Help me choose an external pump

[HowardofNOVA]

Thanks for the feedback!

Everytime I read these, I keep coming back to the IWAKI Japanese Models for simple reliability and performance.

BUT, I'm still dealing with the noise issue, which behind close doors wouldn't be an issue, but with this behind simple vented closet doors and close proximity to my bed and the pump, I got to figure out an option to quite it down somehow!

 

Tearing apart the pump and cleaning out might help here and will venture into that someday soon.

 

Would be nice to see someone's pump running in the 1500gph range if anyone closeby has one in a Sequence, GenX, Uno, Little Giant, etc?

 

BTW, Here is info for all from Reef Central on Outflow Specs:

1/2" will outflow about 145gph

3/4" will do about 330gph

1" at 590gph

1 1/4" @ 910gph

1 1/2" @ 1325gph

2" @ 2350gph

3" @ 3650gph

 

I took a couple of minutes and did some quick figuring for those looking.

Howard

[ErikS]

IWAKI Japanese Models for simple reliability and performance

Been my experience, great pumps but they ain't quiet.

 

Anytime you get "down" to my neck of the woods you're welcome to stop by (barring the unforseen) - the Dart is pushing some 2,700+ gph & the GenX should be pushing about 800gph.

 

Dart = quiet

GenX = noisy

[HowardofNOVA]

Erik,

Where you at? I got to go down after work tomorrow to Lake Ridge to give a couple an Unfinished Basement Estimate for a townhouse job. Maybe I could stop in then?

Howard

[ErikS]

Right next door, I'm over near Potomac Mills. I'm generally home after 6(ish) & I'll be home tomorrow.

 

Hit me with an email & I'll give you the specifics.

[HowardofNOVA]

Hey, if all goes well tomorrow after work, I'm going to stop in Erik place in Lakeridge to see his pump and setup. Anyone else down there would mine if I stop in and scare the fish, let me know? :D

Howard

[GaryL]

i would howard but im not going to be here tomorrow night :( but you can stop by any other time just call to see if im home. i think you got my number.

[HowardofNOVA]

No problem Gary,

Just leave the back door open and I'll just stop in quickly with 100 qt. cooler and baggies and be on my way! :D

Howard

[GaryL]

Great!! I'll tell my wife your comin over she'll be here. LOL. She'll beat the both of us up!

[Folta]

Great info guys, I really appreciate it. With all that being said, what amount (GPH) should I be aiming for?

 

A closed loop might be in order here as well, as its sounding more and more useful. However, barring that I do not go that route, I would add a couple seios and/or tunze streams for flow in the display (or maybe that and closed loop!)

 

I'm thinking something in the 1500-2000 gph range at the moment. Does that sound about right?

 

Also, has anyone had any experience with W. Lim wave pumps? (Link to W. Lim Pumps)

 

If you scroll to the very bottom, there's a 1/15th HP pump that pumps 3000gph @ 3.40 foot head, and is low power consumption...

[HowardofNOVA]

My 75g for the most time was running about 2400-2500gph flow through it with a MAG12 in a single squid, 900gph PH, 2 - 225gph PH and I was very happy with it.

Since, I've changed over to a single IWAKI MD70RLT at 1500gph, but it is now pushing water into 2 SCWD with 4 return going into the tank, my ChipO'Skimmer and into the UV Sterlizer emptying into my 20g frag tank. Sooo.. my flow is greatly reduce to probably a bit under 2000gph with 2 MJ1200 adding another 450gph on the sides. So I getting 6 different flows in the tank and corals seem to be responding nicely. I would like to p/u a couple of Tunze down the road, but cost are a little high for me right now and in case you haven't seen them before, Steven DChild sent me this link on a DIY MJ/Tunze that looks pretty cool:

 

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthre...25&pagenumber=1

 

With a 180g tank, I would recommend a Tunze on each end with a 1500-2400gph External pump, like an IWAKI for example. Adding a closed as a kicker. All should get them surfing :D

Howard

[Folta]

What tunze models would be suitable for a 180?

 

And thats another idea, the SCWD's. I heard they like to clog up after a while though, is there anything else that does switching returns that is more reliable (or are these concerns unjustified?)

[Folta]

Oh and if anyone wants to meet up and try making a couple DIY 'tunze streams', I'm all for it!

[flowerseller]

Oh and if anyone wants to meet up and try making a couple DIY 'tunze streams', I'm all for it!

38614[/snapback]

Hummmmm........

<_<

[ErikS]

And thats another idea, the SCWD's. I heard they like to clog up after a while though, is there anything else that does switching returns that is more reliable (or are these concerns unjustified?)

Oceansmotions. For a two way there's the super squid, pre-configured in just that manner.

[HowardofNOVA]

SCWD cleaning is rather easy, except the taking them apart stage and the putting them back to together stage and waiting a 1/2 hour while they are in my 5g bucket of 50/50 mix of vinegar and water while hooked up to the pump stage.

 

....but other than that, no biggie! :P

 

Seems about every 4-6 months, good to do this and they run like new. Just before that you will notice they are taking longer to switch from side to side or like mine would do, one side would go for 10-15 seconds and the other would go 4-5 sec.

 

OH, I'm in for a DIY party on those.

Howard

[craby]

Howard,

One thing I did since I work construction is I got the Ductwork sub to donate a 3'x6' sheet of 1/2" duct liner to the cause. It is used to insulate duct & deaden the sound of air traveling through it. It is black fiberous padding material.

 

I used it to wrap the walls of the sump area in the stand.

[flowerseller]

I loaded the videos from RC page. I can't tell if the PH in the upper left is on or not but if someone hustles around and picks up parts I might host.

I would use a 1000 or 750 since I have several lying around.

[Folta]

Ok, so we should probably start a new thread about the 'DIY" tunze streams. I'm defintely in, Howard and Chip, sounds like the two of you are in as well.

 

We'll need to get a parts list together, if we can figure out what we need I don't mind running to home depot and picking it up.

 

I'll be modifying 2 of my maxijet 1200's. I think I'm also going to take the opportunity to glue a magnet to the back of the pump at the same time, since I'm still using the suction cups and they are losing their suck.

[Folta]

Ok,

 

so it's going to eithier be a sequence reeflo or an iwaki...

 

now, the reeflo, I'm thinking dart... according to my reef creations the dart has a 3500 gph at 0' head... that'd put me around 2400 or so at 4', which is about what I'm aiming for. Also, I can get it for less than $200 new. Anything to say about the darts?