Buying a new pump, opinions needed!

Burchoid · 09-13-2005, 08:02 PM

I am going to be replacing my POS pump and return setup for my 75G reef tank. I keep SPS, softies, and some LPS, so a variety of micro environments within the tank is what I am shooting for (varying flows and light intensities). Right now it has 2 overflows with 1" clear tubing for each overflow leading to a 20G sump/fuge.

Whats the highest GPH rating I could get away with without blowing the water out of my tank or turning the tank into a sandstorm? My SB is about 3-5" with an oldschool screened plenum underneath.

Any brand recomendations? Iwaki?

JnS · 09-13-2005, 10:41 PM

you got it, go with the iwaki

mnreefgeek · 09-13-2005, 10:56 PM

Burchoid - I agree with Jerry, but for the price I am going to buy three Pan World/ Blue Lines. They are basically the same pump for a fraction of the price.

spazz · 09-13-2005, 11:26 PM

check the reef central for dry goods for sale fourm. there has been some iswaki pumps in there for sale. onece in a while you can get one thats new but is too big for there system. i ended up with a dart and an oceans motions valve brand new for less than new price. im always looking there for that good deal.

Jive Turkey · 09-13-2005, 11:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Burchoid

Right now it has 2 overflows with 1" clear tubing for each overflow leading to a 20G sump/fuge.

Any brand recomendations? Iwaki?

From the first qoute, I'd say you're looking for a submerged pump as sump/return. Iwaki doesn't make submerged pumps, they make external pumps for closed loops.

I would choose a Sequence over an Iwaki any day, unless you need a high pressure pump, like for an eductor. They have just as good a reputation as Iwaki, but make less noise. Some Iwakis put off quite a loud hum.

Burchoid · 09-14-2005, 08:52 AM

Actually, the sump is drilled with a bulkhead and I currently use an external pump that I have noticed is not pushing as much water as it used to and it runs hot. Time to replace! Anyone know what kind of GPH I can get away with?

Irenicus · 09-14-2005, 10:01 AM

How many linear inches is your overflow?

JnS · 09-14-2005, 10:58 AM

have you ever cleaned the return pump?

mnreefgeek · 09-14-2005, 11:19 AM

I guess this was never asked earlier, what type/ size of pump are you currently running as a return?

Burchoid · 09-14-2005, 12:18 PM

Its a ghetto pump made by the company that sold out to Quiet One. Its Grufungal or something like that. I had a post a while back asking if anyone knew anything about it. Its the only red pump I have seen.

I haven't cleaned it, no, but I don't really want to either. I want an excuse to replace it with a quieter, cooler, more powerfull pump! Maybe I will reuse it for a closed loop system or something.

Also, how the heck do I replace the pump with a sump full of water??? I can't take the sump out from below the tank without moving the tank first. One solution I thought of was turning off the pump and plugging the bulkhead with sillyputty while I replace it. I wish I had a valve between the pump and the sump

My overflows are probably 8"x4" each, so I would have a total of about 24" of overflow and 2x1" hose to drain them. How many GPH can I fit through there?

spazz · 09-14-2005, 12:34 PM

i would say 1000gph pump would do the trick. you might loose 200gpm with the head loss so you should be fine. the pan world 50 px-x should give you the flow you want. $139 at preimum aquatics. you can always dial it back a little if you get too much flow.

robsmith32 · 09-27-2005, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Burchoid

Its a ghetto pump made by the company that sold out to Quiet One. Its Grufungal or something like that. I had a post a while back asking if anyone knew anything about it. Its the only red pump I have seen.

I haven't cleaned it, no, but I don't really want to either. I want an excuse to replace it with a quieter, cooler, more powerfull pump! Maybe I will reuse it for a closed loop system or something.

Also, how the heck do I replace the pump with a sump full of water??? I can't take the sump out from below the tank without moving the tank first. One solution I thought of was turning off the pump and plugging the bulkhead with sillyputty while I replace it. I wish I had a valve between the pump and the sump

My overflows are probably 8"x4" each, so I would have a total of about 24" of overflow and 2x1" hose to drain them. How many GPH can I fit through there?

To cut the flow, simply put a pvc plug in the bulkhead that feeds the pump.

I did this and put a plug in top of overflow to drain one sump and install baffle without taking it all the way out.

David Grigor · 09-27-2005, 03:58 PM

Personally, I would just drain the sump, and do a water change in the process. Being only a 75g tank the sump can't be that big.

Good chance to clean out the debris and detritus that can build up in the sump. Use a pump to get as much out as possible then a shop vac to get the rest.