Internal Return Pump

rds85

rds85

New member
I am having mixed feelings about various types of internal return pumps. My tank is going to be a 260 gallon system. I am looking at the 3,000 GPH range. Anyone have a good recommendations on what pump to get?

I have looked at the vectra, Sicce Syncra HF, Waveline, and deep aquatics.
 
I have the vecta L1, And like it a lot. My tank is 200gal. And I turned it down and only run it at 1/3 of the speed. Still plenty of flow. Wish it had apex control, maybe in the future they will have a web API
Had the sicce syncra 10 before. The vecta has about the same flow rate but way less power. And its dead silent. Can't go wrong with that
 
weedage66 said:
I have the vecta L1, And like it a lot. My tank is 200gal. And I turned it down and only run it at 1/3 of the speed. Still plenty of flow. Wish it had apex control, maybe in the future they will have a web API
Had the sicce syncra 10 before. The vecta has about the same flow rate but way less power. And its dead silent. Can't go wrong with that
Click to expand...


So do you think the $100 difference for adjustable speed is actually worth it? I mean you don't want to be changing speeds all the time unless its a closed loop because it will mess with your overflow water level and water level in the sump messing with your ATO if you have one. Now for power usage it might be the better option over X amount of months for the difference in cost in the electric bill.

Luckily for me the pump will be in the garage with my sump.
 
Internal Return Pump

100 bucks for the adjustability no. But the the quietness and heat transfer it is. My tank fan almost never come on now. But when I had the sicce pump it was on a lot more. Keep in mind you have a big power supply that is mounted externally, and at full speed that sucker got hot. That's partly why I turned mine down, I want it to last longer. :)
Both are great pumps
 
Yeah I have read they are both great pumps it is very hard to decide. Luckily in Flagstaff I don't have to worry to much about the tank being to hot at any time of the year.

How long did your Sicce last? and what made you change to vectra
 
Still have it as a backup :)
Had it for about a year, and I really just wanted a quieter tank and also the slow ramp start of the pump is awesome. Forgot to mention that. No splashing on startup after feeding the tank. The sicce would slam on and scare all the fish, not to mention the wife [emoji23]. Come to think of it, is was very funny to see it come on when she or guests were not expecting it.
 
HA! Yeah I am pretty sure almost every AC pump slams on. Especially the ones with that much GPH rating. I never really turn my current return pump off, maybe once in a blue moon for maintenance. I always worry about it seizing up! Maybe I will bite the bullet and get the L1
 
Internal Return Pump

Vectra or Fluval SP6. I run the fluval on my 600g- quiet and reliable.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
I just stumbled upon the Fluval SP6. sounds like a great pump for a great price (read all the reviews on them). I understand all the hype about the DC pumps especially ecotech ( I have all their other products HA!) I just don't know if a need all those features or even want them.

Thank you all for your opinion I am going to go with a Fluval SP6.
 
[emoji1303] I have every model fluval running this or that. I do like this vectra I just got for frag tank though. I think you'll be happy with pick
 
I am still a little shocked as the price point difference between the Fluval and almost any of the other good choices...(made me a little hesitant at first) Like Sicce is 100 bucks more and most the dc pumps are like 200 bucks more give or take.
 
When you install the Fluval you might want to install a ball/gate valve to fine tune the flow. I have a Laguna Max Flo 1350 as a return pump and I needed to valve mine back about 25% to stay away from the toilet flushing sound from the drain
 
Yeah I already have one designed in the schematic . Well I actually have two. What kind of drain do you have that makes that noise? I have read to put a 90 fitting on the pump to prevent a vortex from the top of the water line
 
rds85 said:
Yeah I already have one designed in the schematic . Well I actually have two. What kind of drain do you have that makes that noise? I have read to put a 90 fitting on the pump to prevent a vortex from the top of the water line
Click to expand...

Drain is a 1.5" PVC going into a sock. Drain pipe ends just over the water surface. I don't have a fitting at the pumps inlet, no vortex
 
rds85 said:
Weird then. Is it a full siphon?
Click to expand...

Not full siphon. It was was there would be no noise

With one drain if you over whelm the drain with too much flow you get the toilet flushing effect. With a single drain you have both water and air sharing the drain, with a full siphon there is no air to deal with
 
Yeah standard durso setup for you it sounds like. It will defiantly have a tiny bit of noise. They can be finky in my experience.
 
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