Need a return pump

[chrisstie]

Hi!

I have a very cheap return pump that came with my sump\refuge I bought about 3 months ago. I use this on my 55g and I *think* I'm using 1\4" sized clear flexitubing and a stainless steel clamp to go over the pump.

Tonight I turned off my pumps to feed some cyclopeez - very tiny food, not good to have going everywhere in the water column when you want to target feed!!!

When I turned everything back on the pump wouldn't start. I suspect its lack of brand name and quality may be an indication that possibly there is salt creep encroaching on the electronics inside that should be protected. I got it running again so my fish are safe but I wish to find a higher quality pump with a good warranty and love how Tunze does business.

Roger if you see this could you please recommend to me a return pump from Tunze that is suitable for my 55g with a similar\identical return tube size of 1\4"? All I know is that my water level is perfect with my HOB overflow box draining into a 1" tube and this coming back and would like to keep the ratio the same, but am not a rocket scientist when it comes to this subject!

Thank you for your help!

 

[rvitko]

Your return is 1/4"? That is very small, some of the small Eheims use 9mm tubing which is close. We have a pump that should work for you but it uses 3/4".

 

[chrisstie]

It could possibly be 3\4" and i am just not remembering. it is kind of hard to measure as it is. But when I think about it it sounds more correct - but i dont' recall if its ID or OD

like I said i am not very good at this part of tanks! I am more good with the animals that go inside What is hte name or model # of the pump you have that would work for 3\4"? If I can find one locally I can bring my extra tubing to see if it would fit!

 

[rvitko]

I could offer 3 suggestions for good return pumps.

A Turbelle 1200/2- this pump has a 25mm metric output, you would likely need to replumb your return with our metric PVC kit. This pump does 317gph and can handle up to 10ft of head pressure. The biggest advantage is it uses only 21W so the heat input would be nominal.

A Master Recircualtion Pump 1073.03- this pump is actually not made by us, it is a pump we offer in partnership with an Italian company and we add our suction holders and some fitting adapters. It has variable flow from 108gph-792gph and it uses 55w at it's highest output potential. It costs $127.77, it uses 3/4" pipe or tubing, the outlet is female 3/4" NPT.

An Eheim 1260. We don't sell Eheim but they are very reliable pumps and I can recommend them. The only draw back is they use about 80W if I recall and add quite a bit of heat, they do just shy of 700gph and usually cost about $150. The outlet is 3/4" NPT or 12mm depending on if you install the adapter or not.

Either way you will probably need some sort of adapter from the hardware store, probably a 3/4" Male NPT to 3/4" tubing adapter would be required or a change of your plumbing.

 

[chrisstie]

If only I had been able to afford a predrilled happy out of the box fancy tank eh College student on a budget.

Thanks so much for your help, I think the whole way my system is plumbed, where it is located etc, an out of the box sort of thing like Eheim may actually be the better bet this time. You're a very good salesperson for helping me find what I need even if it isn't from your own company and I take my hat off to you. I also have found it for only $120 so I think I am very lucky in that respect.

I guess its about time I found something of quality for the most important part of the tank- without water circulating, well, yeah, its very important.

Thank you again Roger, you are the best!