Recirc pump for 6" Skimmer

[thorsky]

Reaction chamber is 6"x15". I'm looking at the Genx 2400 NW, the Ocean Runner 3700 or...not sure. Sedra 5000 maybe? I like the price of the Genx. Any recommendations? I've looked through all the recent DIY skimmer threads and I still can't decide.

 

[thorsky]

Don't everyone respond as once now.

 

[draleigh]

lots of people have said that the GenX is loud. Others have said it isn't. I personally don't have one, but I am in the process of getting together everything to build a Recic skimmer myself. I already have a pump that i am going to try, QuietOne4000, if that doesn't work i am planning on using either a GenX4100, or and OTP pump. Good luck, not the best of advise, but something to think about.

 

[thorsky]

Thanks for the input. I've seen the loud GenX comments. Luckily, that's not an issue with me as this is for a basement sump. So with that in mind, and the fact that I'll probably try a mesh wheel mod on whatever I go with, the question is whats the best bang for the buck in skimmer pumps?

 

[Jim_S]

Look into the DAS skimmer pumps. They aqua bees like the German skimmers use., they just relable the DAS pumps.

HTH


http://www.petorama.net/DAS.html

 

[thorsky]

Hmm...I don't know much about the DAS stuff. I'll see what I can find. Thanks!

 

[RandyStacyE]

I tried seeking out some pics and info on DAS .... nada.

The only thing I've been able to find is something from Melves' site:
http://www.melevsreef.com/acrylics/sumps/das/das_sump.html

Maybe Melve has some input.

Anyone else know of some DAS links?

 

[green814]

I am working on a diy Randyskimmer & am using the O.R. 2700 for a recirc pump. My chamber is about 14.25". It was suggested that the 3700 for a 6" chamber MAY be a bit to much. That is why I chose the 2700. I hope to have it done the next day or so.

Good luck,
Chris

 

[thorsky]

I played with a MAG 3 and 7 last night. Used some 3M pad from HD to do a mesh mod. The impellers from both pumps seem identical. Does anyone know if they are? Only difference I can think of would be the strength of the magnet itself but they look the same. Anyway, with mesh they both produce a heck of a lot of bubbles. While I was at it I meshed my MJ1200 for a CPR BakPak. It's almost too much for the CPR!

Still deciding on the right pump for my DIY...

 

[thorsky]

Ok, after reading more I think I'm going to go with Sedra. Now the question is the 3500 or the 5000. Looking at commercial skimmers using Sedra, it's a toss up. ASM uses a 3500 for a similar reaction chamber as I have where EuroReef uses the 5000 for something just a tad bigger. I do have 6' of 6" OD acrylic so I will most likely build a bigger skimmer in time. That makes me lean towards the 5000. Thoughts?

 

[RandyStacyE]

DEFINITELY go with the Sedra 5000 over the 3500 if you do decide on the Sedra.

Personally I wouldn't go with either Sedra pump though ... the 5000 is rated for 'max 500 gph' and the 3500 is rated for 350 gph.

I've been using the GenX 2500 for quite some time on a similar size skimmer and the GenX is rated for 633 gph. Some think it's a bit on the small side for anything taller than mine.

I don't know what I'd do in your shoes ... I would likely get the OTP-3000 which is rated for 750 gph ... here's a listing for that pump:
http://www.customaquatic.com/customaquatic/subsubcategorypage.asp?subcatindexid=ps-ac-pm

I would go as big as you have room for when it comes to a skimmer. This OTP pump is evidently higher output than the GenX-2400 which I am familiar with ... it's not much bigger, but it is a bigger.

 

[thorsky]

Randy, any issues with Sedra that make you stay away? It does get tough to pick one brand over another after reading enough of these threads. There's good and bad feedback about almost any pump out there! That's also what makes a forum like this so valuable.

I like the price point on the OTP. Hmm.

 

[RandyStacyE]

The 2 main points that make ME stay away from the Sedra 5000 is the price and its gph rate. Personally I think that they are overpriced. I'm VERY happy to see that other manufacturers are coming out with lower priced pumps like GenX and Ocotopus. Evidently the OTP pumps are made by the same manufacturer as the Ocean Runner pumps.

The OTP pumps from what I've seen have HUGE impellers which from what I understand allows it to handle more air than a pump with a smaller impeller.

I saw a picture once of a GenX-4100 impeller side by side with an OTP-3000 impeller. They didn't look all that much different accept for the size. One was MUCH bigger than the other. The OTP-3000 was the bigger of the two.

OTP-3000 rated for 750 gph
GenX-1400 rated for 1,085 gph ... you'd think that the bigger pump would have the biggest impeller.

 

[thorsky]

Ok, I ordered and OTP 3000 pump. I figure if it blows the top of the current skimmer body I have I can always grab some 8" tube. I have 6' of 6" so I could always go a bit taller. Should arrive Friday. I'll update when I get a chance to play with things a bit.

 

[RandyStacyE]

Excelent!

I've been following this thread on the OTP-2000 and from the looks of that thread ... your skimmer should rock!
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1076754&perpage=25&pagenumber=1

 

[thorsky]

Umm Randy....the OTP-3000 is a bit....umm...BIG!! No, it's huge!

Anywho, my order came in today. Needless to say, I didn't expect the 3000 to be quite this big. Looks like I'm headed for the ultimate in overskimming.

I did a quick test with the stock venturi in a 10 gallon tank filled with old tank water. Whoa! Even stock it turned the whole tank white in seconds. I'm going to take some pics and get a quick vid of it before I change anything. This should prove to be quite an adventure.

 

[JCTewks]

if you are going to tweak that thing a lot i think you'll want the 8"
make sure you use big plumbing when hooking it to the skimmer.

 

[hahnmeister]

6"x15" high? A Gen-X 2400 should be fine with that (maybe two if you want, or a 4100). I wouldnt do a Sedra... too much water flow for the amount of air they pull. One 2400 should do about 450lph or 16 scfh. One or two of these, for a 900 lph/32 scfh throughput of air should be just right.

 

[thorsky]

OTP-3000 Pics

OTP-3000 Pics

Behold, the OTP-3000! Bear bottle used strictly for comparison of scale!

Everything that came in the box:

BIG needlewheel. Note, only two sets rows of needles:

LOTS of space for mesh mods and such:

 

[thorsky]

And a quick video, completely stock. 10gal tank with dirty SW. It moves a lot of water - the various mods I plan should slow the water movement as air intake increases.

OTP3000 Stock.wmv

Let me know if anyone has trouble with the video.