Water pump advice - Your opinions will help me greatly

I

Ivan

[This has been a horrific weekend for me and my reef. I awoke this morning to find my Quiet One pump (which wasn't very quiet) had decided to stop working . I've had the pump less than six months and that now gives me two Quiet Ones (one for return and one for the skimmer) that stopped working within six months. I want to get the most efficient external pump out there, so I would like your advice. This would be for the purpose of a sump return, forcing water up about two feet. The tank is an Oceanic 58 RR. What pump works efficiently (and quietly) for you? Iwaki is a no-brainer, but are there others I should consider? :rock:]
 
[You can use Mag drives externally as well, although most people prefer to use them submerged. A Mag 9.5 would work exceedingly well.

How is it you only expect to have 2' head pressure? Under my 55g, it takes 4' to reach the top of the tank. Even if you plumb it to the base of your 58g, you still have to count the riser tube's height inside the tank.]
 
[I would look at a SEQUENCE pump (External Only) ... You can find them on ebay all day long or look on my site under quicklinks and you'll the pond place I recommend.

Personally I don't care for mags to be used for my tank on a regular basis. They are great for making saltwater though, or to drain your tank. I've went through three mag 24's and several mag 9's. All becuase impellers drilled through the back side of the mag after it broke or the mag just stops working.

I've tried using the mags externally and I wouldn't ever recommend it. No offense Mark. Just 5 years of experience with Mags and a really bad taste in my mouth. If you come to our shop, you will see the sequences and you won't hear them. They use about a 4th of the power a mag does without heating water up and or your electric bill with a large punch of pressure. You can find the company that makes them at www.MDMINC.com . You'll probably want to go with the 750 model.]
 
[I am sure the MAg pumps are not cream of the crop, but thousand of people use them and they are cheap. If you have an extra 2 or 3 hundred laying around there are lots of better pumps, but a mag 9.5 for 60$ is the best deal to get you up and going. My mag 12 puts off lots of heat, but I can't hear it over the fans, one day I will get a better pump but so far so good. I bought em from bigalsonline.com and I think they come with a 1 year warrenty.

BTW I did see the pumps at DALLAS MARINE, they are nice and I could not hear them, I even checked into getting one but after seeing the price I decided to save for a reactor..]
 
[I also vote mag pumps. I've had one for 4+ years still going.
I have two now and like them very little noise if you put a cushion under them (rubber pad) and throttle them a little.

Best of all very cheap. You can buy 3 mags for the price of other pumps. I think quality is worth extra but I'm financially strapped so I get the best bang for the buck so to speak.]
 
[Marc, I could have easily been off with my estimate of how much the pump would have to push upward. It was late when I sent the post, and with my second computer upstairs (my downstairs computer crashed, so I had to send it to tech support for a refresh) and I was just too lazy to give an accurate. It probably is at least 3'.

Thanks for the advice thus far. I had a Mag pump working on my chiller, and it has had its moments also. For some reason, it will randomly stop. I then have to take it out of the sump and take it apart just to get it going again. I'm tellin' ya, the magnetic drive pumps sure aren't on my good side right now!]
 
[Whatever you do, don't use CAP powerheads. They SUCK! I had 2 burn up within 6-8months. Ruined my tank.

(my opinion)
CAP=CRAP
RIO=BLA! I wouldn't use one.
Hagen=Ok
Maxi Jet=OK/good
MAG=good

It's not worth the pain, buy a good powerhead and forget it. It if does smoke it will cost you 100s more to recover from it.

Thanks]
 
[Thanks for the advice folks. I've decided to go with the Sequence 3600SEQ12 (up to 3200 gph/12ft water). I got it brand new at a great price, $159, from www.azponds.com out of Pennsylvania (my old stomping grounds - go Eagles). I could run my return and my chiller off this puppy with no problem.

Thanks James for the tips.]
 
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