How noisy is a mag drive pump?

[plancton]

I am thinking on going for a mag drive 18. But I am concerned about noise, I mean mag drives don't have suction cups, so my guess is that they have to be suspended and thus shakey and noisy, I don't like the idea of it shaking against the sump walls.
But maybe I am just paranoic. So please tell me your experiences.

 

[Sk8r]

My mag 9.5 resides in the front well of a 10g sump and is far less noisy than the downflow. It's never moved. But a mag 18 might be a different story: you might need to insulate it with a sponge if it showed any disposition to rock...though I'd expect the hose to hold it still.

 

[Blown 346]

I have a Mag for a return pump on my 125, it has suction cups.
But My Mag isnt that big, I know the larger you go with Mags the louder they get and the more heat they generate as well as wattage to run them.

I was going to go your route with my closed loop on my 90 but went with Quiet One 6000. It cost far less, used less watts to run, doesnt generate as much heat, and is quiet. Plus it can be used internally or externally, as the Mags are made for internal use only.

 

[plancton]

and I forgot to mention that I am planning to use hose and not pvc tubbing.

 

[plancton]

say do they come with suction cups, I thought they didn't

 

[Blown 346]

Mine did come with suction cups.

A better alternative from hose would be to go to Spa flex hose of Spa hose.
Light wont be able to penetrate it and cause algae growth inside the pipe. Plus is is easier to work with and you can use PVC primer and glue to make your final connections.

 

[sjm817]

This also relates to your other Mag18 post. If you want to use a huge return pump like a Mag18, and are expecting to get the large flow from it, you need to plumb it as the directions state which is 1.5" minimum plumbing. It you set it up with terribly undersized plumbing like 3/4", then make it even worse by putting a SCWD on it, you are cutting the flow back to that of a pump 1/2 its size or likely less than that. So, why run the big noisy pump?

 

[Freed]

They're not noisy at all. I have several running all kinds of crud and they don't make any noise or vibration. Now inside a sump might be a different story. How do you use 1.5" on these when their fittings are 3/4"?

 

[sjm817]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8732832#post8732832 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Freed
How do you use 1.5" on these when their fittings are 3/4"?

You use an adapter. Even a 9.5 should use 1.5". 3/4" plumbing is a dramatic flow reduction on a 9.5 never mind a Mag18.

 

[Freed]

So the flow won't still be restricted by the 3/4" inlet and outlet on the pump itself? You are still trying to pump the same water thru the same 3/4" fittings right?

 

[sjm817]

It doesn't work that way. Its the plumbing that it flows through that determines flow rate.

Look at the instructions for the pump It states the 1.5" ID minimum for maximum flow.

I would say 99% of people with mag pumps have them plumbed wrong. They use too big a pump, then severely choke back the flow with undersized plumbing. Other manufactures make the output size the same as the recommended plumbing size, but Danner does not. Generally, double the output size.

 

[manofcoral]

I use a Mag18 for my skimmer. The Mag 18 is in my sump and is not noisy at all. If you do have any noise problems just set the pump on some plastic 1/2' hose and it will not make a sound. I run a 1' hose into my skimmer and it blasts.
Paul<><

 

[xtrstangx]

I wouldn't use a mag pump. They are pretty loud and add a lot of heat to the water.

 

[Freed]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8732832#post8732832 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Freed
They're not noisy at all. I have several running all kinds of crud and they don't make any noise or vibration. Now inside a sump might be a different story. How do you use 1.5" on these when their fittings are 3/4"?

 

[sjm817]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8733682#post8733682 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by xtrstangx
I wouldn't use a mag pump. They are pretty loud and add a lot of heat to the water.

Neither would I. The smaller Mag pumps (3 - 9.5) have their place, but if you need a pump that is larger than that, there are much better choices.

 

[Freed]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8732832#post8732832 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Freed
They're not noisy at all. I have several running all kinds of crud and they don't make any noise or vibration. Now inside a sump might be a different story. How do you use 1.5" on these when their fittings are 3/4"?

Let me rephrase that: All the ones I have are all Mag 18s and they are not "noisy". But yes they do put out heat just like any other so you wouldn't have to use your main heater as much.