New, more economical pumps for reef tanks

swimboy123 · 07/17/2007, 12:00 PM

Hey everyone;

As I was perusing my local Home Depot this weekend, I happened down the aisle that had pool pumps. I started to read the boxes and realized that thes are mag-drive pumps, move about the same amount of water, and are a hell of a lot cheaper than the pumps we are used to seeing in this hobby. Most of the pumps were made by Flo-Tech and seemed worth the money ($200-$400) for the volume of water pumped. Does anyone have any expirience with trying something like this???

RichConley · 07/17/2007, 12:18 PM

since when is $200-400 reasonable? From what I've seen, pool pumps are EXTREMELY inefficient. 1000w pumps are common.

A Sequence Dart costs $200, moves 3600gph, and uses 160w.

this one looks interesting:

http://www.flotecpump.com/pdf/Page_16_2004.pdf

400gph, 16w.

luke33 · 07/17/2007, 12:28 PM

400gph at 16w, nice, if it were only a bit stronger it would really make a nice DIY skimmer recirc pump....maybe.

RichConley · 07/17/2007, 12:33 PM

It still may. I mean, if its got a decent volute, and we can get 20 scfh out of it, is a monster. We've got 780gph pumps pulling 50, so I dont see it being out of the question.

Crusty Old Shellback · 07/17/2007, 12:34 PM

I ran one for several years on a CL on my 400 G tank. Worked nicely. But the reeflo pumps are more efficent so I switched.

luke33 · 07/17/2007, 12:36 PM

What pump is pulling 50scfh at 780gph now? And i would agree if you could get 20 out of it it would be nice, it would just take a couple for a large skimmer, but the turbulence would be fantastic.

RichConley · 07/17/2007, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by luke33
What pump is pulling 50scfh at 780gph now? And i would agree if you could get 20 out of it it would be nice, it would just take a couple for a large skimmer, but the turbulence would be fantastic.

Both the Sicce 2550, and the Quietone 3000 (same pump) at about 25w.

luke33 · 07/17/2007, 12:45 PM

I had a feeling you were gonna say sicce, been following the thread but been busy the last few days. This pump may be worth a shot if its cheap.

swimboy123 · 07/17/2007, 12:52 PM

Do you think the saltwater would have abnormal effects on the pumps?

luke33 · 07/17/2007, 12:56 PM

Possibly but it says its epoxy sealed so if it is, it should be fine.

oct2274 · 07/17/2007, 01:08 PM

i created a guide for taking care of acrylic aquariums if anyone wanted info on that

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...readid=1164882

badgerlaw · 07/17/2007, 01:12 PM

I once had one of these pumps on my pond and they were really loud.

rbursek · 07/17/2007, 03:45 PM

It may be salt safe, because Chlorine is a salt and very corrosive, as a rule pool pumps do not have to push a lot of head, so the valute/impeller is designed for volume, so if your sump is in the basement and tank upstairs it may have a huge head curve loss for its design.

07/17/2007, 12:00 PM	#1
swimboy123 Reef-a-holic Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 154	New, more economical pumps for reef tanks Hey everyone; As I was perusing my local Home Depot this weekend, I happened down the aisle that had pool pumps. I started to read the boxes and realized that thes are mag-drive pumps, move about the same amount of water, and are a hell of a lot cheaper than the pumps we are used to seeing in this hobby. Most of the pumps were made by Flo-Tech and seemed worth the money ($200-$400) for the volume of water pumped. Does anyone have any expirience with trying something like this???

07/17/2007, 12:18 PM	#2
RichConley Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Bostonian in Chicago going to DC Posts: 9,908	since when is $200-400 reasonable? From what I've seen, pool pumps are EXTREMELY inefficient. 1000w pumps are common. A Sequence Dart costs $200, moves 3600gph, and uses 160w. this one looks interesting: http://www.flotecpump.com/pdf/Page_16_2004.pdf 400gph, 16w. __________________ NO TANKS!!!

07/17/2007, 12:33 PM	#4
RichConley Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Bostonian in Chicago going to DC Posts: 9,908	It still may. I mean, if its got a decent volute, and we can get 20 scfh out of it, is a monster. We've got 780gph pumps pulling 50, so I dont see it being out of the question. __________________ NO TANKS!!!

07/17/2007, 12:34 PM	#5
Crusty Old Shellback MASVC OG Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Home of the FREE, Thanks to the BRAVE! Posts: 5,089	I ran one for several years on a CL on my 400 G tank. Worked nicely. But the reeflo pumps are more efficent so I switched. __________________ Have you THANKED a Veteran lately for the freedoms you take for granted each day? Best quote ever! "This is a hobby for God sakes and so many people get so uptite. A "hobby" so it should be fun and not a cause to worry or go broke." Paul B Current Tank Info: Tankless for a while. RIP my 8+ yr old pair of Naso tangs, 4 + yr old Moorish Idol

07/17/2007, 12:28 PM	#3
luke33 Moved On Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Indiana Posts: 8,375	400gph at 16w, nice, if it were only a bit stronger it would really make a nice DIY skimmer recirc pump....maybe.

07/17/2007, 12:36 PM	#6
luke33 Moved On Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Indiana Posts: 8,375	What pump is pulling 50scfh at 780gph now? And i would agree if you could get 20 out of it it would be nice, it would just take a couple for a large skimmer, but the turbulence would be fantastic.

07/17/2007, 12:45 PM	#8
luke33 Moved On Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Indiana Posts: 8,375	I had a feeling you were gonna say sicce, been following the thread but been busy the last few days. This pump may be worth a shot if its cheap.

07/17/2007, 12:52 PM	#9
swimboy123 Reef-a-holic Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 154	Do you think the saltwater would have abnormal effects on the pumps?

07/17/2007, 12:56 PM	#10
luke33 Moved On Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Indiana Posts: 8,375	Possibly but it says its epoxy sealed so if it is, it should be fine.

07/17/2007, 01:08 PM	#11
oct2274 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Plano, TX Posts: 2,347	i created a guide for taking care of acrylic aquariums if anyone wanted info on that http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...readid=1164882

07/17/2007, 01:12 PM	#12
badgerlaw Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: SOCAL Posts: 247	I once had one of these pumps on my pond and they were really loud.

07/17/2007, 03:45 PM	#13
rbursek Moved On Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: germantown,wi Posts: 2,339	It may be salt safe, because Chlorine is a salt and very corrosive, as a rule pool pumps do not have to push a lot of head, so the valute/impeller is designed for volume, so if your sump is in the basement and tank upstairs it may have a huge head curve loss for its design.