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04/09/2014, 04:41 PM | #1 |
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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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04/09/2014, 04:51 PM | #2 |
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Location: Westminster, CO
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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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Hobby Experience: 9200ish gallons, 26 skimmers, and a handful of Kent Scrapers. Current Tank: Vortech Powered 600G SPS Tank w/ 100gal frag tank & 100g Sump. RK2-RK10 Skimmer. ReefAngel. Radium 20k. |
04/09/2014, 05:36 PM | #3 |
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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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04/09/2014, 05:54 PM | #4 |
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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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I'll try to be nice if you try to be smarter! I can't help that I grow older, but you can't make me grow up! Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef with 40b sump, RO 150 skimmer, AI Sol Blue x 2, and a 60g Frag Tank with 100g rubbermaid sump. 2 x Kessil A360w lights, BM curve 5 skimmer |
04/09/2014, 06:11 PM | #5 |
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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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04/09/2014, 08:37 PM | #6 |
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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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04/09/2014, 09:56 PM | #7 |
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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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Josh 60B mixed reef w/ 33G sump/refugium 125G FOWLR w/ Eshopps R_300 |
04/09/2014, 10:48 PM | #8 |
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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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04/09/2014, 11:00 PM | #9 |
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Most external pumps are still water cooled. If they have a fan they are air cooled.
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Hobby Experience: 9200ish gallons, 26 skimmers, and a handful of Kent Scrapers. Current Tank: Vortech Powered 600G SPS Tank w/ 100gal frag tank & 100g Sump. RK2-RK10 Skimmer. ReefAngel. Radium 20k. |
04/09/2014, 11:29 PM | #10 |
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I really like the flow numbers of the reeflo line however the seem to always leak
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04/10/2014, 06:33 AM | #11 |
Grizzled & Cynical
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Location: Stamford, CT
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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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Simon Got back into the hobby ..... planned to keep it simple ..... yeah, right ..... clearly I need a new plan! Pet peeve: anemones host clowns; clowns do not host anemones! Current Tank Info: 450 Reef; 120 refugium; 60 Frag Tank, 30 Introduction tank; multiple QTs |
04/10/2014, 08:18 AM | #12 | |
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Quote:
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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Hobby Experience: 9200ish gallons, 26 skimmers, and a handful of Kent Scrapers. Current Tank: Vortech Powered 600G SPS Tank w/ 100gal frag tank & 100g Sump. RK2-RK10 Skimmer. ReefAngel. Radium 20k. |
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04/10/2014, 08:25 AM | #13 |
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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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04/10/2014, 08:28 AM | #14 |
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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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Hobby Experience: 9200ish gallons, 26 skimmers, and a handful of Kent Scrapers. Current Tank: Vortech Powered 600G SPS Tank w/ 100gal frag tank & 100g Sump. RK2-RK10 Skimmer. ReefAngel. Radium 20k. |
04/10/2014, 08:30 AM | #15 |
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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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04/10/2014, 08:32 AM | #16 |
Dogmatic Dinosaur
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Boulder, CO
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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. |
04/10/2014, 09:34 AM | #17 |
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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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04/10/2014, 08:16 PM | #18 |
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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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Tags |
300 gallon, external pump, internal pump, pump |
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