Pump Me Up

[N0cash]

Hi Boys and Girls,
I'm planning a 75g reef with softies, perhaps a few LPS, and very few fish. My question is: What is the most cost effective pump for a CLS in the 1200g range? I'm torn between the submersibles and the externals. The submersibles are obviously less expensive per gph, but... some claim to be OK at running externally. True or not? Looking at the Quiet One 6000 vs the Genx 55. I need the voice of experience to guide me here.
I'll be running the CLS with a OM4.

[motorslave]

I have 3 gen-X pumps. Two PCX 30 and a PCX 55. The 55 is for my skimmer the 30's are return and WC tank pumps. They are great pumps and cost effective as far as externals go. I have never run sub pumps externally but have heard they can get a bit warmer that one would want.

[N0cash]

Thank you very much Motorslave. Anyone have a prob with submersibles over externals or vice vera? Please weigh in.

[Hop]

Well the Gen x is the better choice there, but IME both are a little loud. So far the quietest pumps I've owned that pump over 1000 gph are the sequence dart and panworld 55hd. But others have had other experiences with them.

[motorslave]

My barracuda is by far more quiet than the Gen-X and is a large pump. The trick to keeping the Gen X quiet is two pieces od gel type mouse pads under each pump. Most of the noise, at least from my experience, is from the transfer of vibration and its amplification through a stand and the plumbing in the system. Flex PVC and mouse pads cut it by 75% I would say.

[Geoff]

you really can not have a CLS with a submersible pump. that is unless it is a Mag which is either. submersible pumps just leak to much.

you can always get a Velocity T3 and slap an eductor on it.

it may be to much flow for a 75 though. that little 800gph pump will be pushing over 2000gph with an eductor on it.

G~

[Hop]

Originally Posted by Geoff

you really can not have a CLS with a submersible pump. that is unless it is a Mag which is either. submersible pumps just leak to much.

you can always get a Velocity T3 and slap an eductor on it.

it may be to much flow for a 75 though. that little 800gph pump will be pushing over 2000gph with an eductor on it.

G~

I've had great luck with Eheim being ran externally But my other pumps have at least got creep on them if not dripped like a siv

[Fly Guy]

If money isnt too much of an issue and you want QUIET..........Then get a sequence snapper or a dart. Both can be tapered back to run as little as 600 gph if you want them to. You will aslo have more flow at your fingertips if you want it. Get the Dart if you go this direction. Doesnt cost hardly anymore than the Snapper and will give you more flow down the road should you want it.

Im willing to bet you will want more than 1200 gph as it is once you get things running even for a lps softy tank

If you are looking for quiet, genx is NOT what you want under your tank. Every gen x I have had or seen sounds like a tank in comparison to a dart/snapper.

[N0cash]

Good info!
Thanks Geoff, FlyGuy, and Hop. So I should lean towards a high quality external, if I get your gist.

[Fly Guy]

Originally Posted by N0cash

Good info!
Thanks Geoff, FlyGuy, and Hop. So I should lean towards a high quality external, if I get your gist.

Running with a OM unit as you are most definitely. As geoff mentioned, you could also squeeze a lot more flow out of less pump using a eductor(s), but eductors do not work well with OM units.