Good return pump

Sophiebelle · #1 09/11/2007, 10:34 PM

Looking for a good return pump for about 5.5' of head.

Looking at the mag drive5 , quietone 3000, Sedra 7000, or anything along those line. Any advise would be helpful.

Henry Bowman · #2 09/11/2007, 10:35 PM

Eheim for an internal. Iwaki w/jap motor for an external.

AZDesertRat · #3 09/12/2007, 09:49 AM

Ocean Runner 2500 would be my choice.

Fishbulb2 · #4 09/12/2007, 10:08 AM

others may have different experiences, but for me, I would pass on the QO. My QO4000 restarts less than half the time when I unplug it. I used to clean it out every month with vinegar and such and now I just don't bother. It's too much of a pain. I installed GFCIs last weekend and that was a pain. It took me forever to get the QO running again. Needless to say, I have a new pump on the way. Should be here by Friday.

oct2274 · #5 09/12/2007, 11:16 AM

oceanrunner or eheim

afelder · #6 09/12/2007, 01:16 PM

+1 on the eheim

ILoveReefer · #7 09/12/2007, 05:10 PM

never had high flow internal. External I've Had an Iwaki non/jap motor for about 2 weeks then replaced it with a sequence Dart. Running quitely for over a year now. Iwaki non/jap had great flow, but i didn't sleep for 2 weeks. The Aquarium is on the wall that seperates the livingroom and bedroom. The sequence Dart makes less noise than my MH ballast. Not to mention good flow.

ThaNgBOm321 · #8 09/12/2007, 05:51 PM

external i would do sequence ( if you can handle gph... never had one myself but seen plenty!!!) then a panworld... great pump and good price.. way quieter then my american iwaki ( love that pump!! like a tank!! but loud)

for submerge pump i would do ocean runner... they are really really silent!!!!

YzGyz

Sophiebelle · #9 09/12/2007, 06:08 PM

Pretty sure I want to go with a submurged.

Ocean Runner seems to be the winner. Not sure if I need the 3500 or if the 2500 would be enough.
The 2500 would probably give me about 250-300 Gph or so. Should be enough for a fuge?

ThaNgBOm321 · #10 09/12/2007, 06:14 PM

i think the OR 2500 is like 650 gph.. after pluming and head i would call it about 475-500... i dont remember exactly how much weaker i got on the old tank but it did the job for the 90 gal tank... ohh and did i say that it is really good on your power bill???

docwells · #11 09/12/2007, 06:31 PM

Eheim internal or external. It is dead quiet. Panworld also good external choice.

AZDesertRat · #12 09/12/2007, 06:36 PM

The Eheim 1260 in this flow range sucks. Here are my test results.

Here are my test results using a Kill A Watt meter, 10 psi pressure gauge, ball valve, 1 inch water meter and very short 1" plumbing on the discharge. I submerged the pump in my swimming pool so it had positive suction head with no restrictions.
Open discharge - 782 GPH at 63 watts
1 psi (2.3') - 492 GPH @ 60 watts
2 psi (4.6') - 433 GPH @ 54 watts
3 psi (7') - 356 GPH @ 50 watts
3.5 psi ( 8') - 300 GPH @ 46 watts
4 psi (9.5') - 253 GPH @ 43 watts

It did not handle head well at all and really dropped off. The OR 2500 at only 38 watts max and 650 GPH is a much better choice.

sjm817 · #13 09/12/2007, 06:46 PM

I disagree that the 1260 sucks. I think that 433 GPH @ 4.5' is very good, and is a ton more than you get from a Mag7 @ that same head. I still haven't seen actual flow numbers for a 2500 for a comparison. I know you dont have one, but you are comparing measured results of one pump against manufacturers 0' specs of another. Another fact besides flow and power consumption is longevity. People have had these pumps in service for 10+ years. The top skimmer manufacturers use them as NW pumps as well.

Not saying a 2500 is a bad pump, but an actual comparison between two pumps has to have actual testing to have any weight.

As an aside, the 1260 is just a 1262 with a restricted volute. If you do the math, it is the least efficient Eheim of the 1250/60/62 probably for that reason. I'd like to see how the 1262 does compared to a 3500 as well.

AZDesertRat · #14 09/12/2007, 06:59 PM

54 watts to do it though is excessive to say the least. I wish I had the regular impeller for my OR 2700 needlewheel so I could test it as a OR2500. At 38 watts its a much more efficient pump all the way around and will handle the same head, and at much less than half the price. You can't dispute that. Also Aqua Medic has been selling this pumps for years and years in Europe before we even discovered them. I have been running it for 4 years now without a hiccup along waith a 3500 so that tells me all I need to know. My Quiet One 4000 lasted less than 2 years before it fried and heated my tank.
The reason I say it sucks is it does not live up to the claims everyone has posted about. It is probably a very reliable pump although expensive to buy, expensive to run and creating more heat than necessary with the excess power that is not being used to move the same amout of water. If its not moving water its creating heat.

I'd like to test more pumps too! Help me find some to test so we have accurate results.

kdblove_99 · #15 09/12/2007, 07:32 PM

Get the Oceanrunner!!!

sjm817 · #16 09/12/2007, 07:36 PM

Not to be argumentative, but I dont beleive anything till I see actual test results. If I went by specs, a Mag7 is a better pump than a 1260. Having owned both, that is obviously not the case. The 1260 has a ton more flow, is much quieter, less power usage.

Take the 1262 and 3500 as an example. Similar specs, but people who have owned both post that the 1262 has much stronger flow in practice. There have also been tests of the 1262 vs Mag9 and the 1262 had way more flow as well.

I hope someone will pony up a 2500 so we can have an actual comparison between it and the 1260. A Mag7 would be also good to throw in the mix.

AZDesertRat · #17 09/12/2007, 07:41 PM

I have a Mag 5 and Mag 2 to test, maybe I can get to them this weekend as well as dig up my OR 3500 test results or do it all over!

Sophiebelle · #18 09/13/2007, 08:53 AM

Well I ordered the 2500, at $46, it seems like a pretty good deal.

michaeldaly · #19 09/13/2007, 10:23 AM

I have never had one of the so called fancy return pumps mentioned in the thread. Always used the cheaper pumps and never had problems with them.

aninjaatemyshoe · #20 09/13/2007, 10:45 AM

AZDesertRat, you ran these tests in your pool, did you use freshwater or saltwater (I'm guessing obviously fresh)? I don't really know how much of a difference it would make, but it should make some considering that saltwater is reasonably heavier than fresh.

Pbrown3701 · #21 09/13/2007, 01:08 PM

I run an OR2700 on my skimmer. I currently have a Rio for the return (yikes!) as my last pump died on me (QuietOne6000).

I'm wanting to replace the Rio and I know the ORs are SILENT, but what about heat? Noise is not a huge issue since my sump is in a closet behind my tank (and sits next to the loudest pump ever made - Iwaki70rt w/jap motor).

I presume that since the OR uses less energy, that it also produces less heat...

Lumamae · #22 09/13/2007, 03:04 PM

Eheim 1260 on your 80g setup

AZDesertRat · #23 09/13/2007, 03:14 PM

The specific gravity and visosity of saltwater and freshwater are so close it makes not noticable difference in pumping applications.

Since the OR is so efficient if you look at watts consumed per gallon of water pumped it would create less heat. As I say if its not performing work (moving water) its creating heat.

dwl · #24 09/14/2007, 01:20 AM

Can you tell us where you found the 2500 for this price ($46.00)? Where can I find the best price for these?

Thanks.

AZDesertRat · #25 09/14/2007, 07:57 AM

Probably www.customaquatic.com . They give a RC discount on regular priced items.