Pick my pump please; which one?

[KashAlp]

Hey guys/gals. Im really stumped as to which return pump to choose, so please let me know which one you think is best or which one you would choose and why.

Tank is 125g with 55g sump. About 5' of head. Looking for submersible to sit in sump.

1. Danner Mag-Drive 1200 Supreme Water Pump $159.99 CDN http://www.jlaquatics.com/product/wp-mag12/Danner+Mag-Drive+1200+Supreme+Water+Pump.html

2. Eheim Universal 1262 Water Pump $178.95 CDN http://www.jlaquatics.com/product/em-pun3400/Eheim+Universal+1262+Water+Pump.html

3. Eheim Compact+ Pump 5000 $189.95 CDN http://www.jlaquatics.com/product/em-pc5000/Eheim+Compact%2B+Pump+5000.html

If you can think of one that would be better please feel free to mention it. Looking for something available in canada for fast shipping reasons.

Thanks :)

[geaux xman]

i hear a lot of complaints about the mag running hot and loud.

all the reviews i've read about the eheim1262 is its quiet and does not generate heat.

i'm doing a 180g soon and i'm opting for the bubble blaster hy-7000(1800gph). a few places has 15% off, so $195 on sale.

[poolkeeper1]

+1 on the Bubble Blaster, Great pumps with 3 year warranty and electronic chip shuts pump down if there is a problem.
Bill

[tkeracer619]

Ehiem 1262. You won't need a new pump for at least 10 years.

I have one you can't read the label on anymore but the pump still works like new.

[mark54321]

+1 on Ehiem 1262, one of the best pumps IMO.

[Tat2demon]

Love my 1262.

[tpenn187]

if the ehiem is less then 20 bucks more i would get that one.

[sruiz]

I have a 1262 and love it, never had a problem with it. But I do have to say the bubble blasters are interesting for running as low as 60 watts. That is almost half what the mag runs at (110) and 20 watts lower than the eheim (80).
But based on the choices you gave us ... 1262

[snorvich]

Eheim for me. I use them for various tasks and no problems.

[preef]

Go with the Eheim. I've had my Eheim 1262 for a couple of years with no issues at all. I have never taken it out of my sump since I put it in. I was a little concerned about the price initially and thought about the Mag Drive because it was cheaper. I have no regrets with my decision. It always runs quietly too.

Mine included a sponge filter under the intake cover. I removed it since I thought it would fuel nitrate production. I occasionally pull the intake cover off to clean chaeto out but very rarely.

[mchud]

Ehiem 1262 is a great pump. I used alot of different pumps over the years but the Ehiem is one of the best along side a Tunze silence.

[nanogeo]

I went with an Eheim Compact 3000 for my 40 breeder set up and am really happy with it. They have a flow adjust feature, which is very convenient, especially since I had to dial it down to make my Glass-holes overflow quiet.

The pump is very quiet, transfers very little heat, is adjustable and Eheim makes pretty bullet proof pumps.

I've had various mag drivers before...5, 7, 9 and 18 and liked them. They seemed a bit louder and seemed to transfer more heat.

[Mrbeachbum2]

eheim1262 no doubt.

[James404]

I think this question would be better answered by how much flow you are looking for. An eheim 1262 is a great pump but at 5' head you are pushing about 500-550 gph. A Mag 12 will be about 900+.

[scubasteve06]

As someone else said if the Eheim is only 18 bucks more then go with it. The only reason I got a mag instead of the eheim is because the eheim was x2 as much.

[KashAlp]

ok thanks guys. looks like eheim wins by large majority. However i am kinda concerned with the huge drop in gph with the 4-5 head.

Any thoughts or suggestions on that?

[Mrbeachbum2]

I don't use my sump for flow. That's what your powerheads are for, IMO

[geaux xman]

HY-5000(1300gph) @ $210 regular price. You can get almost everything everywhere for 10-15% off.

[Reef Bass]

I run 2 1262s, one for each of my tanks in a common sump. Larger tank is 100gs with 6' vertical rise (head). I find plenty of flow through the sump, though not sps maintaining levels of flow in the tanks. That's what Vortechs are for!

[mark54321]

You don't need a lot of turnover through your sump,about 5x tank volume is about right, as far as flow use powerheads. I have Eheim 1262 on 120g.

[calamari]

got an eheim 1262 on my 125. wouldn't run any other pump

[reefgeezer]

You will need 900 GPH @ 5' just to get the minimum required 5X turnover for your tank. If there are any 90 degree bends, any long runs, or other restrictions in the return plumbing you'll need more than that. The Eheims are excellent pumps it's not capable of that kind of flow.

I would consider an external pump if space is not an issue or two Ehiems. I use Pan World pumps. They're pretty inexpensive and comparable to Iwaki japanese motor pumps.