Ehiem 1262 return pump questions

[epleeds]

I am currently using an Ehiem 1262 as my return pump. (200 gallon custom tank) I am running a herbie overflow using a 1.5" pipe for my main drain. In order to get to a full siphon, i had to close my gate valve so much that there is only less than a 3/4" opening. I have unions on either end of the gate valve and was able to take it apart to see how far the valve was closed.

Has anyone else checked to see how far their gate valve is closed? Is this normal for a 1262 on a 1.5" pipe. It makes me a little nervous to only have a 3/4" opening before it could possibly clog.

Just wanted to see if anyone else has this issue before i go out and buy a bigger pump so i can get more flow into the sump and open the gate valve a little more.

 

[fourzero]

1262 at 4ft. of head is only pushing 800gph. It's not a big surprise that you're running a 1.5" overflow pinched back that far.

Unless you're going for the super-low flow sump method, you should probably upsize the pump. Just for reference, I ran a Mag 18 (1375gph @ 4' head) on a 150gal. tank. I downsized my tank to 100 gal. but kept the Mag 18. A 1262 on a 200gal. tank is pretty small.

 

[epleeds]

thanks...i am also running a 1" return pipe.

 

[jnareefer]

I run a 1262 stand alone on a 125 and it's really low flow. I would upsize too or go with two 1262's.

 

[JPerkins2]

An Iwaki MD70RLT would be what I would buy for that tank and overflow.

Don't get the RLXT unless it is just for recirc. The RLT is the pressure designated pump. @ 4ft you're getting 1200 gph approx and Iwakis are legendary performers in reliability.

 

[fourzero]

I think the Iwaki pump recommendation is much closer to what you'd want flow wise, but it's not very efficient.

At 4' head, the MD-70RLT puts out 1,320 gph and draws 336 watts (2.8A @ 120VAC). That's 3.9 gph/watt.

At 4' head, the Mag 18 puts out 1,375 gph and draws 145 watts. That's 9.5 gph/watt.

Do I believe the Iwaki is a superior pump? Of course.. but you're going to spend $350 for one and get less than half the output per watt.

 

[epleeds]

What about the water blaster 5000 or 7000?

 

[fourzero]

water blaster 7000 at 4ft. head is only 988gph. Only 88 watts power, so 11.2 gph/watt (which is great efficiency).

You'd probably want to go with at LEAST the 10000, which is flowing ~1500gph @ 4' head, 125 watts, 12 gph/watt. Those pumps are wicked efficient but check out the pump curves, they are nowhere near linear (i.e. performance drops off rapidly as head increases).

http://coralvue.com/waterblaster-pumps/