What Brand/Type of External Pumps?

[tanglovers]

Hi All,

I am currently running a Sequence ReeFlo Dart pump on my broodstock system. The broodstock system is 2 levels, 7 ten gallon tanks on top with 4 twenty nine gallon tanks on the bottom/lower level. I have the plumbing running a circuit where it goes across the top row, then down to the second and back to the sump. After setting up this system and running it I found that the pump did not seem to have enough power for all the tanks so I took the last two 29s offline and all is running great now. I am considering getting a larger pump so that I can put these tanks back online but unsure what to get. I considered the next size up Sequence but have since heard that maybe these pumps are not as great as I thought.

In a nutshell, I am looking for an external pump that will last a long time and be able to run this system. I like to go energy efficient but with large external pumps that really does not exist. I know some of the big timers out here are using large Jacuzzi pumps...not sure my operation is there yet but what about the middle of the road people. What are you using? What have you had good luck with? What have you tried and will not ever use again?

I am in the process of planning my first growout system so that is also playing a role in this, considering upgrading the pump on the broodstock and using the dart on the growout system.

Any advice/suggestions would be great.

Thanks!

 

[FishnWishn]

Sequence is a great pump you are just using the wrong series. The ReeFlo pumps (Dart, Barracuda, Hammerhead) are low pressure re-circulating pumps designed for closed loop systems where there is virtually no head loss, except for pipe friction. The Dart has a max. head of 12 ft. Each length of PVC, elbow, valve, or output decreases that max head. You are asking that pump to push water at least 4ft. 7 times then 4 more times to the 29gal tanks.
What you need is the ReeFlow Manta Ray or Tiger Shark. These are high pressure pumps that can push water at a max head of 55ft. & 84ft.
I am not talking just gph. For example: the Hammerhead has an output of 5800gph and a max head of 23ft. The Tiger Shark also has a 5800gph output but a max head of 84ft. Sort of like putting a sports car next to a bulldozer. Both can get you down the road. Put a 2 ton boulder against the front of them and see which one gets you farther. Bad analogy I know but you get the point.
Another great pump IMO are the Iwaki pumps. Not as quiet or cool operating temp as the Sequence, but the pressure pumps work great for your application. I would look into the MDM series. If you are not looking for new pumps, but older more experienced resale models, the RLZT series (I think now MDM) is a pump to look for especially the MD-100RLZT.

 

[RCS]

I've got a PanWorld 250PS that works amazingly well. It's running my display tank ATM, with the sump about 10-12 feet below it in the basement. It's a single-overflow 65g AGA tank, and even with that much head, I need to dial the pump down to about halfway (it's also got two Penductors on it which add to the loss) just so the overflow can keep up.