what pump do you use??

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
Dan Feller;4637881; said:
They may have a higher stated flow at 0' head, but you will find the max head height tends to be lower on the smaller pumps. Smaller pumps like powerheads are only efficient with little or no head height/restriction.

A lot of people don't realize how dramatically the flow will drop off with back-pressure.
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I absolutely take that into account as well. :)

I don't really look at Max head height though, I look at what it will pump at the height I need. Who cares what it *can* pump, you know? I just look at what it will flow given the height I need and compare that to wattage used.

It's not always the case (Of one or the other being better, especially with so many variables) just something to add into the equation if monthly power costs are a concern at all.

One variable where a big pump is a must is if you keep your sump in a basement and the tanks are upstairs or something - then you'll need the mega head height pumps which are power hogs either way. Where as if the sump is just below the tank the head height should be 4-6' at the most and my multiple small pump setup *can* be more efficient. That is all.
 
pharoah thats a little out of my price range :( im lookin to spend about 200 on the pumps.
iwaki is confusing to me.
n polish are you saying i should have 4 pumps in my sump?? i actually will have room for it but would that really be a good idea? i was thinkin 2 would be better.
and another question do yall prefer doing external pumps aposed to submersables? and why?
 
4 would be a little overkill, but then again so is 3,000gph turnover in a 240g imho. It will be like a river rapid inside there with that kind of turnover. In my 200g I have about 800gph worth of pumps and for me it's plenty adequate. When the water moves to fast it doesn't have enough dwell time in the media.

I'd do 2-3 mid sized pumps. For decent budget minded pumps I use Quiet One and ViaAqua, both are fairly efficient as well with some models being more efficient than others so check the numbers.

I prefer to use all my pumps submersed, less change of leaks this way. If you run them external the fittings can leak. If they sit in the sump there is 0 chance for that. Plus they are quieter in the sump in my experience. Either way will work I just prefer them inside the sump. Much easier to service as well since it's inside the sump. If an external pump locks up you have to undo all the plumbing to check it. Where as inside the sump you can just pull the prefilter off and check the impeller without doing anything but unplugging it.
 
your to quick, but thats good.
i figured 4 would be too much. n i am realisticly shooting for close to 10x turn over. my 120 has about 1000 gph on it and it stays crystal clear. so do you think i could do like 2000 gph and it still stay crispy as some would say?
oh and whats the diff between external pumps and submersables?
 
I have a couple of Catalina pumps I purchased off Ebay. Both have been very reliable, and quiet. Perhaps not the most efficient...but certainly competitively priced.
 
Not to go against anyone, but my first pump on my 75g was an Iwaki. It began intermittent failure after only 2 months of service. It would stop running randomly, and if I unplugged it and plugged it back in, it would only run for a short while before doing the same thing again.
 
Also, I like submersibles better. If you have any plumbing issues at the pump, the water stays inside of the sump instead of all over your floor.
 
what i was planning on is 2 rio 32hfs but wanted to get your opinion and maybe find a hidden gem :)
piscine, i agree water in the sump is better than in the floor :)
 
If you plumb it right, there won't be any water on the floor with an external pump.
 
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