Iwaki or Reeflo pump?

basssnake · 08/11/2008, 06:15 PM

I am having a heck of a time trying to figure out how to plumb my new 180 gallon acrylic tank. I built it in a wall in my kitchen and it sits on a side porch. I will be using a 100 gallon rubbermaid plastic stock tank for a sump and a 45 gallon tank for a refugium. Let me see what you think. I have a reeflo dart pump(3600gph at 0 feet head) and a iwaki md40rlt(supposed to be 1300 gph at 4 head feet). I am going to make a pipe that will gravity feed the 100 gallon tank into the 45 gallon tank. At the end of the 45 gallon tank will be the pump to feed back to the 180 acrylic. The 180 has a overflow box built in. I wonder if i should use the iwaki(even though they say they run loud) or use the reeflo and tone it down(restrict the water flow using a ball valve, they say it makes them last longer and use less energy if you restrict the water flow and tone it down so it isn't running full throttle). What do you think?

jsteidl · 08/11/2008, 06:17 PM

I would use the dart. I do exactly the same thing now, but T off the return to my chiller and tank. Very quiet opperation.

tangers · 08/11/2008, 07:15 PM

I would def. go with the dart. I had one on my 125. You can never have too much flow, and like you said if for some reason you do, or your drains have trouble keeping up, just throttle it back. It will be far less watts too!

MarineGirl411 · 08/11/2008, 07:20 PM

reeflo! Best pumps

sps1-2-b · 08/11/2008, 08:31 PM

I also have a reeflo dart and throttle it back using ball valve. I would def go with the dart, very silent pump.

mg426 · 08/11/2008, 08:32 PM

I cant speak for the Iwaki but I do own a DART. Awesome pump !!!

basssnake · 08/12/2008, 08:09 AM

In regards to the Reeflo dart, does it matter if it is with the AO Smith motor or the Fasco motor? These are two motors that they used to build them. Anyone have opinions on this issue?

In regards to the iwaki vs reeflo dart, i just don't want to overdrain my 45 gallon refugium since this will be feeding back to the main tank. I guess you could valve down the dart enough?

livingstone · 08/12/2008, 11:14 AM

Quote:

...I wonder if i should use the iwaki(even though they say they run loud) or use the reeflo...

There is no question--the Iwakis are loud! I had mine isolated from the basement floor with foam insulation but I could still hear it annoyingly loudly from the first floor. Use the Reeflo.

08/11/2008, 06:15 PM	#1
basssnake Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Kansas Posts: 838	Iwaki or Reeflo pump? I am having a heck of a time trying to figure out how to plumb my new 180 gallon acrylic tank. I built it in a wall in my kitchen and it sits on a side porch. I will be using a 100 gallon rubbermaid plastic stock tank for a sump and a 45 gallon tank for a refugium. Let me see what you think. I have a reeflo dart pump(3600gph at 0 feet head) and a iwaki md40rlt(supposed to be 1300 gph at 4 head feet). I am going to make a pipe that will gravity feed the 100 gallon tank into the 45 gallon tank. At the end of the 45 gallon tank will be the pump to feed back to the 180 acrylic. The 180 has a overflow box built in. I wonder if i should use the iwaki(even though they say they run loud) or use the reeflo and tone it down(restrict the water flow using a ball valve, they say it makes them last longer and use less energy if you restrict the water flow and tone it down so it isn't running full throttle). What do you think?

08/11/2008, 07:15 PM	#3
tangers Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Des Moines, IA Posts: 1,411	I would def. go with the dart. I had one on my 125. You can never have too much flow, and like you said if for some reason you do, or your drains have trouble keeping up, just throttle it back. It will be far less watts too! __________________ "Rather than love, than money, than faith, than fame, than fairness... give me truth." Henry David Thoreau Click on red house for build thread. Current Tank Info: 135 gallon corner. 3x kessil a360we's, gyre xf150, custom "L" shaped sump, all on apex

08/11/2008, 07:20 PM	#4
MarineGirl411 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 2,583	reeflo! Best pumps __________________ I am a reefaholic and there is no cure. =) Current Tank Info: 90 gallon reef, Cardiff Nano Seahorse tank.

08/11/2008, 08:32 PM	#6
mg426 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: maryland Posts: 6,923	I cant speak for the Iwaki but I do own a DART. Awesome pump !!! __________________ I found a way to make a small fortune running a reef tank. Start with a large fortune. Unofficial President of the SEACLONE haters club Current Tank Info: 125 mixed reef 110 lbs LR, 1x250watt XM 20K MH 2x175watt XM 20K MH on Magetics 2X96 watt actinic PC, 220 watt VHO actinic, 30 gallon refugium, closed loop system powered by Sequence Dart MSX 200 skimmer 38 gallon sump, Oceansmotions squirt

08/11/2008, 06:17 PM	#2
jsteidl Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: CT Posts: 204	I would use the dart. I do exactly the same thing now, but T off the return to my chiller and tank. Very quiet opperation.

08/11/2008, 08:31 PM	#5
sps1-2-b Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Anaheim, CA Posts: 1,248	I also have a reeflo dart and throttle it back using ball valve. I would def go with the dart, very silent pump.

08/12/2008, 08:09 AM	#7
basssnake Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Kansas Posts: 838	In regards to the Reeflo dart, does it matter if it is with the AO Smith motor or the Fasco motor? These are two motors that they used to build them. Anyone have opinions on this issue? In regards to the iwaki vs reeflo dart, i just don't want to overdrain my 45 gallon refugium since this will be feeding back to the main tank. I guess you could valve down the dart enough?