Advice on external pump please ツ

Jewilson83

Jewilson83

New member
In a month I want to switch to an external return pump. Can anyone give me some advice on what type of pump, keys to success, what to and not to do, etc. I have a 90 gallon mixed reef tank. My sump is a Aqueon Proflex Sump model 3. I've seen videos and etc but I'd like to hear from experience. Thanks in advance
 
You can't go wrong with a Blueline aka panworld pump for a tank that size. Relatively cheap. Quiet. Efficient. Won't heat your water up.

FEIW, Not sure why you want to make the jump, but I went back to an internal after years with externals. The Wavrline d/c pumps are the real deal. SUPER quiet. ZERO vibration. Not a lot of heat. Really nice.
 
Capt_Cully said:
You can't go wrong with a Blueline aka panworld pump for a tank that size. Relatively cheap. Quiet. Efficient. Won't heat your water up.

FEIW, Not sure why you want to make the jump, but I went back to an internal after years with externals. The Wavrline d/c pumps are the real deal. SUPER quiet. ZERO vibration. Not a lot of heat. Really nice.
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I'll look into both. I'm trying to cut down on heat. I've been having a lot of success with MH as far as keeping the temp low. I run a small fan very quiet. My temp is steady at 77.5 before MH then about 79.4 at the highest. Plus the last chamber in the sump is a great size holds a mag 9 and my bubble magnus skimmer. I eventually want to get a lifereef skimmer. I had one before and broke it trying to add to the plumbing of it. The lifereef uses a mag 9 and I don't want 2 mag 9s in my last chamber.
 
Those temps aren't that bad. I'm usually in the low 80s. I'd love to stay below 80, 76-79, but it doesn't happen. I think, more than the number, keeping a constant number is more important. i.e. A 2-3 degree swing versus 5-6 throughout the day.

Either way, good luck. I stand by my recommendations :thumbsup:
 
Capt_Cully said:
Those temps aren't that bad. I'm usually in the low 80s. I'd love to stay below 80, 76-79, but it doesn't happen. I think, more than the number, keeping a constant number is more important. i.e. A 2-3 degree swing versus 5-6 throughout the day.

Either way, good luck. I stand by my recommendations :thumbsup:
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Yes I'm very fortunate to be able to have such low temps with MHs. It's more about the space in the last chamber. Thanks a lot. I wish a few more folks would chime in to get a little more feedback.
 
I've been using a blueline 40HD external for 3.5 years and it was used when I got it. There's not much that can go wrong and I like not having the pump in the water.
I pump up about 8 feet somewhere around 500gph I think, and it's throttled back 30% or so. It's the return for my single overflow 120.
 
Willistein said:
I've been using a blueline 40HD external for 3.5 years and it was used when I got it. There's not much that can go wrong and I like not having the pump in the water.
I pump up about 8 feet somewhere around 500gph I think, and it's throttled back 30% or so. It's the return for my single overflow 120.
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Thanks so much. I've heard a lot about these and I have done some research. Thanks
 
I've been using blueline for a few years and I've been very happy with it. I have 14 feet of head from my basement sump and use 1.5" plumbing for my return lines. I have the 55HD. I had the 70HD, but needed to downgrade when the flow was overwhelming.
 
I'm using a Panworld P.S. 150 on my dual overflow 120 with the sump in the basement, about 8 feet for head. I have to keep it dialed back about 40% or my drains get loud.
 
I'm using a Panworld 150ps on my 120 as well. ~10ft of head.

Panworld, blueline and iwaki are all similar and consistently get solid reviews. You didn't mention where the pump would be located. I'm pumping from the basement, my tank is very quiet and I don't think I would want any of these external pumps in my living area.
 
Sort of a thread hijack.

Any experience on internal DC pumps out here? Lower power consumption, lower thermal impact on system. More importantly, controllable from my Apex Jr. Seriously considering switching to something else.

In my case, sump is under the tank which is a 45G. I don't need a very large pump -- BUT I want it to be quiet, efficient, and not raise my water temperature.
 
RoscoPColtrane said:
I'm using a Panworld 150ps on my 120 as well. ~10ft of head.

Panworld, blueline and iwaki are all similar and consistently get solid reviews. You didn't mention where the pump would be located. I'm pumping from the basement, my tank is very quiet and I don't think I would want any of these external pumps in my living area.
Click to expand...

How much do you have your's dialed back?

I feel like I have to turn mine way down to keep my overflows silent.

I previously was using a Mag 18 in-sump and had no noise issues. The Mag was run wide open.
 
terry, I'm running almost 100%. 1" flex PVC plumbing all the way. I have 2 1" drains, one drain is running a full siphon via a gate valve and the other is an emergency drain... it is silent.
 
I have no experience with DC pumps, but would love to begin using one. There are tons of threads on them though.

If it's an under tank application, I would definitely go with a in tank DC pump over an external. It'll probably be quieter than any external pump, heat should be minimal, and it will use 250-50% of the electric of an external pump.

I wish there were pressure rated external DC pumps that I could use for a return form my basement.
 
I'm running the Waveline DC pump. It is on no uncertain terms, legit! Silent. Minimal heat. Soft start. Controllable. Feed mode. I'm very pleased with it. It's my first internal after years of externals. I researched the different models. Reef builders does a great review.

Definite thumbs up on DC pumps from me.
 
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