I need a quiet quiet q-u-i-e-t return pump for me 90G tank

[sikpupy]

Someone suggested I get a mag-9 for my 90 but I am not sure how quiet they are? I am a quiet as pins and needles when I sleep kind of guy and my tank is going to be next to my bed room. I know something is going to make a little noise, but, the less, the better.

[mcbaes72]

I recently purchased an Iwaki external return pump. Pricey though, about $200 online / $240 LFS. My cousin recommended that I get it and it's super quiet. Runs kinda hot to the touch, just FYI. He owns Little Giant and he likes that one, too.

[Tswifty]

I like my Eheim :D

[Nuuze]

Eheim.

[FishyBiz]

Eheim 1262

[shag26272]

oceanrunner 2500

[FishCollection]

Well. It depends, the best pump for external pump (that we recommend) is Tiny Might, and a Vacility (€made by Advance Aqua Tanks).

[unbreakable]

eheim 1262 as well. heard theyre really good and quiet

[Octopus8]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13148813#post13148813 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mcbaes72
He owns Little Giant and he likes that one, too.

I had a Little Giant 4-MD on my 150 back in the late 80's through '99. It was a great reliable pump, but it sounded like a Boeing 747 taking off in our living room 24/7. We could hear it running upstairs all the way across the house. Not sure if the new Little Giant pumps are still so noisy, but back then they sure were(at least mine was).

[sjm817]

Eheim 1260 is great for a 90G. Very quiet, solid pump, an the right amount of flow.

[specialkb]

ocean runner 2500

[M007]

Red Dragon 4.5 or 5.0 which ever you can find! Super quiet and enery efficient too!:D

[jdckbr]

mag 12 I have to check it to see if its running currently used for closed loop mag 9 imo would be a good return pump

[mcbaes72]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13149151#post13149151 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Octopus8
I had a Little Giant 4-MD on my 150 back in the late 80's through '99. It was a great reliable pump, but it sounded like a Boeing 747 taking off in our living room 24/7. We could hear it running upstairs all the way across the house. Not sure if the new Little Giant pumps are still so noisy, but back then they sure were(at least mine was).

He was running it on a 90 gal reef for over a year, nearly as quiet as the Iwaki I recently bought, but less expensive. I guess technology improved their "noise level" these days.

[AZDesertRat]

OR 2500 or 3500. Half the cost of an Eheim, just as quiet, low heat production, handle head just as well and lower wattage.

[SERVO]

Sequence Dart

Runs like an electric car.

quiet quiet q-u-i-e-t;)

[MrSquid]

Another vote for the Oceanrunner. I've got a 3500 for my tank and you can't hear a think. The water in the returns makes more noise than the pump. I also have a 2500 that I got a deal on that I have as a spare - I had to use it during a mass water pumping after a recent leak and that thing is as quiet as can be too. Plus they've got the added bonus of being fairly inexpensive!

[sikpupy]

Wow, thanks for all the posts. Sorry I didnt make clear, but, it will be a in sump pump. I might end up going with a external, if I an put it on a tray above the water in the sump.

[will16]

I use an eheim 1262 in sump for my 90. Pretty quiet and works great.

[mdrc]

eheim is very quiet and reliable

[GoblinFish]

Eheim all the way! i tried 4 different pumps too when i was looking for a quiet one and Eheim is the more quiet and reliable pump that i have tried.

[alpha0r]

I have a mag 1, 2, and 7. I think they are a bit noisy but not too bad and can add a lot of heat to the tank. Don't even think about running them externally unless you like microbubbles.

[Phyxius]

I say the Eheim also. 1260 would be perfect and the 1262 may offer a little too much flow if nothing else is run by it.
I run the 1262 on my 90g but also have it plumbed through a chiller.

[AZDesertRat]

Extrenal pumps must be below the water level of the sump. Centrifugal aquarium pumps do not lift water but need positive suction head (water above the centerline of the pump suction) to operate.
Ocean Runners and Eheims can both be internal or external but both will be quieter when mounted submerged.

[FutureBoyGenius]

Ocean Runner 2500 and a Mag 5 run two feet away from my bed and I can not hear them if I am trying. I do hear the skimmer output water into my sump and that is it. Technology has been good to aquariums as far as sound goes.

[superstein61]

I have used Mags 5, 7, 9.5 and Eheim 1262. Eheeim is the most quiet of the bunch. Also, run externally, I have had problems with very slight leaks on the Mags. Not an issue in a sump but if you are running external, it may be

[Friskaburger]

i used a mag 9.5 and i agree rather noisy. i just bought a eheim 1260 i'm hoping it'll be quiter but it's what i hear! while we're on the topic could someone comment on the heat output of the eheims? my mag was a heater for the tank on its own.

[sjm817]

I've owned Mag3/5/7/9.5 and an Eheim 1260. The Mag7 was by far the noisiest of the bunch. The 1260 was in a whole different class.

[pledosophy]

I have used several Mags, Rios's, Platnium Pumps, Quiet One (I call them really loud ones), Via Aqua's, Darts, Eco Submersibles, and Eheims.

Out of those Eheims were the quietest.

JME

[sikpupy]

Awsome, thanks guys and gals :)

[mcbaes72]

Because of this thread, I pulled the trigger on an Eheim 1260 for my skimmer to replace my Rio 3100 (a little too loud, IMO). The 1260 isn't quite as powerful, but I'll sacrifice a little performance in exchange for less noise.

[sikpupy]

Geez, what did I do? Sorry mcbaes72 , lol. :o

[mcbaes72]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13189067#post13189067 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sikpupy
Geez, what did I do? Sorry mcbaes72 , lol. :o

Haha...it's a good thing I found your thread. Everyday I thought of changing out the Rio 3100, the Eheim should do nicely not only from recommendations here, but even those at online stores recommends them as one of the most quiet pumps.

[adtravels]

eheim compact+ 5000, the quietest smallest most powerfulpump I have ever used.

[ducatimikep]

I throw a vote in for Ocean Runner series.
I started with a 2500, thought I needed more
flow & bought a 3500.
It had tremendous power. I went back to the
2500 & have been happy ever since.
Let me throw another factor in the equation.
I do not let the pump sit on the bottom of the
sump.
I cut a piece of sponge foam & let the return pump
rest on that.
This takes away any resonance or vibration
that the pump may give off.

[sikpupy]

synthetic sponge or natural?

[ChuckLawson]

Eheim 1260 or 1262. I've got a 105 gallon tank in my bedroom with a 1262 on it (throttled back a bit), and while I've heard plenty of other noises from the tank (overflow, sump, skimmer air intakes, etc.), I've never heard so much as a faint hum from the Eheim...

[sikpupy]

105 gallons and throttled back? Hmmm...... I just looked in Eheim's online manual and cant see anything on that. How do you throttle that puppy back?

[Phyxius]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13217456#post13217456 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sikpupy
105 gallons and throttled back? Hmmm...... I just looked in Eheim's online manual and cant see anything on that. How do you throttle that puppy back?

Most likely via a gate valve or ball valve on the output line.....at least I hope as most makers warn/instruct not to do it on intake line

[ChuckLawson]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13217456#post13217456 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sikpupy
105 gallons and throttled back? Hmmm...... I just looked in Eheim's online manual and cant see anything on that. How do you throttle that puppy back?

lol... Nothing terribly sophisticated, just a ball valve in the return line... I'm probably running it somewhere between half and two-thirds open, which is about as much as the overflow can reliably handle.

I've also got a tee in the return line before the ball valve that I will eventually use to feed a manifold (it's currently closed off with another ball valve) so I can use some of the excess capacity to feed stuff like phosban reactors, etc...

- Chuck

[jhentr]

Another vote for Ocean Runner 2500. Quiet as heck that you'll have to check your sump water level to make sure that it is working and returning the water back to the tank. Also a big plus is low wattage consumption!

[1swtlx]

+1 for Eheim's I run duel 1262's for the time being on my 225 and I cant even hear them run with stand doors open.

[donald altman]

I have an Ocean Runner 6500.. here lately it seems loud to me.

I've cleaned it and it still seems loud. a new mag impeller is 65 bucks. I've noticed mine does have some imperfections on it like it has rubbed something.

I have this on a 100 gallon tank.. is this overkill? Could I get away with one of those 1260 ehiem pumps or say a smaller OceanRunner like the 3500.. is anyone else using the OR6500 does it seem "loud" to them?

I run it in closed loop w/2 1.5 inch returns tee'ed into the pump then a 1 inch out into two hoses with u tubes... I have it slightly throttled down out the return using a ball valve.

I can hear the motor hum in the next room and during the night I actually hear it over the refrigerator moto. I could be "listening for it."

[tebstan]

Lots of votes for eheim, and they aren't sold in my area by LFS. Downer.

I started with an Aqueon... Then my local club assured me that Sicce pumps were the next best thing since sliced bread. I got one, and it's louder! But, the tank temp dropped 2 degrees.

I'm surprised no one has mentioned Sicce with all of the hubub they received around here. Mags get a lot of attention too, but they run really hot, they're loud, and at least in my area, waaaayy over priced.

[Curtis.H]

Wow, thanks for all the posts. Sorry I didnt make clear, but, it will be a in sump pump. I might end up going with a external, if I an put it on a tray above the water in the sump.

Most external pumps need to be below the water line because they use gravity to feed them.

[SneakyPete]

The Mag7 was by far the noisiest of the bunch.

I have a mag7, its pretty noisy. I can just hear the hum in my bedroom (its in the next room), but after a couple of weeks, I don't even hear it anymore (unless I am listening for it).

[benchen8844]

blueline Velocity T3,The worlds quietest and only titanium centrifugal pumps.
but heat up the water

[donald altman]

so no one is running an OR6500... I was thinking since I need a new magnent (65 bucks) I might just get a smaller pump.

[Reef Bass]

Eheim+1.

Mag pumps are loud.

From your description, I doubt you will ever be happy. There is no such thing as a noiseless pump. But there are brands which are quieter than others.

[csmfish]

I noticed that when I got my ehiem 1262. Not as quiet as everyone says, but still pretty quiet.

[SpencerG]

I run a Tunze silence return pump on my 75 and love it. Very quiet and can adjust the output.

[Crusinjimbo]

Eheim 1260 is definately quiet.

[Waterobert]

I have Eheim 1262 on my 91 gal and it is quiet, 1260 probably would be enough and maybe even more quiet.

[bamf25]

I just got, and have read several reviews that the Water Blaster series is very quiet. I am currently installing a 5000.

[ThaNgBOm321]

I ave use both and Ocean Runner is quieter than the Eheim imo. However, the Eheim seem "stronger" than the OR by a little. I was a fan on Iwaki but ten I bout a Pan world. ImO they are not quiet, but really reliable and strong.

On the matter of heat, I would rate both the Eheim and OR the same. They are barely warm when to the touch when running in-sump. The Mag 5 that I tried was as hot as the PanWorld that i air cooled.. This mean the mag suck booty. ow can a submersed water-cooled pup run a hot a a air-cooled? Mag = junk imo. The Panworld is a little warm or perhaps even hot to touch at times. You can keep your an on it for an extended time no prob.

YzGyz

[tankmates]

Wow, thanks for all the posts. Sorry I didnt make clear, but, it will be a in sump pump. I might end up going with a external, if I an put it on a tray above the water in the sump.

go with waterblaster, you will be happy

[feh]

My Eheim is dead silent.

[codeblue48]

Check out the tunze silence recirculation pumps. They are extremely quiet.

[kaipo13]

Just how much of a difference is a Mag 9.5 and an Ehiem 1262? Anyone had both and can share their experiences? Or better yet, anyone have access to both and have some sort of a decimal meter?

[csmfish]

I did and the mag was noisy as hell. Sounded like a car bearing was going bad and scraping or something. I replaced it with another and the same thing. I tried to rebuild it and same thing so I sold it off, bit the bullet and bought an ehiem. Still not as quiet as I expected but the quietest of them all so far.

[kmac67]

I just got, and have read several reviews that the Water Blaster series is very quiet. I am currently installing a 5000.

I am running a Water Blaster 7000 on my 140 Cube and it is dead silent.. I had to place my hand in front of the returns in the display tank to verify that the pump was running..

[kwong1998]

I use eheim 1260, Great Pump

[donald altman]

Wow.. after replacing the impeller magnet assembly on my orc6500 I was shocked.. I had forgotten how quiet this pump was.. I guess my magnet cracked and had warped since my last cleaning and I didn't even know it. I thought the pump was just louder due to age or that it was sooo gradual in progression that I didn't notice the shift. This thing rides on a ceramic shaft and is held in place by some rubber washers.. my washer had bit the dust and let the shaft wobble. Who knows how long that has been going on? I don't remember seeing the washers the last time I cleaned it.
This pump is about 7 years old now and is quiet as a pin drop under my sump in closed loop. It's also pretty strong at 1625 gph and only uses 90 watts.. pretty dang efficient.

[ReeferEric]

Ehiem +1928383737, lost count. Mags are the worse IMO, swapped it in for more flow and took it out quick due to so much noise. The Rios are more quiet compared to mags.

[96p993]

My 1262 is quiet enough to be drowned out by everything else in the tank. To the OP, realize there will be quite a bit more in your tank that will make noise. Your overflow, skimmer, fans on lighting will be the other 3 big factors in getting a very quiet tank...

[Z50]

I have a Syncra 3.0 in my 90 and is super quiet. I cant hear it at all. my fans on the hood are the loudest thing going. I also have it externally mounted.

[Mouse]

Why is the tank next to your bedroom?
Tanks make noise. You gan get the quietest this or that, set it up just like that guy in the forums said etc etc, but in the end its going to make noise.
Moving the tank farther from the bedroom seems to be the easiest/most effective way to get the quiet for your sleep, and prob sereral hundred $$$ cheeper.

In not flaming or bashing anyone/thing. Its just that tanks make noise, period.

[James77]

Its just that tanks make noise, period.

Not quite. My tank cannot be heard at all. Siphon overflows, a velocity return, and tunze powerheads. My stand is 3/4" solid oak lined with melamine foam to deaden sound. The back of my tank even has 1/2" foam glued to it to kill any sounds it can. If I do need fans in the summer, they are noctua 19db ones that you can faintly hear in the dead middle of the night. Every single other reefer that has come over my house always comments on its silence and asks how to do it. I don't get how people can even stand having a gurgling, humming, buzzing monstrosity in their houses and call it peaceful :). I could have my tank in my bedroom a foot from my head and not be disturbed.

The comments above claiming water blasters and eheims as silent are setting up people for disappointment if they are expecting true silence. A couple of them had the notes that it was drowned out by tank noise. Water Blasters have a good hum to them, though they are pretty quiet. Eheims also hum pretty well, though they are one of the quietest pumps out there. I sold 2 eheims- a 1260 and 1262- because of their hum. Velocity/aka poseidon pumps are truly dead silent, though they are no longer made under that name, it is Laing pumps now. With all else off, you will not hear them. They do not heat the water more than any submersible of the same wattage would.

It always amazes me the wide range of objectivity when it comes to defining audible equipment in our hobby. I have seen pumps referred to as dead silent that I almost laughed at when I ran them. Even the mythical bubble king skimmers are NOT dead silent, I could easily hear its hum and air draw with the stand doors open, though it was probably the quietest skimmer I have had. Fans called quiet that I could hear droning through my house. To me silent=cannot be heard at all with everything else off. Its like calling a jackhammer silent because you are standing next to a jet engine otherwise.....

[xcastn0shad0wx]

I also have a tunze silent pump and it is absolutely dead silent!!! many people say that a certain pump is silent but its not...it may be near silent but these pumps are truly silent.
tunze only has two option with this pump but looking at the sicce syncra pumps they have much more options and look to be the the exact same pump...probably are and are made in the same itailian factory!

http://premiumaquatics.com/aquatic-supplies/T1073_040.html

http://premiumaquatics.com/aquatic-supplies/SIC-108.html



if you watch the video at the bottom of the sicce pump it shows that the sicce is twice as quiet as the mag 5

[csmfish]

Not quite. My tank cannot be heard at all. Siphon overflows, a velocity return, and tunze powerheads. My stand is 3/4" solid oak lined with melamine foam to deaden sound. The back of my tank even has 1/2" foam glued to it to kill any sounds it can. If I do need fans in the summer, they are noctua 19db ones that you can faintly hear in the dead middle of the night. Every single other reefer that has come over my house always comments on its silence and asks how to do it. I don't get how people can even stand having a gurgling, humming, buzzing monstrosity in their houses and call it peaceful :). I could have my tank in my bedroom a foot from my head and not be disturbed.

The comments above claiming water blasters and eheims as silent are setting up people for disappointment if they are expecting true silence. A couple of them had the notes that it was drowned out by tank noise. Water Blasters have a good hum to them, though they are pretty quiet. Eheims also hum pretty well, though they are one of the quietest pumps out there. I sold 2 eheims- a 1260 and 1262- because of their hum. Velocity/aka poseidon pumps are truly dead silent, though they are no longer made under that name, it is Laing pumps now. With all else off, you will not hear them. They do not heat the water more than any submersible of the same wattage would.

It always amazes me the wide range of objectivity when it comes to defining audible equipment in our hobby. I have seen pumps referred to as dead silent that I almost laughed at when I ran them. Even the mythical bubble king skimmers are NOT dead silent, I could easily hear its hum and air draw with the stand doors open, though it was probably the quietest skimmer I have had. Fans called quiet that I could hear droning through my house. To me silent=cannot be heard at all with everything else off. Its like calling a jackhammer silent because you are standing next to a jet engine otherwise.....


Now THAST what I am talking! A man that is opinion-al, spits out parts the information AND been through the ringer on quiet like me. Thanks man! :thumbsup:

I too have my tank dead quiet but for the pumps. Will trade out the 1262 next to the bedroom, which by the way is the only place I could fit it for something more quiet and put the 1262 into the kitchen. I saw a video on youtube with one exchanging an Iwaki. The Lang was crazy quiet!

Now, next question is, where are these Laing pumps? and whats good to replace my POS Sicce skimmper pump?

[Chris Lakies]

I have a Syncra 3.0 in my 90 and is super quiet. I cant hear it at all. my fans on the hood are the loudest thing going. I also have it externally mounted.

+1

My Sicce Sync is much more quiet than any mag i've ever had. I've never owned a Eheim though.

[James77]

Now, next question is, where are these Laing pumps? and whats good to replace my POS Sicce skimmper pump?

I have not tried buying them since them dropped the aquarium line named poseidon/velocity. Not that they dropped it, the aquarium compnay that rebranded the pumps under the aquarium name. IMO they fell out of favor because of their perceived added heat, which would be no more than a submersible of the same wattage.

Here is a link to the manufacturers product page, you can google the model numbers to find more info or retailers. I have no idea which aquarium model they would be replacements for, but you could always email the company to see what they say:

http://completewatersystems.com/product/sm-1212-n-19-sm-1212-n-21-and-sm-1212-n-26-pump-family/

Dead silent. The only way I could tell them being on is touching it. Even with my ear right on it I could not hear it. From the descriptions I have read of the laings, they still use titanium and list the models as saltwater safe. They look identical to the velocity and poseidon pumps save for the body color.

Another pump I have not tried, but would look into is the Reeflo blowhole pumps. They are variable speed and I have seen all reviews pegging them as dead quiet. They seem to be rebranded circulator pumps used in home heating( hot water systems), and I have always found those to be extremely quiet.

The Sicces wer nowhere near silent. I had an ATB with one, and though not terrible it was still there. I had tried the silent 3.o circulation pump, and ended up suspending the thing in the water with a shoestring to stop its humming from reverberating on the tank walls. I even had soft silicone tubing since regular vinyl still seemed to allow noise through.

The bubble blaster ( i have the 2000) had quite a hum to it, but it has quieted down considerably over the month or so I have had it. I used to be able to easily hear it outside the stand, now I cannot....again that is a sound deadened stand though. It may be roughly as loud as the sicce on the ATB 840 I had though. Its hard to compare when going on memory :)

[csmfish]

Ahhh, well, here is that post!

Well, looks like I will have to get me one as thats exactly what I am looking for, thanks.


Wait, I just looked at those. Those are 230V @140watts? That would mean110v equivalent would be 280 watts??? Hmmm.......

[0000]

TUnze Silence runs completely silent

[James77]

Wait, I just looked at those. Those are 230V @140watts? That would mean110v equivalent would be 280 watts??? Hmmm.......

Where are you seeing them at 230V?

[USC-fan]

I have a Syncra 3.0 in my 90 and is super quiet. I cant hear it at all. my fans on the hood are the loudest thing going. I also have it externally mounted.

Yep this is the correct answer. Blows ehiem away...

[CeeGee]

I used to use a mag. Used too much electricity and was too noisy. Switched it out to a Eheim and never looked back. Nearly silent operation and has run dependably for years and years with little cleaning.

[csmfish]

Looks like the ycan be run either or. My Google search brought up 230v, so, my bad.