Return pump for AGA 90gal Megaflow

[mogurnda]

I was using a mag 9.5 for about 18 months, but got tired of the waste involved with having to throttle it down for a megaflow that's rated for 600 gph. Put in a mag 7, it works fine.

Maybe someday I'll try an Eheim, too.

 

[Fmellish]

You want to do 2-5x your total flow through your sump, the rest with powerheads or closed loop. For a 90 gallon tank this means anywhere from 180-450 gph, your choice.

Assuming 0 head pressure, you would be fine with a Mag 5 type of pump.

NOW, as far as which pumps are better, the Eheim pumps are superior in every way. I know this from experience. I built my system with Mags and over time have replaced them all with Eheims. The Eheims are quieter and use less watts per gallon. Additionally, the Mag paper specs are overrated, and the Eheim paper specs are underrated. A 1260 will push almost double the water of a Mag 7 even though on paper they are rated closely.

I can say this since I use both types of pumps. I haven't used anything bigger than a Mag 9 though, maybe the bigger Mag pumps are more efficient. I don't know.

Good luck.

Josh

 

[crumbletop]

Thanks, Josh.

Yeah, I'm actually thinking I might go as low as the eheim 1250. Does anyone have any experience with that as a return pump paired with a single megaflow overflow? Does the amazing performance with 4 feet of head still hold for the smaller eheim pumps?

Jack

 

[unmc2001]

I would go with the 1260 and then add a ball valve to the return that goes back into the sump then you can adjust the flow to whatever you want up to the max flow rate for the 1260. The 1260 is still very energy efficient at 65W and it doesn't add much heat to the tank.

 

[sjm817]

1250 would be fine, and very quiet. If you want stronger flow, go for the 1260.

As already posted, you only need 2 - 5x display volume which is 180 - 450 GPH. The 1250 would be toward the low side and the 1260 on the high end of the scale.

 

[ErikS]

Before someone else misunderstands my post, I am not saying a Mag is better than an Eheim. I don't know. I am just looking for something other than anecdotal evidence.....

Well, unfortunately some companies are a bit more tight fisted with the data than others - this leads to purely anecdotal evidence (it's all we have).

Now there are some known facts -

#1 - MAG pumps are rated with at least 2x the supplied output size. I.E. if the pump comes with a .75" output Danner rates them with a 1.5" outlet.

#2 - Eheim rates their pumps with the supplied outlet. This has been tested by quite a few folks.

#3 - Eheims are far more efficient, compare wattages & flow.

#4 - Eheims last literally decades. An Eheim running in excess of a decade w/o issue is so common as to not even be noteworthy.

Now on the anecdotal evidence. There are quite a few people (in the area of dozens) who have experienced what is concluded to be more than the stated amount of flow. I include myself among these. I have a 1262 rated at 900gph & using RC's headloss calc for my setup (using a MAG9 - as they don't have a 1262) I should be getting around 500gph. I run 300gph through my skimmer & there's another 200 going through the fuge....AND...I have more than I want spilled out the main drain (seems to match the other two outputs) - this means I'm in the area of 800gph AFTER headloss, this from a 900gph pump. Is this due to the tighter build tolerences? The 50 - 60Hz change? Nobody can say for certain (& Eheim isn't saying). I mean it IS certain that a pump designed for 50Hz will spin faster & move more water @ 60hz...but how much is anyones guess.

Very similar to 1982 when GM re-designed the Vette. On paper the Vette was better than the 944 in every aspect - in the real world of racing the Vette got it's arse kicked all over the place.

 

[Andy O]

I use the eheim 1262 and have been very happy with it.

 

[Gluestick]

Okay, I've decided on Eheim 1260. It says that the eheim is not 'self priming,' what does that mean?

 

[Gluestick]

Okay, also, not to sound like a complete dummy, but I am a nEWBIE! I need someone who has a 90 gal Megaflow to PM me and explain to me how to set up the plumbing - - I just opened the box to look at it and there are no instructions!!!!!!!

 

[trmiv]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7086317#post7086317 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Gluestick
Okay, I've decided on Eheim 1260. It says that the eheim is not 'self priming,' what does that mean?

I means it won't suck water unless it has water going to it already. Either by sitting it in a sump, or if you run it external by just pouring some water into the return line so it has some water to start.

 

[Gluestick]

Okay thanks

 

[artis]

Gluestick, in regards to no instructions, I feel your pain as I was there less than a year ago. I don't have Meleev's link handy but maybe someone can post it for you. Wealth of information there. Also, haunt the equipment forum. I got some good tidbits there off and on.

 

[horkn]

well, my favorite vette is the 1983 model...