View Full Version : Want help on choosing a return pump from sump
Newflavor
01/31/2007, 06:06 PM
I am setting a 90 gallon tank and I am now in the process of choosing a return pump. I am thinking of the mag drive 9.5 because of the power but I heard its too loud. Now I want to get the eheim 1260 but the gph is not a lot. What is the recommended water flow for the sump anyways. I am jsut worried that my pumps in the tank will overpower my return pump and not efficiently get the dirt down the sump. I have the seio 840 x 2 and two rio plus 1400 as powerheads in the 90 gallons. Is there a powerful pump you can recommend that is submersible
JohnnyM2
01/31/2007, 06:54 PM
I am also setting up a 90 gal and got a mag 12 for my skimmer (had to throttle it down with a tee and ball valve). Anyway it is quieter than my tuboSea 790 return pump and my canopy fans. Seems like you have plenty of in-tank flow. Why not downsize the return pump? There are lots of recommendations for the sump. Usually more (like main tank volume times 10) for a sump and less (main tank volume times 3-5) if you have a refugium. I have asked 10 people and receive 10 answers. If this reply is useless, just ignore it.
sjm817
01/31/2007, 07:21 PM
The 1260 is a great pump and handles head a lot better than a Mag. Despite the ratings, both would give you a similar flow when using 3/4" to 1" return plumbing.
crumbletop
01/31/2007, 07:31 PM
The eheim 1260 is plenty of flow for a return pump on a 90. You're powerheads won't overpower it. Bascially, the flow down the drain will match the flow coming out of the return plumbing -- the powerheads have no effect on that.
Newflavor
01/31/2007, 10:27 PM
k thanks I guess I will choose to get the eheim bec there are a lot of good feedbacks on it. Is there any other brand names recommended. I am also thinking of quiet one but it scares me because its not ceramix shaft.
sjm817
01/31/2007, 10:31 PM
QO pumps have lots of complaints of restart problems. Ocean Runner pumps get good reviews.
Jayreefer
01/31/2007, 10:39 PM
Maxi jets don't use a ceramic shaft and people have been useing them for years.
crumbletop
02/01/2007, 08:30 AM
maxijets won't provide much flow at 4' of head for a return pump on a 90 gallon ;)
RE other pumps, yeah -- an Ocean Runner is a good option, IMO, although I do not know about longevity. I have an OR 2500 that is silent and is doing a very good job. I also have eheims. In your case I think I'd stick with the eheim 1260 -- very reliable, quiet, dependable, and good flow.
Newflavor
02/01/2007, 08:46 AM
I think I will stick with eheim 1260. Does ocean runners have ceramic shaft? What do you guys think of coralife 1270 pump? I have this right now but I dont know if I can use it because its not submersible
crumbletop
02/01/2007, 09:11 AM
Yes, the OR pumps have ceramic shafts.
Re the coralife, you could use that as an external return pump (not in sump). I'm not sure how quiet it is, though, nor how much heat it will add to your system. It has a bit more flow than you need from a return pump.
beatle
02/01/2007, 10:43 AM
I have a 1260 on my 90g with a 30g sump and I have no complaints - quiet, efficient, and a great reputation for reliability.
1badbrd
02/01/2007, 03:23 PM
my mag 9 worked great, just needed it to sit on something soft to kill the vibrations, but i have switched to a panworld, and i love it now since i switched up the fuge/filter design
Newflavor
02/01/2007, 08:27 PM
HEy guys I went back to big als and they said they wouldnt mind exchanging my eheim 1260 for oceanrunner 3500. Can you guys give me the best choice between oceanrunner 3500 and the eheim 1260? If there is a better one, can you recommend. My coralife 1270 is out of the picture because it is not submersible and my sump has no hole and I dont want to put a pipe over the tank for this because I heard its not recommeded. I will exchange the pump tomorrow if anything. I have the eheim now but now thinking of oceanrunner by aquamedic. I also decided to forget about the quiet one pumps but any opinion is appreciated
rob020880
02/01/2007, 08:38 PM
What would you guys do for a 130 gal with a 1" drain and 3/4" return? Is the eheim the way to go. I have an adhi 30 sump/refugium. Will the 1260 give me enough turnover? I plan on having plenty of watermovement withing the tank via powerheads, but don't know what would be appropriate for the return...
crumbletop
02/01/2007, 08:54 PM
Personally, I'd go with an OR 2500 on a 90 gallon. The 3500 would be too much, IMO. If you already have the Eheim 1260, I'd just stick with that. It is a great pump, and will last a long time. I don't have a feel for how long ORs will last -- although I am really liking my OR 2500.
crumbletop
02/01/2007, 08:57 PM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9136915#post9136915 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rob020880
What would you guys do for a 130 gal with a 1" drain and 3/4" return? Is the eheim the way to go. I have an adhi 30 sump/refugium. Will the 1260 give me enough turnover? I plan on having plenty of watermovement withing the tank via powerheads, but don't know what would be appropriate for the return...
The 1260 would be fine for the 130, IMO. It will be fine for flow in the sump, although you might want to put a powerhead in the fuge part depending on how the sump is configured. I plan to use my OR 2500 for a 120 if I ever get around to upgrading. I have a lot of honey-do's before I can do that though ;)
rob020880
02/01/2007, 09:28 PM
What about the 1262 would that be better, giving me a bit more turnover...
harday
02/01/2007, 09:55 PM
for what it's worth, I'm setting up a 90 g with a 30 g sump. I bought the Eheim 1260. It's been running about a week. Perfect flow in my opinion, dead quiet, and the temp has gone up 1 degree. I'm running it in sump. I'm a relative noob to this setup, but I can't imagine a pump better than this one.
crumbletop
02/01/2007, 09:58 PM
The 1262 would give you a bit more turnover, but really wouldn't be necessary. It won't really give you much additional flow. You'll still need powerheads or a closed loop for the main display flow. I'd stick with the 1260 -- less heat, less noise, less issue with microbubbles.
Newflavor
02/02/2007, 11:11 PM
Thanks guys I will stick with the 1260. I will still get an or 2500 for my aquamedic turboflotor multi sl. Also, this is a silly question but is there a shorcut way to find your own thread instead of looking at all these pages to find this. I tried my account buy I cant find my threads there
dippin61
02/03/2007, 06:53 AM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9131280#post9131280 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by crumbletop
maxijets won't provide much flow at 4' of head for a return pump on a 90 gallon ;)
I've been using a mj1200 as a return pump for years at 4' of head. ;)
Slower the flow through the sump, the better IMO.
crumbletop
02/03/2007, 08:08 AM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9146918#post9146918 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Newflavor
Thanks guys I will stick with the 1260. I will still get an or 2500 for my aquamedic turboflotor multi sl. Also, this is a silly question but is there a shorcut way to find your own thread instead of looking at all these pages to find this. I tried my account buy I cant find my threads there
Yes. Just scroll to the very bottom of the screen and click the link that says "Subscribe to this Thread". That will put the thread in a list that will show up in your "MY RC" area whenever someone posts. You can also set things up to have RC send you an email whenever a new post is made on one of your subscribed threads.
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