Looking to upgrade return pump

rolyguy7 · 05/31/2007, 06:57 AM

I'm looking to upgrade my return pump. I have a mag-36 witch puts out 2900gph at 6ft head. However it consumes 380watts of power and is pretty loud. I'm looking for something quieter and that consumes less power. Searching online I found the Sequence Barracuda. This pump can output over 3000gph at 6ft head and consumes around 230-250 watts. Anyone have any experience on the reliability of this pump or recommendations on another?

Thanks...

mg426 · 05/31/2007, 08:04 AM

I never used a barracuda,I have a sequence dart on my closed loop that I am very happy with.

Sk8r · 05/31/2007, 08:06 AM

I use an Iwaki 10, and it sounds like a plane warming up for takeoff. Thank goodness it's in the basement.

oct2274 · 05/31/2007, 11:01 AM

for a return pump you only need 3-5x turnover through your sump. an eheim 1262 would be an excellent option and can be run in the sump or external. It is a very quiet pump and only uses 80 watts. You can add a closed loop or something like the hydor koralias for additional flow in the main tank. Depending on what you are keeping in the tank will determine how much flow you need LPS coral maybe 15-20x turnover and 20-40x for SPS corals. You do not want all the flow coming from your return pump through your sump.

jer77 · 05/31/2007, 11:09 AM

Why do you need such a powerful return pump?

rolyguy7 · 05/31/2007, 11:50 AM

Thank you all for the replies. Looks like I should have included more information on my setup so here it is. My tank has two megaflow overflows each with a return pipe. I've customized both return pipes in order to run the entire system off of one pump. Clear PVC runs from the return pipes back into the tank in 4 different locations. The pipes run from top to bottom and have 3/16 and 1/8 holes drilled thru them at different angles to produce great waterflow thru the system. I have great waterflow thru the entire system thanks to this setup. I was planning on switching the pump for a barracuda to lessen the noise produced by the mag-36 and to save on power. The mag-36 uses 380watts vs 225-250watts on the barracuda. I've seen systems setup this way as well as systems running two pumps, one for filtering and the other running in a closedloop. Does anyone know what the advantages or disadvantages are between the two? I've had very good luck using this setup for some time now.

Thanks...

rolyguy7 · 05/31/2007, 10:07 PM

bump. Anyone?

05/31/2007, 06:57 AM	#1
rolyguy7 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Lake Mary, FL Posts: 249	Looking to upgrade return pump I'm looking to upgrade my return pump. I have a mag-36 witch puts out 2900gph at 6ft head. However it consumes 380watts of power and is pretty loud. I'm looking for something quieter and that consumes less power. Searching online I found the Sequence Barracuda. This pump can output over 3000gph at 6ft head and consumes around 230-250 watts. Anyone have any experience on the reliability of this pump or recommendations on another? Thanks... __________________ rolyguy7 Current Tank Info: Main display tank - Oceanic 175Gal Bowfront - AI Sol Blues x 3 - Aqueon Sump with Refugium - Octopus Pro 250 - 300lbs Fiji LR - 200lb Sandbed, two Tunze 6065 for flow, Mag 18 return, Sulfur Denitrator

05/31/2007, 08:04 AM	#2
mg426 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: maryland Posts: 6,923	I never used a barracuda,I have a sequence dart on my closed loop that I am very happy with. __________________ 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

05/31/2007, 08:06 AM	#3
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	I use an Iwaki 10, and it sounds like a plane warming up for takeoff. Thank goodness it's in the basement. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

05/31/2007, 11:09 AM	#5
jer77 Phish Lover Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 2,642	Why do you need such a powerful return pump? __________________ - Jonny -, 120g 5 Year Old Reef w/ SPS, BTA, Zoos & some Softies. 40g Frag Tank. 40g Sump. Super Reef Octopus XP 3000 External Cone Skimmer. 250W Radiums. TaoTronics LED. PanWorld 200PS w/SQWD

05/31/2007, 11:50 AM	#6
rolyguy7 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Lake Mary, FL Posts: 249	Thank you all for the replies. Looks like I should have included more information on my setup so here it is. My tank has two megaflow overflows each with a return pipe. I've customized both return pipes in order to run the entire system off of one pump. Clear PVC runs from the return pipes back into the tank in 4 different locations. The pipes run from top to bottom and have 3/16 and 1/8 holes drilled thru them at different angles to produce great waterflow thru the system. I have great waterflow thru the entire system thanks to this setup. I was planning on switching the pump for a barracuda to lessen the noise produced by the mag-36 and to save on power. The mag-36 uses 380watts vs 225-250watts on the barracuda. I've seen systems setup this way as well as systems running two pumps, one for filtering and the other running in a closedloop. Does anyone know what the advantages or disadvantages are between the two? I've had very good luck using this setup for some time now. Thanks... __________________ rolyguy7 Current Tank Info: Main display tank - Oceanic 175Gal Bowfront - AI Sol Blues x 3 - Aqueon Sump with Refugium - Octopus Pro 250 - 300lbs Fiji LR - 200lb Sandbed, two Tunze 6065 for flow, Mag 18 return, Sulfur Denitrator

05/31/2007, 11:01 AM	#4
oct2274 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Plano, TX Posts: 2,347	for a return pump you only need 3-5x turnover through your sump. an eheim 1262 would be an excellent option and can be run in the sump or external. It is a very quiet pump and only uses 80 watts. You can add a closed loop or something like the hydor koralias for additional flow in the main tank. Depending on what you are keeping in the tank will determine how much flow you need LPS coral maybe 15-20x turnover and 20-40x for SPS corals. You do not want all the flow coming from your return pump through your sump.

05/31/2007, 10:07 PM	#7
rolyguy7 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Lake Mary, FL Posts: 249	bump. Anyone? __________________ rolyguy7 Current Tank Info: Main display tank - Oceanic 175Gal Bowfront - AI Sol Blues x 3 - Aqueon Sump with Refugium - Octopus Pro 250 - 300lbs Fiji LR - 200lb Sandbed, two Tunze 6065 for flow, Mag 18 return, Sulfur Denitrator