Internal return pump recommendations?

Capt_Cully

Capt_Cully

Active member
I've been running externals since I started in the biz. I've had basically bad luck with the mag drive pumps. I've burned out at least 3 mag 5s, a 7, and a 3. So they're out. I'm over the external thing because of fear of failure, in my living room. Want a contained in sump pump.

Looking for decent flow, low wattage, very low noise.

Any pump lines you guys can recommend I research?
 
Eheim 1260 or 1262. They get crazy good reliability reviews, are about half the wattage of a mag drive, don't put off much heat, and are just about silent. I switched from a mag drive to the 1260 and I'll never go back.
 
I was reading good things. Actually thinking about running 2 smaller models. I've personally had decent luck with quiet ones, but the over all reviews say they kick off heat and don't last very long (1-2yrs). I don't think I can swing the $600 for a Red Dragon sooooo..... Eheim huh?...
 
I've been running the same Eheim 1260 for 6+ years now. I think it gets taken out and cleaned once every 2 years or so. I'd call that reliable.
 
What about one of the low voltage dc pumps like the diablo's, wave lines, speed waves, jebao's? The variable flow and low wattage are huge pluses. I've been thinking about doing a large diablo to run externally.
 
I've had. $600 reef Octopus for 2.5 years now. First the screws rusted out. Then the pump quit altogether. I was sent a replacement...e which, without admission of guilt, had conspicuously changed design. His was RELATIVELY, easy to get replaced. Now, the new pump, under a year of age has had issues. The intake on the front FELL OFF. Not a screw issue. A plastic issue. It simply failed. They are sending me a new volute. I'm glad you've had good luck, but Coralvue gets no more of my money. Not trying to be a turd, just submitting this for discussion.

As for those low d/cs, never looked into it.

I have a looooong history of over researching return pumps. He bottom line is, I just need to pick something and go with it. If it weren't for fear of flooding, I'd go with an external panworld in a second. But I'm forcing myself to simplify.
 
Capt_Cully said:
I've had. $600 reef Octopus for 2.5 years now. First the screws rusted out. Then the pump quit altogether. I was sent a replacement...e which, without admission of guilt, had conspicuously changed design. His was RELATIVELY, easy to get replaced. Now, the new pump, under a year of age has had issues. The intake on the front FELL OFF. Not a screw issue. A plastic issue. It simply failed. They are sending me a new volute. I'm glad you've had good luck, but Coralvue gets no more of my money. Not trying to be a turd, just submitting this for discussion.

As for those low d/cs, never looked into it.

I have a looooong history of over researching return pumps. He bottom line is, I just need to pick something and go with it. If it weren't for fear of flooding, I'd go with an external panworld in a second. But I'm forcing myself to simplify.
Click to expand...

Good to know. I better get a backup plan.
 
I know I'm in the minority, I've just had bad luck. I'm sorry if that came across wrong. Jeremy at Coralvue has been great. It's just that when a return pump goes down, it's a big deal. For me, the bad stuff never happens at a good time. It's always midnight before a 4 am flight to leave town for a week. Ulcer-fest.
 
I would give the dc pumps serious study; they are suppose to have great flow on very few watts. I have heard there may be some issues, but I have never looked into them. I hear you on the octo. cs is great! Without that though they would walk the pos line. For me I am fed up with Eheim. My new Eheim Jäger heater is junk, and my Eheim feeder went south in storage because the cam switches corroded.
 
I've been reading up on a lot of the dc pumps. I tried to pull the trigger on a waveline during the 10% off labor day sales, but premiumaquatic was out of stock. Later I read that the wavelines needed a mod to the threading to fit standard pvc, which I'm not thrilled about the thought of for an external pump. It also seems that the wavelines and speedwaves are variations of earlier generations of the diablo's. That's why I'm leaning toward the diablo.

I'm alternating between a gen-x 40 and a panworld blueline 55 now. I would need to run the diablo at 50-75% with it's controller, which would be a 3rd of the power consumption of the blueline and about 2/3 of the consumption of the gen-x.

Maybe the repeated letters from NiMo about my electric usage are getting to me...
 
blanden.adam said:
Eheim 1260 or 1262. They get crazy good reliability reviews, are about half the wattage of a mag drive, don't put off much heat, and are just about silent. I switched from a mag drive to the 1260 and I'll never go back.
Click to expand...

I agree with this.. Eheim is the way to go.

I've been using Eheim for as long as I can remember dealing with pumps.

As a kid my dad had them in our ponds, they ran 24/7, no failures for at least 12 years, at which point the pond was broken down, not due to pump failure... .
I have been using them on my salt tanks for the past 5 years. no failures yet either *knock on wood*
 
cardiffgiant said:
I've been reading up on a lot of the dc pumps. I tried to pull the trigger on a waveline during the 10% off labor day sales, but premiumaquatic was out of stock. Later I read that the wavelines needed a mod to the threading to fit standard pvc, which I'm not thrilled about the thought of for an external pump. It also seems that the wavelines and speedwaves are variations of earlier generations of the diablo's. That's why I'm leaning toward the diablo.

I'm alternating between a gen-x 40 and a panworld blueline 55 now. I would need to run the diablo at 50-75% with it's controller, which would be a 3rd of the power consumption of the blueline and about 2/3 of the consumption of the gen-x.

Maybe the repeated letters from NiMo about my electric usage are getting to me...
Click to expand...

Wait, so are these pumps submersible, or are they external?
 
Capt_Cully said:
Heat? Noise? Vibration?
Click to expand...

Heat: I've never had an issue when I was running VHOs, t5s or LEDs.

Noise: Minimal. It's nothing that can't be solved with a short length of flex tubing attached to the output (which I suggest anyways). I've never had to do anything else to quiet it.

Vibration: Occasionally, I'll get a vibration noise. I'll just lift it up and set it back down. This usually stops it. You could always throw a bag of sand or something under it.
 
I actually have a bunch of rubber (30A or 40A durometer) pads that I ran under my skimmer, return pump, and in my mixing vats to reduce vibration. Works fairly well.

I'm very intrigued by these DC pumps. I found a decent article on Reef builders that breaks them down. The Wave line looks like it may be worth the experiment. I'm less concerned with the volumes they push and adjustability, than the noise and energy consumption.

I'm planning some flexible tubing to connect to PVC. If there are adapters needed, not a a big deal. Looks like they sell a threaded volute for like $15.
 
Thanks Greg. I've used plenty of externals. Like them a lot. Prefer them actually. But my sump will be under my tank and I want a contained system. If there's a pump failure, I don't want to entrust a check valve or a pump seal with my flooring.

Looking for internal/submersible this go round.
 
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