buying pumps from europe [need something quiet]

gskidmor · 05/10/2012, 09:51 AM

I recently moved and have setup another tank in my apartment. My return pump is currently an eheim 1260 but it's a bit loud for an apartment. I'm gonna try putting a rubber mat in the sump to see if that dampens the vibrations (it's plumbed with a silicone tubing, so it's not hard plumbed). If the mat doesn't work, I've read many reviews were people swear by the red dragon pumps being the quietest.

As this is for a small apartment, spending $375 seems worth it, my question is, as I live in the US, will there be problems buying the pump from stores in Germany (Googling, I can't find anyone in the US that sells them)? Do they use the same power cord outlets (2 or 3 prong) that we do?

klaz · 05/10/2012, 09:53 AM

where do yoy live?if in uk its the same.all other europe countrys have another plugs

gskidmor · 05/10/2012, 09:58 AM

I live in the United States

gskidmor · 05/10/2012, 10:01 AM

I'm getting the feeling the plugs won't work:

http://www.adaptelec.com/index.php?m...roducts_id=154

moondoggy4 · 05/10/2012, 07:18 PM

Get the ATB return pump. What size is your tank?

moondoggy4 · 05/10/2012, 07:20 PM

PS Tom at Socaltropicalfish.com in Fullerton I believe can get you the pump PS I have no financial arraignment with him. It is a LFS with a huge amount of dry goods skimmers form ATB to Bubble King on shelf.

gskidmor · 05/10/2012, 07:37 PM

moondoggy4 - thanks a lot - I will reach out to him!

gskidmor · 05/10/2012, 07:39 PM

I didn't see your earlier post - my tank is a 60 gallon cube.

Is there a special ATB pump you were thinking of? I had wanted to get the RD mini 2500 - is there an equivalent ATB?

tkeracer619 · 05/10/2012, 07:55 PM

Is your 1260 submerged? Sitting on rubber feet or just plastic on the sump floor?

moondoggy4 · 05/10/2012, 07:56 PM

The smallest pump they make is a 1500 I would defiantly speak with Tom or Victor from ATB. Another option is a Tunze you could ask Roger on their forum.

cobra9 · 05/10/2012, 07:57 PM

I would also go with a ATB flowstar over a RD pump. Getting parts for the RD pumps takes FOREVER.

Victor at ATB is very very customer friendly and will fix you up. They are cheaper as well.

moondoggy4 · 05/10/2012, 07:59 PM

http://www.reefspecialty.com/virtuem...1500-pump.html HTH

moondoggy4 · 05/10/2012, 08:02 PM

The guy on Glasscage used a 1800 return pump and he had a 60 ish cube not sure exactly how big.

Aquatron · 05/10/2012, 08:06 PM

Hello,
UK plugs are different than ours, Water Blaster pumps are really nice and quite too.

Good Luck!

moondoggy4 · 05/10/2012, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by moondoggy4

The guy on Glasscage used a 1800 return pump and he had a 60 ish cube not sure exactly how big.

It is glassbox a defunct blog.

gskidmor · 05/10/2012, 10:13 PM

right now it's just sitting on the acrylic sump. My goal was to get a rubber pad tonight to test that out but an electric outage due to falling power lines and resulting car crashes got me stuck in traffic for a couple of hours on my way home...

So tomorrow I will get the rubber pad and test that out.

As for the ATB, it looks a lot like the red dragon pump but it's a big larger than what I need - and it sucks down 90 watts vs 45 for the red dragon (not that my 1260 is much better...)

tkeracer619 · 05/10/2012, 10:18 PM

Get some rubber feet. It will make a big diff.

gskidmor · 05/12/2012, 11:36 AM

I placed a piece of foam that came with my LED's packaging (Radion) and it has quieted the pump down considerably.

One question - the foam won't be toxic at all will it? It's a fairly new setup and I haven't receieved my carbon yet

walvis · 05/12/2012, 11:59 AM

Red dragon would be my first choice, built to last, and worth every penny...

tkeracer619 · 05/12/2012, 01:00 PM

Cannot say if it would be toxic or not. I would find something else to be sure. I am pretty sure they used to come with rubber feet. My old one has them but the new one didnt come with any. A lot of standard suction cups you see in the hobby will fit the baseplate. Just take the baseplate around and find something that will fit in the holes. Some types of mouse pads work as well but I cannot comment on those.

gskidmor · 05/12/2012, 02:00 PM

I pulled it out...what a difference that little piece of foam/styrafoam made. I ordered a dampening pad from BRS...I don't know that I can wait until late next week after experience silence the better part of this morning...I think it's off to somplace let petco/petsmart to get a filter sponge to set the pump on...

reef bloke · 05/13/2012, 05:19 AM

Remember that if buying a pump from Europe you will need to spec a 110v pump at the correct hertz for your country. Most of Europe runs 220-240v

05/10/2012, 09:51 AM	#1
gskidmor Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Irvine, CA Posts: 790	buying pumps from europe [need something quiet] I recently moved and have setup another tank in my apartment. My return pump is currently an eheim 1260 but it's a bit loud for an apartment. I'm gonna try putting a rubber mat in the sump to see if that dampens the vibrations (it's plumbed with a silicone tubing, so it's not hard plumbed). If the mat doesn't work, I've read many reviews were people swear by the red dragon pumps being the quietest. As this is for a small apartment, spending $375 seems worth it, my question is, as I live in the US, will there be problems buying the pump from stores in Germany (Googling, I can't find anyone in the US that sells them)? Do they use the same power cord outlets (2 or 3 prong) that we do? __________________ Jerry

05/10/2012, 09:53 AM	#2
klaz Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: GREECE-thessaloniki Posts: 37	where do yoy live?if in uk its the same.all other europe countrys have another plugs __________________ 100 gal light reef tank Current Tank Info: 120 gal

05/10/2012, 09:58 AM	#3
gskidmor Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Irvine, CA Posts: 790	I live in the United States __________________ Jerry

05/10/2012, 10:01 AM	#4
gskidmor Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Irvine, CA Posts: 790	I'm getting the feeling the plugs won't work: http://www.adaptelec.com/index.php?m...roducts_id=154 __________________ Jerry

05/10/2012, 07:37 PM	#7
gskidmor Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Irvine, CA Posts: 790	moondoggy4 - thanks a lot - I will reach out to him! __________________ Jerry

05/10/2012, 07:18 PM	#5
moondoggy4 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: menifee So cal Posts: 11,042	Get the ATB return pump. What size is your tank?

05/10/2012, 07:20 PM	#6
moondoggy4 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: menifee So cal Posts: 11,042	PS Tom at Socaltropicalfish.com in Fullerton I believe can get you the pump PS I have no financial arraignment with him. It is a LFS with a huge amount of dry goods skimmers form ATB to Bubble King on shelf.

05/10/2012, 07:39 PM	#8
gskidmor Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Irvine, CA Posts: 790	I didn't see your earlier post - my tank is a 60 gallon cube. Is there a special ATB pump you were thinking of? I had wanted to get the RD mini 2500 - is there an equivalent ATB? __________________ Jerry

05/10/2012, 07:55 PM	#9
tkeracer619 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Westminster, CO Posts: 17,289	Is your 1260 submerged? Sitting on rubber feet or just plastic on the sump floor? __________________ Hobby Experience: 9200ish gallons, 26 skimmers, and a handful of Kent Scrapers. Current Tank: Vortech Powered 600G SPS Tank w/ 100gal frag tank & 100g Sump. RK2-RK10 Skimmer. ReefAngel. Radium 20k.

05/10/2012, 07:56 PM	#10
moondoggy4 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: menifee So cal Posts: 11,042	The smallest pump they make is a 1500 I would defiantly speak with Tom or Victor from ATB. Another option is a Tunze you could ask Roger on their forum.

05/10/2012, 07:57 PM	#11
cobra9 Registered Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 700	I would also go with a ATB flowstar over a RD pump. Getting parts for the RD pumps takes FOREVER. Victor at ATB is very very customer friendly and will fix you up. They are cheaper as well.

05/10/2012, 07:59 PM	#12
moondoggy4 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: menifee So cal Posts: 11,042	http://www.reefspecialty.com/virtuem...1500-pump.html HTH

05/10/2012, 08:02 PM	#13
moondoggy4 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: menifee So cal Posts: 11,042	The guy on Glasscage used a 1800 return pump and he had a 60 ish cube not sure exactly how big.

05/10/2012, 08:06 PM	#14
Aquatron Refugium pat.#D414,242 Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 844	Hello, UK plugs are different than ours, Water Blaster pumps are really nice and quite too. Good Luck! __________________ Doctor "Aquatron" Mister "Spinner" 300 gallon TRUVU AquaSystem "Mod" w/ 150 gallon control center....... Build Thread: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2276765&highlight=300+dt+

05/10/2012, 10:13 PM	#16
gskidmor Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Irvine, CA Posts: 790	right now it's just sitting on the acrylic sump. My goal was to get a rubber pad tonight to test that out but an electric outage due to falling power lines and resulting car crashes got me stuck in traffic for a couple of hours on my way home... So tomorrow I will get the rubber pad and test that out. As for the ATB, it looks a lot like the red dragon pump but it's a big larger than what I need - and it sucks down 90 watts vs 45 for the red dragon (not that my 1260 is much better...) __________________ Jerry

05/10/2012, 10:18 PM	#17
tkeracer619 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Westminster, CO Posts: 17,289	Get some rubber feet. It will make a big diff. __________________ Hobby Experience: 9200ish gallons, 26 skimmers, and a handful of Kent Scrapers. Current Tank: Vortech Powered 600G SPS Tank w/ 100gal frag tank & 100g Sump. RK2-RK10 Skimmer. ReefAngel. Radium 20k.

05/12/2012, 11:36 AM	#18
gskidmor Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Irvine, CA Posts: 790	I placed a piece of foam that came with my LED's packaging (Radion) and it has quieted the pump down considerably. One question - the foam won't be toxic at all will it? It's a fairly new setup and I haven't receieved my carbon yet __________________ Jerry

05/12/2012, 11:59 AM	#19
walvis Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Orlando,FL Posts: 159	Red dragon would be my first choice, built to last, and worth every penny...

05/12/2012, 01:00 PM	#20
tkeracer619 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Westminster, CO Posts: 17,289	Cannot say if it would be toxic or not. I would find something else to be sure. I am pretty sure they used to come with rubber feet. My old one has them but the new one didnt come with any. A lot of standard suction cups you see in the hobby will fit the baseplate. Just take the baseplate around and find something that will fit in the holes. Some types of mouse pads work as well but I cannot comment on those. __________________ Hobby Experience: 9200ish gallons, 26 skimmers, and a handful of Kent Scrapers. Current Tank: Vortech Powered 600G SPS Tank w/ 100gal frag tank & 100g Sump. RK2-RK10 Skimmer. ReefAngel. Radium 20k.

05/12/2012, 02:00 PM	#21
gskidmor Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Irvine, CA Posts: 790	I pulled it out...what a difference that little piece of foam/styrafoam made. I ordered a dampening pad from BRS...I don't know that I can wait until late next week after experience silence the better part of this morning...I think it's off to somplace let petco/petsmart to get a filter sponge to set the pump on... __________________ Jerry

05/13/2012, 05:19 AM	#22
reef bloke Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 270	Remember that if buying a pump from Europe you will need to spec a 110v pump at the correct hertz for your country. Most of Europe runs 220-240v