The electric bill

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
I'm looking at 2 of these:
http://www.amazon.com/Waterfall-Str...?s=lawn-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1359305555&sr=1-48

Anyone running dual pumps in their sump? I was thinking 2 in in the sump at around 3000gph each.

How much head is in your system?

If it's less than 10' there is really no reason to go with a high head (hi pressure pump) like the one you linked to. That pump draws 700 watts (x2 = 1400 watts). Unless your plan is to run your sump 15' below your display tank (ex- in your basement) or are pushing water through canister filters before back up to your display, those Little Giant (energy hog) pumps are totally unecessary.

There are much more efficient options out there that will give you comparable flow, on much less wattage.

If you only have 6' or 7' of head (which is more common on standard sump setups), then I would go with two Laguna Max-Flo 4200s. They will each give you ~2,900GPH at 6' of head, so running two would give you 5,800GPH...the best part is that each pump only draws 160 watts, so you are getting almost as much flow as those other pumps, while using only 320 toal watts (a saving of almost 1100 watts).

Another option is the AquaSurge line of pumps; they are also very efficient, although I've never used them so I can't vouch for them personally. I know the Lagunas are good pumps...I have two Max-Flo 4200s and am very happy with how quiet and efficient they are.

http://www.azponds.com/New_webpages/New_subpumps_Classic.html

Make sure your drains are large enough to accommodate that much flow; 5,800GPH is a lot of water.
 
Initially I was setting up to have 6-7' head, but I'm revising it a little. If I can find it the glass, it'll be 12'x3'x3', otherwise only 10' long and will be in the wall. Behind the wall I am putting the tank, sump, etc. I was putting the sump under the tank, but after measuring again I'll have room to put a 110g tall adjacent to it, which I can put on a stand bringing the head to under a foot.

My stocking will have a high bio load so in addition to 2g/hr automatic water change from my well, I was going to make the length of the back top piece 6" deep and 6" high for the overflow and have 4 pipes leading out which would dump into the sump. I wanted to hit at least 10x turnover.
 
Sounds like an awesome setup. If you really only end up with 1' of head, the Laguna 4200's might be too much...they push almost 4,000GPH each at 1' head. Your sump is going to look like a river with that much flow, so you might want to go with the Max Flo 2900. They do 2,700GPH @ 1' head on only 112 watts (each).
 
summer my elec is around 20-30 a month maybe 40 at most, winter 60 to 100 ( last month 103.00 :( ) but i live in a small 1 bedroom apt.. so hoping my elec bill is under 80.00 this month!! oh and then i had 4 tanks running ( last summer, two 55s a 20 long and a 10, sometimes a 20 tall ) now i have two 55s one 20 long one 12 eclipse, soon to be more tanks..
 
There are a few ways to make your tanks more energy efficient.
In-line heaters, led lights, canister filters over wet/dry, using acrylic... And in your case since its being built into the wall, I can assume you'll be able to insulate at least 2 sides of the tank.


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There are inline heaters that require more watts per gallon as well. Imo plants, no overfeeding and maintaining filters helps tremendously

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Go S.Vettel #1 RB8 3X WDC!!!!!!!!!


women?! pleeze. you're like one of my grandsons. I can't even visualize you thattaway, it's just wrong.
I forgot all about NLS.

you might wanna cut back on your jet fuel intake.


http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?504763-Cheap-plants-less-nitrate!-POTHOS
 
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