Pumps vs "pumps"

[CrayolaViolence]

I noticed that the owner at the reef store used regular submersible pond pumps in his live rock tanks to stir water instead of using the fans and wave makers.

I was wondering if anyone has used regular submersibles in place of the more expensive fans? I put one in my "cook tank", where I am curing some live rock I bought, along with a regular fan. The fan pump is cheaper and magnetized. I was having issues with suction cup fans as the clips to press them down kept breaking then I couldn't get them to stay on by just pushing them on (like you'd expect because everything else with a suction cup sticks.) The pump has small four suction cup feet, is actually lower profile than the fan and has a higher output. It has really gotten the water moving for me. I know not all tanks need a high flow rate, but those that do, have you used these pumps with a modified end to either expand the water range or to condense it to a jet? Have they worked well? And if the fan (wave maker pump) isn't adjustable (most mine aren't) are they really any different in terms of results? Because they are a heck of a lot less expensive, less expensive, and easy to hide(if you want) surrounded by rock, left with a gap to allow flow to go through.

 

[C.Eymann]

for curing live rock, pond pump will work fine, reason prop style pumps are more suitable for reef aquariums is because coral prefer gentle, mass, low velocity water movement vs. high velocity constricted streams that traditional powerheads produce.

 

[rsain]

Those power head pumps that you reference is all we used to use. I ran 4 in my old 46g reef. It was about placement.

The new fan style are better for reasons stated, but by no means your only option (imho - it is your BEST option though).

-ryan

 

[C.Eymann]

Those power head pumps that you reference is all we used to use. I ran 4 in my old 46g reef. It was about placement.

The new fan style are better for reasons stated, but by no means your only option (imho - it is your BEST option though).

-ryan

I remember those days.

Here is a picture of a reef I had back in 2003, it was a 58gal lit with a 175 halide and 2 65w CF. ( compacts were considered cutting edge back then)

Had a mix of rios and maxi jet pumps fighting each other, kept softies, LPS, a few acros and big Crocea clam in the middle.

Only company that was making prop style power head back then were Tunze, which were too expensive for a high schooler like me at the time to afford.

 

[jayball]

There is energy and heat to keep in mind as well, example:

Cobalt MJ1200. - $41
Flow Rate: 295 GPH
Power Usage: 20 Watts

Koralia Third Generation - 2450 - $90
Flow Rate: 2450 GPH
Power Usage: 9.5 watts

Just one example, the Koralia moves almost 10 times the water, in a broader pattern for half the energy used at only twice the price. It takes up less real estate in the tank as well.

Edit: Here is a closer example.

Hydor Koralia Evolution 600GPH $40

Flow Rate: 600 GPH
Power Usage: 4.5 watts

In this case for the same money you get 8 X the flow to power ratio