Pump Recommendation

[jpitch]

I'm starting a new system:

36 X 36 X 30 Cube (approx. 168g)
Mixed Reef (SPS, some LPS and softies)
Light Fish stocking (Purple tang, pair of clowns, a few other smaller fish)

I have a 2 story house with a finished basement. The main display will be on the main floor and I will be running a fish room in the basement. The drop is approximately 15ft total and run approximately 30ft lengthwise to the fish room using a 2" drain.

I would like a recommendation for a return pump. I would prefer something that can handle the head pressure yet be energy efficient.

 

[moondoggy4]

https://premiumaquatics.com/products/abyzz-a1002m-dc-water-pump.html I hope you are sitting down. I would definitely call them. Also look into Bubble King return pumps, so you might as well stay seated.

 

[jpitch]

https://premiumaquatics.com/products/abyzz-a1002m-dc-water-pump.html I hope you are sitting down. I would definitely call them. Also look into Bubble King return pumps, so you might as well stay seated.

I saw them earlier today. It looks like it isn't rated for the head pressure I'm going to need. Thank god it isn't because I can't afford that! LOL

 

[ca1ore]

I've tried out a couple of the cheap DC pumps and neither comes close to doing the job against that kind of head pressure. Even tried my not quite so cheap Vectra and it failed miserably. I think you're going to have to look at the pressure rated AC pumps like Iwaki, PanWorld or Reeflo. I'm a PW user myself and they do very well against pressure. They won't be quite as energy efficient as a DC pump, though once you take heals loss into account, it's somewhat moot. Saving $1K versus something like the Abyzz will cover a great many years worth of energy inefficiency.

 

[jpitch]

Good point on the initial hit on a 1k+ pump vs the energy inefficiency. I guess there's really no getting around a tried and true technology. I haven't been in the hobby for a few years so I was hoping some new toys have come out to replace the old. Thank you for the inputs!

 

[RicGio]

I have a similar setup (although mine is only 8' straight up) and have been running a Pan World for 8 years with no issues. Highly recommended!

 

[Vinny Kreyling]

JP, be careful with a sump, it needs to be BIG ENOUGH to handle all that water in that 45' of pipe on a shut down.

 

[jpitch]

Yes, you are correct Vinny. I have a 90g as my sump. I'm going to do an initial run before I start to get serious. I also overestimated the total length and height on purpose. Hopefully my calculations will more than compensate.

 

[Vinny Kreyling]

Sumps "generally" run around the 1/2 full level.
That leaves 45 gallons. I have an 80 gallon under the tank, runs around 38 gallons.
Almost full on shutdown with only around 15' 1 inch pipe, so I doubt it.

 

[Pablos RSM 450]

I'm starting a new system:

36 X 36 X 30 Cube (approx. 168g)
Mixed Reef (SPS, some LPS and softies)
Light Fish stocking (Purple tang, pair of clowns, a few other smaller fish)

I have a 2 story house with a finished basement. The main display will be on the main floor and I will be running a fish room in the basement. The drop is approximately 15ft total and run approximately 30ft lengthwise to the fish room using a 2" drain.

I would like a recommendation for a return pump. I would prefer something that can handle the head pressure yet be energy efficient.

Here is a link to BRS

http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/iwaki-md-100rlt-japanese-motor-2000-gph.html

Try to get an
Iwaki MD55RLT 192W 1104 GPH max head 26.9ft $360
Iwaki MD70RLT 336W 1536 GPH max head 31.8ft $400
Iwaki MD100RLT 408W 2136 GPH max head 39.0ft $480

There are also videos comparing American made vs Japanese made Iwaki and Panworld
https://youtu.be/v1ROt2XHwm8

 

[ca1ore]

Sumps "generally" run around the 1/2 full level.
That leaves 45 gallons. I have an 80 gallon under the tank, runs around 38 gallons.
Almost full on shutdown with only around 15' 1 inch pipe, so I doubt it.

You must have some siphoning - a 10' run of 1" PVC pipe only holds slightly more than 1/2 a gallon.

 

[jpitch]

Sumps "generally" run around the 1/2 full level.
That leaves 45 gallons. I have an 80 gallon under the tank, runs around 38 gallons.
Almost full on shutdown with only around 15' 1 inch pipe, so I doubt it.

I went to a website that calculated volume of water to pipe diameter and it showed just a tad under 1 gallon per 6 feet of 2" pipe. I guess that calculation was wrong?

 

[lg2725]

I have a Reeflo Dart but am planning on upgrading to the Barracuda. My height is about 11' and I'd be getting about 3000 GPH. My Dart is also is the basement pumping up and it is very quiet. It isn't controllable but definitely checks off every other box to warrant the upgrade.

 

[ca1ore]

I went to a website that calculated volume of water to pipe diameter and it showed just a tad under 1 gallon per 6 feet of 2" pipe. I guess that calculation was wrong?

I think that is correct.

 

[Vinny Kreyling]

Well you do get flow back from the tank too, somewhere between 1-1.5 inches,
on a 6' x30" surface.

 

[jda]

This has PanWorld, Gen X or Iwaki written all over it. There are some Ampmasters that can handle that kind of head, but they might be way too much flow. I have never had a Sequence/Reeflo pump last more than two years, so I cannot recommend them for anything - others use them but the others that I listed can go 10+ years without issues.