pond pump for reef?
- Thread starter srtn8
- Start date
itZme
New member
Probably not. Most freshwater pumps use materials that will corrode or leak in a saltwater environment. The seals are not regular rubber for saltwater and even if they used stainless steel parts it will eventually fail and there could also be brass or copper that comes in contact with the water and will mess up a reef tank.
Bad news but better than finding out the hard way.
HTH
-- Kevin
PS. I have seen pumps that are listed as "pond pumps" but also say on the label "safe for fresh or salt water"
Bad news but better than finding out the hard way.
HTH
-- Kevin
PS. I have seen pumps that are listed as "pond pumps" but also say on the label "safe for fresh or salt water"
MJAnderson
Premium Member
Mag Drive pumps are 'pond pumps', so it's possible it's good to use.
i was afraid of that answer....now if i want to try and figure out an eductor setup ill have to break down and get a new pump...im only running a mag7 now on a 75 gallon. I still have some time though since the tank is cycling through. Once it gets going I think I will get a mag 9 or similar for 900 gph
oldreefer76
New member
tolo13 you are 100% correct and I think it is grounded also
Rhodophyta
New member
My Uncle Ray used to use Sears sump pumps to run fresh seawater into his live bait shrimp tanks. He just dropped the sump pump into the ocean near his bait shop. When the plankton layer rose and fell, it would get sucked into the sump pump a couple times a day, and you could actually hear the sudden clicking of all the shrimps' claws trying to grab it. Some bits would survive the impeller and the shrimp attention and survive. If an egg or larvae grew into a fish, Uncle Ray would leave it alone, unless it started to nibble on the shrimp. Then he would catch it out and place it in the"creek" of saltwater running from his bait shop back to the Atlantic. One time when I visited him in south Georgia I saw a nice lookdown that had "appeared" and grown. Every few months the pump would turn into a rust ball and stop pumping and Uncle Ray headed back to Sears for another. His system was open (=constantly new water replacing the old). Even in a closed system I don't think the iron would be a problem, but as was said, any copper would be really bad for our closed systems. And who knows what other materials are present. I would sure do some research before buying a pond or freshwater pump for marine use.
oldreefer76
New member
I just did an extensive search on submersible pond pumps in the 1500gph range and could not find 1 that had any seals in it or oil filled or anything that would cause harm to a reef tank, I think the real problem with pumps here would be external ones that have seals and metal parts not rated for salt water
itZme
New member
How much savings is there to buy a pump at Lowes over a saltwater approved pump at Fosters&Smith? Even in the extremely unlikely chance you save $25 on a $50 pump that doesn't even begin to cover the cost of one coral colony or replacing the inverts in the tank or even one fish.
I would caution against using it unless it says "for use with fresh or salt water". here's an example of a pond pump that I would not doubt to be safe since it specifically states that it has a ceramic shaft and is safe for salt. LINK
The one you found may have a stainless steel impeller shaft which will give you trouble prematurely and cost you more money in the end by trying to save a buck.
Anyone that knows me also knows that I will DIY almost anything and I LOVE to save a buck but this is one instance where I feel it isn't worth the risk.
This is, of course, just my opinion and I haven't put extensive research into it... just common sense and reasoning skills
