Mag 5 on Fosters&Smith?

[TheOddCouple]

I'm sure it's not the same pump, but it has the same name. This pump is being sold at Fosters&Smith for $20 less than any other "Mag 5" I have found. Is it the same pump?

 

[greech]

Yep, that's the same pump.

 

[TheOddCouple]

Well then I guess I'll save my BRS points for something else. Pretty rare to see an item offered with a 25% price difference from everywhere else.

 

[SeedlessOne]

Brs price matches.

 

[TheOddCouple]

Good to know! Thanks!

 

[sirreal63]

Same pump but there are a whole lot better pumps out there than the Mag.

 

[TheOddCouple]

I just see it recommended so often. I'm dropping a lot of cash right now, and lots of people seem to like the Mag 5. I think I'll try it out, and if it's not too loud, I'll keep it 'til it dies. Maybe upgrade then.

Any recommendations?

 

[jerpa]

If you keep it until it dies it may be quite awhile. IME the mag pumps are a bit noisy and power hungry but very reliable.

 

[sirreal63]

I concur with Jer, they are bulletproof but power hungry and often noisy. Sicce, Tunze (which is an improved Sicce), Laguna, AquaMedic and others are far more efficient, use less electricity and do not have the same weakness that Mag pumps have. Mags need very large plumbing to get the rated flow and very few people use the correct diameter plumbing to get the most out of them. The Mag 5 and smaller are not really that bad but the design is outdated. Keep in mind that every watt your tank consumes is returned to the tank or the room as heat and any submerged watt is heating up the water by the same wattage.

 

[Meanmike]

Great pumps! Not sure what others consider loud but I use an 18 to run my 180 and its silent as are my two 12s unless they are vibrating against something. Never had a heat issue them either. Power consumption is probably accurate but I've never been concerned with so I really don't know.

Very reliable

 

[greech]

Seems like the noise issue is dependednt on the individual pump you get. Some mags are very quiet while others are intolerable.

 

[jimmyj7090]

I'm sure it's not the same pump, but it has the same name. This pump is being sold at Fosters&Smith for $20 less than any other "Mag 5" I have found. Is it the same pump?

Premium aquatics has it for $5 cheaper.

That said, I agree with the others, there are much better pumps to choose from.

 

[TheOddCouple]

Alright, well the landlord's paying the electric bill right now, I've oversized my plumbing a little bit (3/4" in a 29 Gallon)

I'll probably stick with the Mag 5, I want to get into this project going, but these "better" pumps aren't a whole lot more money.

Well damn, thought I was done researching. (Hint; it never ends)

Jimmy, Premium aquatics is listing it at $67, am I missing something? ($60 at F&S)

 

[jimmyj7090]

My mistake, I looked at the mag2.