anyone here using an external return pump? If you do I need your help.

AdrianBryce

AdrianBryce

New member
I have an external return pump that came with my setup. Problem is I don't quite know how to plumb it. It has the male threads on top and the female threads on the side. I think the top is the intake and the side is the output(please correct me if I am wrong). What I for sure don't know is HOW it gets water from the sump to put back in the DT. Is there just a pipe that goes into the sump and it sucks it out?

Any help is appreciated.
 
The intake is usually the female threads in the front center of the pump and the output is tangental to the pump on the side or top and is usually male threads. Most people drill a hole in their sump, install a bulkhead, and direct plumb that to the pump through a union valve. The pump cannot generate negative pressure or create a siphon so it is necessary that the pump be below water level. The output is then plumbed to the tank. Hope that helps.
 
from a pump expert, if you kick it on briefly, it should blow a small ammt of air out the discharge. all pumps that style should operate that way. jsut kick it on for a sec and see. what type of pump is it?
 
You could also look up the model that you have. What pump is it? There are several diagrams that will tell you which is which. running it for a second can tell you too. Just look for the pulls and which way the water is flowing of course.
 
Thanks. My main concern was the plumbing. So should I drill in a bulkhead near the bottom of the sump on the sidewall for it to go into the return pump?
 
If I was to do that, I would see how the pump and plumbing lines up with the sump and drill and place a bulkhead there. to use an external you need to have the bulkhead on the sump. make sure your waterlevel is well above it as it will draw a good ammt of water and can create a whirlpool. I would say the water needs to stay at least 2" above the bulkhead opening depending on the gph of the pump. I know my 1200 gph loop pump would create a whirlpool when when I had the inlets 3" below the surface of the tank.
 
Let me add one thing that may help. On the bulkhead the part in the sump you can put a L PVC face down this will not create a whirlpool.
 
when you line the pump up to drill the bulkhead hole put a mouse pad under the pump first. the pad will damp the vibration for less noise.
 
Hey bud is your sump drilled. If not I can drill this for you to. Just give me a call after 9tonight.
 
One suggestion, after the bulkhead put a single union ball valve. This will allow you to turn the ballvalve off, and then unscrew the union so you can remove the pump for periodic maintenance. So now you also need to make sure that right after the outlet on the pump, you also put a union in there too. This just makes for really easy pump maintenance.

Another good idea would be to install a "T" after the pump output. On the "extra" side of the "T" then put a ball valve and a hose barb with a 2-3' section of vinyl tubing. When you want to do a water change, put said hose in a 5gal bucket, open ball valve, pump water into bucket, cut pump off, close ball valve, replenish sump with new water and wah lah, water change complete in no time.

If you would like some pics, let me know, I can take some of mine and link you to a gallery or post them up here. Mark
 
Last edited:
well I did some research and I have a model 12b pump, which I am gathering is a mag 12 pump which is submerisble? am I wrong.
 
AdrianBryce said:
well I did some research and I have a model 12b pump, which I am gathering is a mag 12 pump which is submerisble? am I wrong.
Click to expand...

IF and thats a big IF, it really is a mag 12 (which is supposedly a model MD12) then yes they are submersible. Does it not have some kind of model on it or a plate with the model info on it with the amp draw and all that stuff?
 
Mag 12. Submersible. Puts a lot of heat into the water, though. When I ran one I ran it external.
 
you woudl probably be ok submerging it. I have a mag 9.5 for my 75. no issues with it and heat. Keep in mind, that if it is a submersible pump and you run it as external, it will get much hotter than normal and could cause premature failure. I had a quietone 4000 that I ran outside my tank as a closed loop pump. melted the carpet it got so hot. needless to say, I swapped it out for a true external pump. much happier.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

I
Plumbing an internal skimmer externally
Replies
4
Views
423
wvned
wvned
S
Sump at Same Level as DT
Replies
9
Views
635
wvned
wvned
L
Equipment help
Replies
9
Views
229
oliver729
O
TreyB381
200 gallon single 2” drain, how would you do it?
Replies
6
Views
503
Vinny Kreyling
Vinny Kreyling
F
Jebao return pumps
Replies
1
Views
429
kharmaguru
kharmaguru
Back
Top