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10/31/2017, 01:30 PM | #1 |
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Return pump for 300 gallon tank
I have a tank with head pressure of about 10'. Any recommendations on pumps? Concerns are longevity, ease of maintenance, and a flow rate of 900-1800 GPH at 10'. I also want the pump to be controllable with Neptune apex, whether as a DC pump or not, so I would think that really only rules out the Vectra L1.
Currently using a Sicce 1900 pro, it is insufficient. I have developed a slime coating on the top of the tank, and according to their sheets at my HP it might only be pusing 500 gph. |
10/31/2017, 01:41 PM | #2 |
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Got a budget?
With your need to be neptune controlled (I'm assuming you want speed control) your options might be slim to none at this time..
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10/31/2017, 01:48 PM | #3 |
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I have size constraints and other things I would like to buy (like a Gyre) to help with the surface scum. I was thinking around $400-$500 for the return pump, if a controllable DC return pump will be guaranteed to rid me of the surface slime, without exceeding my sump capacity, I would have an extra $400-$600.
I don't care for it to be a DC pump to be honest, just need something quiet and powerful. I only mentioned controllable by Neptune to eliminate pumps that are not compatible. |
10/31/2017, 05:28 PM | #4 |
Dogmatic Dinosaur
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Controllable and head-pressure don't often collide in the same sentence. Sorry.
I would look for pure reliability and get a Laguna Max Flo or a Fluval SP series - just find on that has the flow that you are looking for. They are not power hungry and people have been running Askol based pumps for decades without issue. I can get about 1500 GPH at 15 feet of head from a Laguan, but I forget the model - maybe a 2900? |
10/31/2017, 08:30 PM | #5 |
Grizzled & Cynical
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Not sure I can think of a single DC pump that's going to give you that kind of net flow at 10' plus pipe friction. Not sure even the Abyzz will do it, and that's waaay out of your budget. Plus apex control for a main pump is rather pointless IME. Get a good AC pump,designed to handle pressure.
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10/31/2017, 08:39 PM | #6 | |
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That said, I am not sure why Apex control is needed for a return pump. Personally, I recommend agaist it. A return pump should be set it and forget and 0-10v control adds an additional point of failure. if a cable ever has an issue or the 0-10v channel on the controller ever has an issue, the pump will shut down. As such, I avoid 0-10v control on return pumps. Closed loop is another story. They are great for closed loop applications.
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Director Customer Support Royal Exclusiv USA For All Royal Exclusiv & Bubble King questions please refer to our Sponsor forum: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/fo...play.php?f=745 Current Tank Info: 480G display mixed reef, 90G sump, 90G refugium, 60G display refugium. Check out my build thread: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1783476 |
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11/01/2017, 05:03 PM | #7 | |
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BTW Scott, the Abyzz is controllable via the Apex. Terence of Neptune Systems himself runs an Abyzz via his Apex.
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Greg Carroll I will be at REEF-A-PALOOZA! SPS = Stability Promotes Success Be wary of advice coming from those who will not show you the fruits of their success! Current Tank Info: building: 250g AGE Euro tank, Abyzz A200, Vertex Supra-G filtration, Ecotech Radion Pro LEDs, ... |
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11/01/2017, 09:07 PM | #8 |
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I want to be able to shut off the pumps when I feed the tank. Gives timid fish like my copper band more time to eat. Then I want to walk away because I am in a hurry and don't always have time to sit and wait for the fish to finish eating. Some times all I get to do is feed the fish without getting a chance to look at them.
I don't need to be able to ramp the pump. However, I would not be opposed to being able to overbuy on the pump for higher flow in the event my math is wrong. What internal AC pumps would you recommend with that kind of flow that is quiet and reliable? |
11/01/2017, 09:08 PM | #9 |
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Also you can set alerts on the Neptune in the event the cable fails and the pump shuts down. Just an fyi.
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11/01/2017, 10:10 PM | #10 | |
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There are no true AC pumps with that are 0-10v controllable that would meet your needs as far as I am aware..
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Director Customer Support Royal Exclusiv USA For All Royal Exclusiv & Bubble King questions please refer to our Sponsor forum: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/fo...play.php?f=745 Current Tank Info: 480G display mixed reef, 90G sump, 90G refugium, 60G display refugium. Check out my build thread: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1783476 Last edited by slief; 11/01/2017 at 10:21 PM. |
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11/02/2017, 08:14 PM | #11 |
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I only shut down return pump, the MP 40s keep the flow up. Keeps food in the tank from going into the sump. I know straight shutting it off is a problem, which is why I was thinking DC, at food time I could ramp it down as opposed to cutting it off. i.e. run a three minute rampdn function from 100% to 10% with a virtual outlet or something.
As far as the Apex goes, if you were to plug it into an outlet, when that outlet goes out (cause the pump shuts off) you can set an alert, on the 2016 version only. I am unaware of AC pumps that can go 0-10v. Im thinking I would go with the Red Dragon 230w or 130. Or a water blaster 16000, if I go with AC |
11/02/2017, 09:06 PM | #12 | |
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As for the Red Dragons, either would meet your needs in terms of your flow requirements at that head level. Then there is the new pressure version of both pumps but that only makes sense when the head is over 12’. For the cost difference, I’d go with the RD3 230 and run it at a lower power. They are beasts in terms of flow per watt even when compared to pumps like the Abyzz. Especially if the pressure version is being compared. Granted for extremely high head pressures, the Abyzz can’t be beat as there is nothing in variable speed pump class that can produce the flow at the higher head levels that the Abyzz can. That does however come at a price in terms of wattage and cost of the pump. I run two of the RD3 230’s on my tank that I paid full price for and absolutely love those pumps. I’ve been running them for over 2 years now. If I needed a pump that could give a lot of flow at 25’, the Abyzz would be on my short list though I’d likely go with an Iwaki at that point just because they are the most bullet proof AC pump money can buy and reliability (as well as cost) is important to me. Granted, the RD3’s aren’t cheap but they’ve paid for themselves in terms of the power savings since I don’t need to run a chiller on my system anymore and they are very efficient compared to the Iwaki’s and Reeflo’s that I’ve run in the past.
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Director Customer Support Royal Exclusiv USA For All Royal Exclusiv & Bubble King questions please refer to our Sponsor forum: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/fo...play.php?f=745 Current Tank Info: 480G display mixed reef, 90G sump, 90G refugium, 60G display refugium. Check out my build thread: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1783476 |
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11/03/2017, 03:12 PM | #13 |
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If the 0-10v goes out and the pump no longer draws power, the eb832 outlet it is plugged into will be drawing no power, and as a result set off the alert. No?
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11/03/2017, 03:13 PM | #14 |
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I guess I mean the current draw on the individual outlet, I have the newest version. sorry for the confusion.
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