External Pump Recommendation Please

d2mini · 10/05/2009, 11:54 AM

Hi all,

I'm setting up a new 130-ish gallon tank (+ sump) and looking for an external pump to pull the water through the sump. I'll have vortechs in the tank for flow, so not looking for a ton of flow through the sump. Head height will be about 4ft or so.

I'm looking for quiet, energy efficient and quality build.
No specific budget in mind.

Thanks!

Rizup · 10/05/2009, 12:27 PM

Are you looking for submersible or external? I highly recommend Reeflo pumps for their energy efficiency and flow if you are looking at external pumps. They are pretty quiet too.

I always hear great things about the Eheim pumps, and they can be run submerged or external.

skanderson · 10/05/2009, 12:46 PM

i also have a reeflo dart as my main return pump, however you need to decide on what amount of flow you want through your sump. i like high flow to get the circulation in the tank with lower heat transfer than a submersible pump. i do have a sump that is slightly larger than your tank, so you probably need a significantly smaller pump. my advice is decide on the gph you want, then use an external pump with decent efficiency. also remember that you want to get one that has a decent track record. having your main return pump down can really screw your tank.

SkyPapa · 10/05/2009, 02:27 PM

I run a Panworld 50-PX (1.5 yr.), a Gen-x-30 (2.5 yr.) and 40 (3yrs.), and an Eheim 1260 (2 mo.) all externally.
I need to get 1 reeflo, lol. But I have cobbled my system together.
That said, I have had no problems with any of them.
The Eheim is significantly quieter than the others.

billdogg · 10/05/2009, 02:50 PM

If you are not concerned with flow, use the eheim 1262. It will likely outlast any other pump on the market, and is very quiet. I have one that is ancient - got it years ago and have never done anything to it but the occasional cleaning.

Toddrtrex · 10/05/2009, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by d2mini

Hi all,

I'm setting up a new 130-ish gallon tank (+ sump) and looking for an external pump to pull the water through the sump. I'll have vortechs in the tank for flow, so not looking for a ton of flow through the sump. Head height will be about 4ft or so.

I'm looking for quiet, energy efficient and quality build.
No specific budget in mind.

Thanks!

While not all that energy efficient, the Velocity pumps are great. They are dead silent --- to the point that you have to touch them to see if they are on. My oldest one is over 7 years old, and I only clean it every 6 months or so. The larger ones will put a bit of heat in the tank, I have two T2s (( one for my 58, the other for my 75 )) and haven't had any heat issues from them.

sjm817 · 10/05/2009, 03:44 PM

Yeah, the Velocity pumps are amazing little pumps. Dead silent, reliable pumps. They do add some heat since they are water cooled, but no worse than the equivalent wattage submersible.

d2mini · 10/06/2009, 02:17 PM

Thanks for the recommendations so far.
One reason I'd like to run external is to keep some heat out of the water.

Mako · 10/06/2009, 03:40 PM

Iwaki MD20RLT. Pumps about 420GPH at 4' head and will run forever. While not dead silent, it is certainly a low noise external pump which will only pull around .48watts

10/05/2009, 11:54 AM	#1
d2mini Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 10,344	External Pump Recommendation Please Hi all, I'm setting up a new 130-ish gallon tank (+ sump) and looking for an external pump to pull the water through the sump. I'll have vortechs in the tank for flow, so not looking for a ton of flow through the sump. Head height will be about 4ft or so. I'm looking for quiet, energy efficient and quality build. No specific budget in mind. Thanks!

10/05/2009, 12:27 PM	#2
Rizup Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Northern IL Posts: 1,067	Are you looking for submersible or external? I highly recommend Reeflo pumps for their energy efficiency and flow if you are looking at external pumps. They are pretty quiet too. I always hear great things about the Eheim pumps, and they can be run submerged or external. __________________ Grow Baby, Grow!!!

10/05/2009, 02:50 PM	#5
billdogg Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Grove City, Ohio Posts: 10,806	If you are not concerned with flow, use the eheim 1262. It will likely outlast any other pump on the market, and is very quiet. I have one that is ancient - got it years ago and have never done anything to it but the occasional cleaning. __________________ I'll try to be nice if you try to be smarter! I can't help that I grow older, but you can't make me grow up! Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef with 40b sump, RO 150 skimmer, AI Sol Blue x 2, and a 60g Frag Tank with 100g rubbermaid sump. 2 x Kessil A360w lights, BM curve 5 skimmer

10/05/2009, 03:44 PM	#7
sjm817 On Yer left! Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Northern VA Posts: 18,777	Yeah, the Velocity pumps are amazing little pumps. Dead silent, reliable pumps. They do add some heat since they are water cooled, but no worse than the equivalent wattage submersible. __________________ - Scott

10/06/2009, 03:40 PM	#9
Mako Will Dive For Food Join Date: May 2001 Location: FL Posts: 5,652	Iwaki MD20RLT. Pumps about 420GPH at 4' head and will run forever. While not dead silent, it is certainly a low noise external pump which will only pull around .48watts __________________ -Chuck "One of the lessons of history is that nothing is often a good thing to do and always a clever thing to say." -- W Durant Current Tank Info: 300 mixed reef

10/05/2009, 12:46 PM	#3
skanderson Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: baraboo,wi Posts: 428	i also have a reeflo dart as my main return pump, however you need to decide on what amount of flow you want through your sump. i like high flow to get the circulation in the tank with lower heat transfer than a submersible pump. i do have a sump that is slightly larger than your tank, so you probably need a significantly smaller pump. my advice is decide on the gph you want, then use an external pump with decent efficiency. also remember that you want to get one that has a decent track record. having your main return pump down can really screw your tank.

10/05/2009, 02:27 PM	#4
SkyPapa Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Central Florida Posts: 994	I run a Panworld 50-PX (1.5 yr.), a Gen-x-30 (2.5 yr.) and 40 (3yrs.), and an Eheim 1260 (2 mo.) all externally. I need to get 1 reeflo, lol. But I have cobbled my system together. That said, I have had no problems with any of them. The Eheim is significantly quieter than the others.

10/06/2009, 02:17 PM	#8
d2mini Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 10,344	Thanks for the recommendations so far. One reason I'd like to run external is to keep some heat out of the water.