Better pump than Mag Drive 7?
- Thread starter goma
- Start date
daplatapus
New member
Check out RLSS Waveline
degibson84
New member
if you can find anywhere that has a waveline or speedline in stock you will cut these power consumption in half
uncleof6
Active member
Just about any pump is going to be better than a mag drive. There are design contradictions with these pumps. It is not just a case of power consumption, but handling head pressure as well.
Positive Discplacement pumps are supposed to have a constant output (straight vertical line on a flow curve) regardless of the head height. MD pumps are described as "positive discplacement" pumps, by the manufacurer, yet the flow rate rapidly falls off with increasing head height. Demonstrably more so in the 9.5 and larger, that require 1.5" pipe to get any flow out of them. (this is in the instructions.) That aside, they are hot (second highest priority next to output) and loud (which functionally should not influence a decision.)
Aside from the noise level, wattage is the lowest of considerations. What is far more important is: will the pump do the job it is required to do. This is where most fall off the cart, and get a low wattage pump, based on the wattage, but it won't really do the job required, and the user continues on "works great."
The way to choose a pump, is to define the job the pump needs to do--something most don't do, then find a class of pumps (a group) that will do that job (provide x gph at a given dynamic head, (static lift is only part of the equation,) then from that class of pumps, choose a pump that has the best reputation, lowest wattage, or other opinion based criteria. Again, wattage is the LAST concern.
RLSS Waveline DC pumps have changed, with different numbers, outputs and wattage guesstimates. They are still a good viable option for replacing the pumps most commonly recommended and used, on small and medium sized tanks. Big tanks, are still going to head up to the Reeflo pumps, Dart, Barracuda etc.
Positive Discplacement pumps are supposed to have a constant output (straight vertical line on a flow curve) regardless of the head height. MD pumps are described as "positive discplacement" pumps, by the manufacurer, yet the flow rate rapidly falls off with increasing head height. Demonstrably more so in the 9.5 and larger, that require 1.5" pipe to get any flow out of them. (this is in the instructions.) That aside, they are hot (second highest priority next to output) and loud (which functionally should not influence a decision.)
Aside from the noise level, wattage is the lowest of considerations. What is far more important is: will the pump do the job it is required to do. This is where most fall off the cart, and get a low wattage pump, based on the wattage, but it won't really do the job required, and the user continues on "works great."
The way to choose a pump, is to define the job the pump needs to do--something most don't do, then find a class of pumps (a group) that will do that job (provide x gph at a given dynamic head, (static lift is only part of the equation,) then from that class of pumps, choose a pump that has the best reputation, lowest wattage, or other opinion based criteria. Again, wattage is the LAST concern.
RLSS Waveline DC pumps have changed, with different numbers, outputs and wattage guesstimates. They are still a good viable option for replacing the pumps most commonly recommended and used, on small and medium sized tanks. Big tanks, are still going to head up to the Reeflo pumps, Dart, Barracuda etc.
