have feet/suction cups on it to reduce vibration noise. do you Poseidon Velocity pump users have heat problems with those pumps? i have always heard they run hot and stayed away from them for that one reason.

04/25/2010, 10:20 PM	#12
E-A-G-L-E-S Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Lehigh Valley, PA Posts: 7,038	My current pump, even suspended mid-column(by the tubing which then leads to a barbed fitting that I have clamped at the bulkhead) is not as quiet as i'd like....it is not touching anything. __________________ Smug Egotistical Contemptuous It's difficult to get a man to understand something that his salary requires him not to.

04/25/2010, 10:22 PM	#13
colotl Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 648	My Mag 18 is quiet. I also did what Old Salty suggested and I can't hear it.

04/25/2010, 10:25 PM	#14
E-A-G-L-E-S Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Lehigh Valley, PA Posts: 7,038	O.k., for frame of reference, a Mag18 is 'super loud' to me. My tanks, like this current one, are always right in my living rooms. __________________ Smug Egotistical Contemptuous It's difficult to get a man to understand something that his salary requires him not to.

04/25/2010, 10:41 PM	#15
BlueFaceAngel Moved On Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 123	if your mag is super loud ... its the way its placed in your sump...try elevating it with your hand, see if that makes the sound go away...Styrofoam works great for silencing a pump

04/25/2010, 10:48 PM	#16
E-A-G-L-E-S Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Lehigh Valley, PA Posts: 7,038	I don't have a Mag18, but have owned a 5, 7, 9 and 18 in the past and all were loud in my opinion. Much louder than the Ocean Runner 2500 I used to have. As I said above my return pumps dont make contact with my sump....I suspend them mid-column. But all pumps have a hum in water, I am wondering which of these have the least as these are known as the quietest submersibles on the market. __________________ Smug Egotistical Contemptuous It's difficult to get a man to understand something that his salary requires him not to.

04/25/2010, 10:51 PM	#17
colotl Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 648	My Mag is on Vinyl tubing to keep it off the glass bottom of my sump and I dont here it. I had a Mag7 on a 55 also quiet that is why I chose to go with a Mag 18 on my 150. Maybe im just used to the sound it makes, still a good pump

04/25/2010, 10:58 PM	#18
E-A-G-L-E-S Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Lehigh Valley, PA Posts: 7,038	Definitely reliable pumps, I agree.....just looking for the most quiet I can find. __________________ Smug Egotistical Contemptuous It's difficult to get a man to understand something that his salary requires him not to.

04/26/2010, 05:25 AM	#19
sjm817 On Yer left! Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Northern VA Posts: 18,777	People will have dramatically different opinions on what is quiet and what is not. Eheims are way quieter than Mags. I dont consider OR (Halia) the same quality/reliability as Eheims. They went through a period where they were getting many complaints of statup problems and all out failures. Maybe that has improved. I dont see the complaints lately. Eheims last forever. The quietest pump I have ever seen s the Poseiden, but they are external. The Askoll pumps are also extremely quiet, but have more GPH than you are looking for. A 1260 is a very quiet, (not as quiet as the Poseidon or Askoll) pump that is right in the GPH range you are looking at. __________________ - Scott

04/26/2010, 08:01 AM	#20
liz62 Zeohead Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 394	I have an Eheim 3000 and it so quiet you have to put your hand at the intake to see if it is running. Dead silent pump! __________________ 60gl cube - SPS dominated SRO XP 1000i Cone Maxspect LED 120w 16k

04/26/2010, 09:41 AM	#21
GSMguy Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Northern New Mexico Posts: 17,420	I would go for the 1260 with the optional suction cups on the bottom. __________________ Nick. Conehead. Shallow Reef club. Current Tank Info: 48"x27"x14" Envision Acrylic rimless, 6x39w ATi Sunpower, Custom ATB Deluxe Skimmer, 4x tunze nano stream,ATB flowstar 1500, ACJR, Tunze osmolator.

04/26/2010, 09:48 AM	#22
tkeracer619 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Westminster, CO Posts: 17,289	Ehiem __________________ Hobby Experience: 9200ish gallons, 26 skimmers, and a handful of Kent Scrapers. Current Tank: Vortech Powered 600G SPS Tank w/ 100gal frag tank & 100g Sump. RK2-RK10 Skimmer. ReefAngel. Radium 20k.

04/26/2010, 11:24 AM	#23
E-A-G-L-E-S Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Lehigh Valley, PA Posts: 7,038	Has anyone bought a new Tunze return pump? The Silence line? Tunze makes good products and if it is as quiet or ~ the same as the Eheim that would save me a decent chunk of money.(~35-40%) Also, the Reef Octopus new line-up isn't out yet to purchase right? __________________ Smug Egotistical Contemptuous It's difficult to get a man to understand something that his salary requires him not to.

04/26/2010, 11:35 AM	#24
GSMguy Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Northern New Mexico Posts: 17,420	they are nice and quiet with low energy consumption but do not handle headpressure like the eheims. __________________ Nick. Conehead. Shallow Reef club. Current Tank Info: 48"x27"x14" Envision Acrylic rimless, 6x39w ATi Sunpower, Custom ATB Deluxe Skimmer, 4x tunze nano stream,ATB flowstar 1500, ACJR, Tunze osmolator.

04/26/2010, 11:37 AM	#25
KafudaFish Cyprinius carpio Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 4,496	I looked into the Tunze not that long ago. I asked the question on the tunze sub forum and Roger told me that of the two the larger one was a better more powerful pump (yes imagine that). I was looking to do pretty much the same thing as you for my return: around 4 - 500 gph and 4 ft. He said the smaller would not cut it. There is a graph showing the performance of it but it really was off. This was from him not me. I would have tried it but I found a 1260 on sale locally and am using it. I am vey happy with that pump. Before I could not hear my TV when I was near the tank due to my Mag return including a 12 and a 7. Now I have no problems. The only "negative" aspect of the 1260 is the size. People report issues with plumbing with PVC but I did not. All I used was a male threaded 3/4 to 1 inch fitting and some plumbers tape.

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