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Unread 04/09/2014, 04:41 PM   #1
johnhenry1
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External vs Internal Pumps

So I have a 300 gallon aquarium. It has two overflows, 1.5 inch drain and 1 inch return. Aside from the heat and noise factor, would I be better off running an external or two internal pumps on this tank? Also why? thanks.


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Unread 04/09/2014, 04:51 PM   #2
tkeracer619
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It depends on the system and your requirements.

I prefer external but only because there is no power cord in the water.


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Unread 04/09/2014, 05:36 PM   #3
paulhr
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There is also the heat issue. If you struggle to keep the temp down keeping the pumps outside the water helps.


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Unread 04/09/2014, 05:54 PM   #4
billdogg
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I have both. Both are silent. My 150DT in the basement uses a dart. The 120DT in the living room uses an eheim 1262 in-sump. In both cases they are connected with ~12" of vinyl before the hard plumbing.

I prefer the in-sump upstairs because if it springs a leak its, well, in-sump. The DART downstairs pushes a bunch of flow, but if it leaks I get to use the shopvac. Again.


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Unread 04/09/2014, 06:11 PM   #5
johnhenry1
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ok, i don't have any heat issues so the heat isnt so much as a factor to me. In your guys' opinion, what do you all think is the best brand of internal pumps, and the best brand of external pumps?


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Unread 04/09/2014, 08:37 PM   #6
alton
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Pan World 50 PXX, and I run an additional 40 PX. At 10pm the 40 shuts down making for a very quiet tank since the overflows are not running as much water


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Unread 04/09/2014, 09:56 PM   #7
BossHoggin
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External pass on less heat to the water, internal are generally quieter because they are submerged and have less risk of over heating or Resulting in water outside of the sump. I would only use external on a tank with halides personally if i was trying to avoid a chiller


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Unread 04/09/2014, 10:48 PM   #8
Joel_155
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So I'm having the same dilemma with my upcoming build. I want an external pump but can't pin down why.


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Unread 04/09/2014, 11:00 PM   #9
tkeracer619
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Most external pumps are still water cooled. If they have a fan they are air cooled.


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Unread 04/09/2014, 11:29 PM   #10
Joel_155
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I really like the flow numbers of the reeflo line however the seem to always leak


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Unread 04/10/2014, 06:33 AM   #11
ca1ore
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Personally I prefer external pumps, though as others have noted you do bear additional leak risk (not just from the pump seals, but from plumbing complexity). For me, though, that risk is offset by lower heat transfer (even fanless pumps use convection cooling primarily, so add less heat than submersibles) and extra sump space. But either can work fine. I tend to use PanWorld/Blueline externals and Sicce internals.


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Unread 04/10/2014, 08:18 AM   #12
tkeracer619
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Joel_155 View Post
I really like the flow numbers of the reeflo line however the seem to always leak
I have a reeflo that has been running almost non stop with only 1 cleaning since I joined this website. Leak Free.

The reason you see a bunch of them is that they have a ton of pumps out and seals do wear out. Some people obviously have had issues with them leaking but that is not the norm. Nobody is going to start a thread "Help, My reeflo pump isn't leaking!"


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Unread 04/10/2014, 08:25 AM   #13
Joel_155
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Okay good to know. I figure with a reeflo you could have one pump to run your return and all your reactors. It would cut out some functionality with the apex using feed modes but that what's valves are for. I wa thinking of the pan world or iwaki pumps but they don't have the flow when compared to the reeflo pumps.


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Unread 04/10/2014, 08:28 AM   #14
tkeracer619
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Reeflo pumps are made in the USA and have excellent customer support. More flow per watt then most others.


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Unread 04/10/2014, 08:30 AM   #15
MikeinCt001
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I have two mag 9.5' s in my sump. I was able to take my heater out because they raise the water from around 70 (ambient house temp most of the year) to around 78-80. I do have glass tops so this holds heat in.


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Unread 04/10/2014, 08:32 AM   #16
jda
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I have no heat issues in Colorado with a basement sump, even during the few hot days of the year. There are no efficiencies for me to use an external pump, and maybe less, since the heater will just have to take up the extra slack in the water whereas the fan will heat up the room.

With internal pumps, you can change your config if you want. With external, you are into bulkheads and plumbing. If you are not a good planner, or know that you will be changing, then internal is easier to deal with later.

This is getting off topic, but I have probably had 15-18 Reeflo pumps and not a single one of them has made it 2 years without either needing new seals, bearings or a new motor - seals most common. However, a friend has had a old dart on a CL since at least 2005 with no issues, so go figure.

If you can get an Ehiem to move enough volume, they are hard to beat. Tunze have been quiet for me. I always have a few Mag 9.5, 12 and 18s around for emergencies since they are quite versatile and reliable.


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Unread 04/10/2014, 09:34 AM   #17
Joel_155
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What does everyone think about the large submersible tunze? I believe the flow rating is over 3000 gallons an hour.


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Unread 04/10/2014, 08:16 PM   #18
Joel_155
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Tunze silence pro 1073.110. 3000 GPH at 125 watts and no seals that can leak. Looks like it can be ran internal or external but roger vitko from the tunze forum said it's designed to be ran externally.


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