Pump Recommendations

[rkaiser]

Plumbing a 240g to the basement, 150g sump/fuge. Looks to be max 16' vertical head (10' from slab to ceiling, floor joist, 42" stand, 30" tall tank), and a horizontal distance of 20'. Possibly 3 90 deg. elbows, trying to figure out a plan to avoid or minimize this.

Can anyone recommend a good pump? I was using the Reeflo as a reference, and it looks like the Barracude or Hammerhead would work. Any brands or recommendations welcome, I bow to your expertise and experience.

Thanks All.

 

[Suzukibusa06]

I would say a Hammerhead for that sernario. I had one on my 155 bowfront which I had two custom 2" drains on. Reeflo pumps are all I will put in the field. I have a replaced alot of Dolphin pumps and Iwaki pumps with them. We have a good pool company here that we have used in a pinch when a pump goes out and surprising the two that I have had to put into service have lasted as long as the reeflo pumps. If you get one just make sure there is no copper seals. They will have to be throttled back and are stonger then reeflo pumps but use a heck of alot more energy then reeflo.
If you want the best pump money can buy without question the best one i have ever installed is RK2 pumps. Use the least amount of energy, very quiet even in the really big ones, but really only last for 4 or 5 years and are really expensive. If you have ever took one apart there is no comparison to their engineering to any other pump. Hands down the best.

HTH
Jeremy

 

[wildman6809]

i love my hammerhead. i have a 280 plumbed to the basement and it has plenty of power. it runs the display, refuge, frag tank and skimmer.

 

[Lightsluvr]

I recommend you research a pressure rated pump... which the Hammerhead is not... At 22 feet, I think the Hammerhead is only rated at 600gph, which would be a major disappointment for you...

that being said, I am using two Hammerheads in my system, but do not have the head pressure you are describing...

LL

 

[tjsreeftank]

pump

pump

I would try a reeflo barracuda .

 

[Lightsluvr]

I would try a reeflo barracuda .

Those aren't pressure rated either. They will deliver only 660gph at 20 feet head pressure...

LL

 

[viggen]

Since there is so much head, can you plumb it so the filter is under the tank? Reducing the head pressure from 20ish to 5ish ft would save a LOT on the electric bill.

 

[djrab52]

I basically have the same setup and distance as you except my tank is a little larger. I am plumbing from the basement also and I spoke with someone at Reeflo about this. I was told the Hammerhead is ok, but I am putting alot of strain on the pump currently. Don't get me wrong it is working but not turning the tank over as much as it should. It just so happens that I had a spare Reeflo pump, which was converted to a hammerhead pump by changing the impellor they sent me, that will be added next to the current hammerhead running now. I am just changing my plumbing using T's, a little more to it also, but Reeflo told me that as long as both pumps are running together and at about the same flow I should be fine. The only other alternative was to purchase one of their larger commercial pumps which draws more wattage than using 2 pumps. Also, my setup would continue to work in case of a failure. Hope this helps you out, but contact them to be on the safe side.

 

[rkaiser]

Thanks for all the info guys. I thought about just putting the fuge under the tank and calling it a day. Then I started considering a large sump/fuge and putting all of the equipment in the basement for noise reduction, and ease of water changes etc. I suppose I could run the fuge under the tank in a closed loop and maintaiin a seperate smaller system in the basement for frag tank, etc. Then plumb an on demand water changing system. I am just not sure which is more beneficial.

Does anyone have a system laid out this way? (closed loop upstairs, but water change station in the basement)