When feeding, I turn off the return pump for a few minutes and increasingly the pump balks before restarting. So I am thinking it would be wise to go ahead and purchase a new pump to have on standby (the pump came with a used setup, and I have no idea how old it might be). The tank is 90 gallons and the sump in the stand directly beneath is 20 gallons. The current pump is a mag 5. And another dumb question, what is a mag, anyway? :hmm3: Please give me suggestions. I want something QUIET, and keep in mind that I am an old lady, not a plumber! Many tanks for all the help I get here.
Need help choosing return pump
- Thread starter mstwell
- Start date
mag stands for magnetic, which is how the impeller is driven. For quiet, that is NOT the mag series and not the Iwakis, I can tell you that: Iwakis are noisier.
If you HAVE a basement, you can easily move the sump and pump downstairs by drilling 2 small holes through the floor and bringing the hoses through. This is particularly good if you have a basement drain, so you can do water changes easily.
Do clean your pumps periodically: get a white 5gallon polystyrene paint bucket from Lowe's, and dump a gallon of Costco white vinegar into it, and run the pump in it for a few hours. THen return it to use. Having a stand-by pump in case of total pump failure at 5pm New Year's eve is a good idea, and if you have 2 pumps, you can keep them in top condition by cleaning and rotating in service.
I'll let others inform you on the quietest pumps. I use a Mag 5 and an Iwaki, one in an outdoor pond. Neither is that quiet.
If you HAVE a basement, you can easily move the sump and pump downstairs by drilling 2 small holes through the floor and bringing the hoses through. This is particularly good if you have a basement drain, so you can do water changes easily.
Do clean your pumps periodically: get a white 5gallon polystyrene paint bucket from Lowe's, and dump a gallon of Costco white vinegar into it, and run the pump in it for a few hours. THen return it to use. Having a stand-by pump in case of total pump failure at 5pm New Year's eve is a good idea, and if you have 2 pumps, you can keep them in top condition by cleaning and rotating in service.
I'll let others inform you on the quietest pumps. I use a Mag 5 and an Iwaki, one in an outdoor pond. Neither is that quiet.
buzzbait00
New member
Eheim 
Tomoko Schum
New member
While I love my Eheim pumps, I understand that Oceanrunner pumps are also very quiet and run cool.
