Recommendation for external mixing pump

BlackTip · 05/18/2015, 08:19 AM

I am going to mix my water in the garage, then pump it to the DT inside the house. Distance is about 45' and 5' head.

Looking for economical external pump.

Is Sicce 2.0 or MagDrive good for this purpose?

Thanks,

BlackTip · 05/18/2015, 03:20 PM

I did some more research and asked around, and I concluded that my Sicce 2.0 won't cut it. So, I decided on PanWorld 50PX-X. I have a little problem to solve, though.

My water tanks came with 3/4" bulkhead installed. PanWorld pump input line is 1 in. Is it going to be a problem?

It is going to like this: 3/4" pipe from tank, gate valve, then stepped up to 1 in. braided hose, then connected to the pump.

I asked two retailers, and I got two different answers.

I am trying to avoid the extra cost of drilling and installing bigger blukheads, if I can.

What do you guys think?

zachfishman · 05/19/2015, 08:09 AM

I'd use a ball valve in place of the gate valve, and use the money saved for a 1" bulkhead.

slief · 05/19/2015, 10:10 AM

How big is your mixing tank and what is it made out of? FWIW, the Panworld is a much better option. The 3/4" in and out should be OK. Not ideal on the input but given this pump won't be running all that often, it will work. If it were me, I'd drill the holes out for 1" bulkheads largely because the more flow you have through the mixing tank the better as it will mix faster. Then again, I wouldn't be sweating the cost of a couple 1" bulkheads and would be drilling the holes myself. Depending on what your mixing tank is made out of, you could silicone a piece of plastic or acrylic over the 3/4" hole and drill the bigger hole using the piece you siliconed in place for the pilot bit. That or find a really large step bit to enlarge the hole or if it's a plastic tank, use a dremel bit to enlarge it. I use a Little Giant 4MDSC on my mixing tanks but I may swap that at some point in the future as it's a little on the small side for my 100 gallon mixing tank.

BlackTip · 05/19/2015, 10:36 AM

Thank you guys. I ended up ordering the PanWorld 50PX and Cepex 3/4" ball valves. The 50PX will be couple minutes slower than the 50PX-X, but it has 3/4" in/out. So, no drilling and saving some money on the valves and fittings.

My mixing station will be 2 50g Norwesco tall tanks.

05/18/2015, 08:19 AM	#1
BlackTip Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Posts: 1,598	Recommendation for external mixing pump I am going to mix my water in the garage, then pump it to the DT inside the house. Distance is about 45' and 5' head. Looking for economical external pump. Is Sicce 2.0 or MagDrive good for this purpose? Thanks,

05/19/2015, 08:09 AM	#3
zachfishman Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: St Petersburg, FL Posts: 3,577	I'd use a ball valve in place of the gate valve, and use the money saved for a 1" bulkhead. __________________ Patience is a reefer's best tool. Secret Xenia lover. M.S. Marine Biology Staff - Marine Discovery Center, St. Petersburg FL Tampa Bay Reef Club BOD 2018 Current Tank Info: 34g modded Solana

05/19/2015, 10:10 AM	#4
slief RC Sponsor Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 14,173	How big is your mixing tank and what is it made out of? FWIW, the Panworld is a much better option. The 3/4" in and out should be OK. Not ideal on the input but given this pump won't be running all that often, it will work. If it were me, I'd drill the holes out for 1" bulkheads largely because the more flow you have through the mixing tank the better as it will mix faster. Then again, I wouldn't be sweating the cost of a couple 1" bulkheads and would be drilling the holes myself. Depending on what your mixing tank is made out of, you could silicone a piece of plastic or acrylic over the 3/4" hole and drill the bigger hole using the piece you siliconed in place for the pilot bit. That or find a really large step bit to enlarge the hole or if it's a plastic tank, use a dremel bit to enlarge it. I use a Little Giant 4MDSC on my mixing tanks but I may swap that at some point in the future as it's a little on the small side for my 100 gallon mixing tank. __________________ Director Customer Support Royal Exclusiv USA For All Royal Exclusiv & Bubble King questions please refer to our Sponsor forum: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/fo...play.php?f=745 Current Tank Info: 480G display mixed reef, 90G sump, 90G refugium, 60G display refugium. Check out my build thread: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1783476 Last edited by slief; 05/19/2015 at 10:15 AM.

05/18/2015, 03:20 PM	#2
BlackTip Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Posts: 1,598	I did some more research and asked around, and I concluded that my Sicce 2.0 won't cut it. So, I decided on PanWorld 50PX-X. I have a little problem to solve, though. My water tanks came with 3/4" bulkhead installed. PanWorld pump input line is 1 in. Is it going to be a problem? It is going to like this: 3/4" pipe from tank, gate valve, then stepped up to 1 in. braided hose, then connected to the pump. I asked two retailers, and I got two different answers. I am trying to avoid the extra cost of drilling and installing bigger blukheads, if I can. What do you guys think?

05/19/2015, 10:36 AM	#5
BlackTip Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Posts: 1,598	Thank you guys. I ended up ordering the PanWorld 50PX and Cepex 3/4" ball valves. The 50PX will be couple minutes slower than the 50PX-X, but it has 3/4" in/out. So, no drilling and saving some money on the valves and fittings. My mixing station will be 2 50g Norwesco tall tanks.