Extremely Frustruted!

[Metriod___Hunter]

Lfs told me the rio 2100 would work good on my 30gal sump/125gal main tank. Today I found out I need a waaay bigger pump that cost $100! GOD! this hobby keeps sucking up my money! I need a job bad! What do you all reccomend???

 

[Entropy]

How much flow do you need?

 

[old salty]

Re: Extremely Frustruted!

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6477527#post6477527 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Metriod___Hunter
I need a job bad! What do you all reccomend???

Job or a pump??

 

[clutch]

Wait, no I have two Jobs..... Go for a job

 

[Ereefic]

Go back to the LFS and demand they take the pump back since you bought it on there bogus advice.

 

[jun_celis]

Rio 2100 as a return pump? Waaay to small. Here's Rio's flowrate chart for a model 2100:

Head Height______GPH
0'_______________675
1'_______________650
4'_______________360
6'_______________200

I'm running a Mag18(gate valved) on my 75gal which is about 1400gph with 4' head. My advice, get a higher rated pump and just incorporate a gate valve so you can control your flow...

 

[Metriod___Hunter]

what do you reccomend?

 

[flying-pro]

Since you now know more than the guy in the LFS demand your $$ back from the pump, then ask for a job. Kill 2 birds with one stone. Also remember this question.... Why does my tank look this good, because I have spent my kids college fund on it ;-))

 

[cbashaw]

Shopping at your LFS is usually way more expensive I would shop around online.

My LFS tried to sell me a Mag 7 for $109 most places online have the same pump for $55 to $60.

I would stay away from Rio pumps I don't thiny they're very dependable. It's worth the extra few dollars to get a better pump.

Also consider buying a used pump. You can replace the impeller in an old pump and it will run like new again.

 

[Metriod___Hunter]

When you say its cheaper online, it will probably become the same price as the lfs when you add on shipping.

 

[Metriod___Hunter]

What return pump do i need???? What would you get if you were me.

 

[swashbuckler]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6478494#post6478494 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Metriod___Hunter
When you say its cheaper online, it will probably become the same price as the lfs when you add on shipping.

not necessarily, but it really depends on the individual item....

some stuff is easily 50% less online...

here's some good sites:

http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv

http://www.marinedepot.com/homepage.asp?ast=&key=

 

[tekknoschtev]

no, not really. LFS in my area (hence the L in LFS ) charge about $100 for a Mag 7, but online you can get them for about $55, and shipping isnt any more than $10 (and thats high). 65 is MUCH less than 100

As for flow - you dont want all of your flow in the tank coming from the return pump. If you want to use a pump for flow, check into a closed loop, and have another pump. The flow from the Rio would be fine as a return pump, but obviously you'd want more flow overall in the tank. I learned the hard way that 2400gph through the sump is a bad idea (even for a 150 with 55gal sump). We now have a Mag 9.5, about 60% going to the return and 40% going back to the fuge.

I suggest adding a powerhead or series of powerheads. Greater control of the flow in the tank than using the return flow, and also it keeps things more controlable in the sump and helps eliminate microbubbles caused by having too much flow. Estimates I've read are 5-10x turnover of the total volume through the sump, and 20-30x turnover in the display via the use of a closed loop or powerheads. I personally believe the most flow in the display that is possible without disturbing corals/fish/livestock in general is optimal and though I've only got softies and some LPS, ours is up around 35-40x (its been a while since I figured it out).

So while I have my reservations about Rio pumps, the flow rate should be acceptable for the overflow.

 

[Metriod___Hunter]

I just want enough flow so it doesn't overflow the sump. I dont care about how much flow is going through the sump, as long as it doesn't overflow.

 

[Metriod___Hunter]

And is it mandatory to have a sump??

 

[poppin_fresh]

You will get better results from slower sump speeds, especially if you are going to add a skimmer or fuge (which you should consider). Yes, flow is important, in the tank.

I have my current sump running full blast from a single megaflow on my 72g driven by a Quiet One 4000. It adds a lot of flow to the tank, but the water turns over so much that skimmer cannot process as much as it should. I am currently building a basement sump that will run significantly slower so that tank wastes can better be managed.

 

[cbashaw]

I would go with a Mag 9.5

I'm setting up a 110G tank with 29g sump/fuge and I'm going to run a quiet one 4000 as my return (1017 GPH) I bought it used for about 1/2 of what it would cost new online.

I was going to buy a Mag 9.5 new but the used Quiet One was a great deal (here on the rc selling forum) for about half the price. Look around there are lots of good deals online.

Just to give you an idea of how much you can save online.

I don't know what you paid for your Rio 2100 at your LFS but marine depot has it for $35 I'm bet your LFS couldn't even come close to that let alone match it if you asked.

http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewItem.asp?idproduct=TA3152

 

[cbashaw]

Another way I found to save money in this hobby.

Join your local reef club because:

Local fish stores usually have club discounts that will add up fast.

You will meet local people who will sell you corals and used equipment for much less than you would pay retail.

I save hundreds of dollars every year buying corals and equipment from other club members and when I look back at how much I spent at my LFS I wish I had joined my local club years ago.

 

[Silencer]

Lfs told me the rio 2100 would work good on my 30gal sump/125gal main tank. Today I found out I need a waaay bigger pump that cost $100! GOD! this hobby keeps sucking up my money! I need a job bad! What do you all reccomend???

Most of us will recommend not listening to LFS for advice, especially when it's about what you need to buy

When you say its cheaper online, it will probably become the same price as the lfs when you add on shipping.

It may occasionally work out like this but most often it is still cheaper to buy things online. You'll have to pay for shipping but the cheaper prices online more than make up for this. Further widening the gap are the taxes that you have to pay locally but probably won't have to pay onlinek, and don't forget that these taxes are percentage based while shipping is calculated in other ways. With taxes it doesn't matter how much you spend you still have to pay the same percentage but with shipping the more you buy the lower the percentage goes so you end up paying even less when you buy more.

This is somewhat unfortunate because it makes it hard for the quality LFS to make any money selling equipment but that's how it is.

 

[GRREEF]

Re: Extremely Frustruted!

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6477527#post6477527 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Metriod___Hunter
GOD! this hobby keeps sucking up my money!

...try having kids....:lol: