Pump Selection, Blueline/Iwaki

[Funky_Fish14]

Hello Everyone!

I’ve been eyeing several different makes of pumps lately for my new system I plan to set-up. I am not sure of the exact GPH I need either. The tank will be 54�x24�x20�tall, with an overflow section (coast-to-coast style) set up in one of the ends of the tank (oriented front to back). I have an Oceans Motions Super Squirt, which can handle up to 2500gph. The drum in it is the one which cycles along 4 outputs, supplying only one of those at a time. I am hoping to move about 300gph separately through a section of fuges/DSB etc… above the tank. I have yet to determine the positioning of the super squirt returns, but they will be plumbed so as to run buried within the sandbed and into rocks, or fake rocks. The refugium above the tank will be returning into the main tank as well, before passing through the main tank’s overflow and into the sump. I can see 5 Elbows (one of those being a T allowing a ¾� line to the refugium) before the Super Squirt. I would like to make optimal use of the 1� plumbing the Super Squirt can handle without sacrificing large amounts of electricity. There will also be several (likely 5) elbows on each Super Squirt output. I would like to get at least 800gph from each output, but no more than 1300. I will end up splitting each into two outputs facing slightly different directions (with locline). I am however also not sure if 400gph, or as much as 650gph, from a ¾� locline nozzle (either flared or jet) is much too powerful? Do these restrict the flow a lot as well? I don’t want my fish to get obliterated when/if they swim past these, especially the mandarin. Do you guys believe that even less than 400gph from each locline output would be sufficient stream strength? If so, less than 800gph coming from the Super Squirt would be great. I will also install gate valves to make slight adjustments to flow if it is a little too high, but I don’t want to overshoot flow-rates by too much, or burn out my pump due to too much restriction.

My main problem is deciding on a pump that is quiet. I also do not want ridiculous wattages. Price is always nice to keep low as well, haha. I have read of many people giving good ratings on “Panworld� pumps. These appear to be the exact same pumps as the “Blueline HD� series? I have heard they are great pumps, do not add much heat, and aren’t too noisy, but of course have heard complaints. The Iwaki series seems to be well-rated in the same class as those for noise. Poseidon pumps seem to get a good rating for noise, but seem to add a lot of heat? It also seems, or I have heard many times, that these are the same as the Velocity series of Bluelines? And last but not least, those that I hear the least about, but seem to get good ratings are the Blueline NS series, I believe the BL 800, BL 1100, and most recently the Blueline Snapper (2300gph) are included in this series? Unless the snapper is part of another series? Or, I may be completely off with that one!

Thank-you for any help or recommendations regarding this situation!

Chris

[pfish]

I have blueline (same as panworld) and iwaki, blueline is quiter and better.

[mta]

Blueline all the way.

[Funky_Fish14]

I see you have an NS and an HD. Which NS model is that?

Thank-you both for replies so far!

Chris

[mta]

NS1100.7 years running.Non stop.

[Funky_Fish14]

Awesome!


I've just about settled on the Blueline 70HD, but I still want to find out more about the Snapper. Also, I calculate that about 1100gph will be moving through each 1" output AFTER the super squirt in the system. Just because of nozzle backpressure, this means I'll have about 1000gph to put through the locline. I am not sure if I should direct this all through one locline nozzle or maybe split the pipe and have 2 x 3/4" locline nozzles each moving 500gph? And whether the flared or jet nozzles will make it really dull flow, or if it will still be significant?

Thanks!

Chris

[Funky_Fish14]

Bump - Anyone reguarding the Loc-line?