quietest Return Pump available?

deahtop · 03/12/2009, 11:32 PM

Just finished setting up a 90g and a 75g plumped together. Received my Iwaki MD40RLXT today, im impressed by the pressure this pump puts out, but its a bit loud for the current room the tank is in. Im looking for the best QUIETEST pump out there. itll be pushing through about 15' of head.

Also, i am not looking for high turnover, since most of my flow will be coming from powerheads.

Toddrtrex · 03/12/2009, 11:39 PM

For external, the quietest pump around are the Velocity pumps. I have 2, and I am not joking that you have to touch it to see if it is on.

castroantonio · 03/13/2009, 12:01 AM

eheim

sscherin · 03/13/2009, 09:31 AM

I'll 2nd the velocity pumps.. super quiet but they do run hot..
I have power heads that make more noise than this thing

The T3 is rated for 830gph @ 5" and max head is 28 feet
Going by the chart it should still flow over 400gph at 15'

GSMguy · 03/13/2009, 09:35 AM

Everything I hear about velocity sounds like they are good silent external pumps

I wonder though, why try to circulate 2 tanks with a pump that is 15feet away that is not going to be efficent. Get a smaller return and use some powerheads

hoosierpat · 03/13/2009, 10:00 AM

Do those velocity pumps not have threads on their intake/output? It looks like they have some lame barb like the SQWDs do.

northcoastdiver · 03/13/2009, 10:13 AM

+2 ehime love mine

Kenmx10 · 03/13/2009, 10:15 AM

eheim

Riemski · 03/13/2009, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by hoosierpat
Do those velocity pumps not have threads on their intake/output? It looks like they have some lame barb like the SQWDs do.

The T4 pump has 1" hose barbed inlet and outlet. I believe the others have smaller threaded in/out connections.

Piscez · 03/13/2009, 10:45 AM

I have an Eheim 1260 in sump with a foam pad under it = No noise

nikon187 · 03/13/2009, 11:07 AM

+3 for ehiem

Toddrtrex · 03/13/2009, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Riemski
The T4 pump has 1" hose barbed inlet and outlet. I believe the others have smaller threaded in/out connections.

You are correct, the other ones T1, T2, & T3 are threaded.

sjm817 · 03/13/2009, 11:25 AM

I like Eheims as much as anyone but the OP is looking for 15' head. An Eheim will not do that.

slider162 · 03/13/2009, 01:26 PM

I'm also looking for a quiet pump. But the Poseidon/Velocity pumps are too hot for me.

From Marine Depot:

"Please note that it is normal for this pump to increase the aquarium's water temp by 4â€“6Â°F."

How do the Pan World/Blueline pumps compare?

ravedood · 03/13/2009, 02:12 PM

How hot do the T4 pumps get? How many degrees does it increase the water temperature?

James77 · 03/13/2009, 02:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ravedood
How hot do the T4 pumps get? How many degrees does it increase the water temperature?

It would depend on what size tank you had, ambient room temp, etc. They add no more heat than a submersible of the same wattage(1+2= 98 watts, 3+4=140 watts). My tank went up about 2-2.5 degrees switching from a Reeflo tarpon to ma Velocity T4.

slider162 · 03/13/2009, 10:12 PM

I wouldn't have a problem with the heat the pump puts out if I lived anywhere but Florida. We need all the help we can get.

James77 · 03/13/2009, 10:34 PM

Just the opposite here-

Heaters run nonstop, so the pump heating the water is an added benefit.

quikenuff · 03/14/2009, 01:21 AM

I ran a velocity T4 for almost 2 years. It added a consistant 3 degrees to my 155 gal tank with an ambient house temp @ 78. Living here in FL that 3 degrees was just enough to cause me consider getting a chiller. I opted for a reeflo snapper to replace it. More than enough flow but a lot more noise. I miss the zero noise factor from my T4 but the noise and cost of running a chiller out weighed the noise from the snapper. Seriously considering a red dragon now. One of those situations where if you just buy the best "speculative, since I've never owned one" it would be cheaper in the long run.

FYI watch the calcium build up on the T4. It seemed to build up rather quikly for me.

Quik

ravedood · 03/14/2009, 09:33 AM

I would have loved to go for a snapper but the inlet opening on it is way to big for my set up 2". I would need a max inlet opening on a pump of 1". Ive heard that its not good to restrict the inlet on the Reeflo pumps or any pump for that matter. It kind of sucks that the velocity pump draw more power and heat up more than the snappers when the snappers provide more flow for less wattage and less heat. I am assuming because the Velocity pumps are pressure rated pumps?

03/12/2009, 11:32 PM	#1
deahtop Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 83	quietest Return Pump available? Just finished setting up a 90g and a 75g plumped together. Received my Iwaki MD40RLXT today, im impressed by the pressure this pump puts out, but its a bit loud for the current room the tank is in. Im looking for the best QUIETEST pump out there. itll be pushing through about 15' of head. Also, i am not looking for high turnover, since most of my flow will be coming from powerheads.

03/12/2009, 11:39 PM	#2
Toddrtrex Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Carol Stream, IL Posts: 23,162	For external, the quietest pump around are the Velocity pumps. I have 2, and I am not joking that you have to touch it to see if it is on. __________________ Click my name and then "visit toddrtrex's homepage" for tank pictures Current Tank Info: 210g reef and 65g reef

03/13/2009, 09:31 AM	#4
sscherin Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Eugene, OR Posts: 697	I'll 2nd the velocity pumps.. super quiet but they do run hot.. I have power heads that make more noise than this thing The T3 is rated for 830gph @ 5" and max head is 28 feet Going by the chart it should still flow over 400gph at 15' __________________ William's Law-- There is no mechanical problem so difficult that it cannot be solved by brute strength and ignorance. Current Tank Info: 14gal construction zone

03/13/2009, 09:35 AM	#5
GSMguy Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Northern New Mexico Posts: 17,420	Everything I hear about velocity sounds like they are good silent external pumps I wonder though, why try to circulate 2 tanks with a pump that is 15feet away that is not going to be efficent. Get a smaller return and use some powerheads __________________ 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.

03/13/2009, 10:15 AM	#8
Kenmx10 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Charleston S.C. Posts: 771	eheim eheim

03/13/2009, 12:01 AM	#3
castroantonio Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 308	eheim

03/13/2009, 10:00 AM	#6
hoosierpat Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Crete, IL Posts: 862	Do those velocity pumps not have threads on their intake/output? It looks like they have some lame barb like the SQWDs do.

03/13/2009, 10:13 AM	#7
northcoastdiver Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: California Posts: 101	+2 ehime love mine

03/13/2009, 10:45 AM	#10
Piscez Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: PoCo, B.C. Canada Posts: 56	I have an Eheim 1260 in sump with a foam pad under it = No noise

03/13/2009, 11:07 AM	#11
nikon187 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Edmonton Alberta Posts: 4,717	+3 for ehiem __________________ ----------------- Current Tanks: New 210 custom 84 x 24 x 24, 60g sump, SWC 250 extreme with bubble blaster 5000, 2 vortech mp40, 2 vortech mp10, 12 T5, Water blaster 5000, warner marine bio pellets, 60g clownfish cube, red carpet anemone with a 25g sump,SRO octopus 1000sss, 250w radium, lumenarc large.

03/13/2009, 11:25 AM	#13
sjm817 On Yer left! Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Northern VA Posts: 18,777	I like Eheims as much as anyone but the OP is looking for 15' head. An Eheim will not do that. __________________ - Scott

03/13/2009, 01:26 PM	#14
slider162 Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Orange City, FL Posts: 346	I'm also looking for a quiet pump. But the Poseidon/Velocity pumps are too hot for me. From Marine Depot: "Please note that it is normal for this pump to increase the aquarium's water temp by 4â€“6Â°F." How do the Pan World/Blueline pumps compare?

03/13/2009, 02:12 PM	#15
ravedood Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Pembroke Pines, FL Posts: 1,540	How hot do the T4 pumps get? How many degrees does it increase the water temperature? __________________ Florida Marine Aquarium Society Member --Ben

03/13/2009, 10:12 PM	#17
slider162 Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Orange City, FL Posts: 346	I wouldn't have a problem with the heat the pump puts out if I lived anywhere but Florida. We need all the help we can get.

03/13/2009, 10:34 PM	#18
James77 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 8,158	Just the opposite here- Heaters run nonstop, so the pump heating the water is an added benefit. __________________ Jim Current Tank Info: 120g Mixed Reef and 75g Freshwater

03/14/2009, 01:21 AM	#19
quikenuff Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: New Tampa, FL Posts: 238	I ran a velocity T4 for almost 2 years. It added a consistant 3 degrees to my 155 gal tank with an ambient house temp @ 78. Living here in FL that 3 degrees was just enough to cause me consider getting a chiller. I opted for a reeflo snapper to replace it. More than enough flow but a lot more noise. I miss the zero noise factor from my T4 but the noise and cost of running a chiller out weighed the noise from the snapper. Seriously considering a red dragon now. One of those situations where if you just buy the best "speculative, since I've never owned one" it would be cheaper in the long run. FYI watch the calcium build up on the T4. It seemed to build up rather quikly for me. Quik __________________ I'm only here for the free T-Shirt! Current Tank Info: out of the hobby

03/14/2009, 09:33 AM	#20
ravedood Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Pembroke Pines, FL Posts: 1,540	I would have loved to go for a snapper but the inlet opening on it is way to big for my set up 2". I would need a max inlet opening on a pump of 1". Ive heard that its not good to restrict the inlet on the Reeflo pumps or any pump for that matter. It kind of sucks that the velocity pump draw more power and heat up more than the snappers when the snappers provide more flow for less wattage and less heat. I am assuming because the Velocity pumps are pressure rated pumps? __________________ Florida Marine Aquarium Society Member --Ben