Return pump

[hvusalt]

I need to get the pump for my 90gallon display tank on the first floor from 55 gallon sump under basement. the height should be around 6-7'. I want an internal pump cause it is a cool basement.
any input appreciated!

 

[dakar652]

Why 6 or 7'...that sounds like not so much when realizing you're pumping up an entire floor. When I measured for my basement system I was looking at around 9 feet. Never did get around to setting that up yet, but someday.

Are you putting your sump tank very close to the basement ceiling somehow?

 

[hvusalt]

yes I try to put it up highest I can so I just drain the water out to the sink when I am doing water change.

 

[JohnK]

Are you also factoring in the friction loss from any fittings, valves, horizontal runs, or any other plumbing? Also what kind of flow rate to the display are you shooting for?

You'll be a bit limited because not a lot of submersible pumps handle head loss very well, but the devil is in the details ^ .

 

[Bobbofin]

I've had submersible Eheim pumps that have lasted for years and years as return pumps. The last few years I've bee using Sicce Syncra pumps with similar results. I've had poor experience with Lifegard Aquatics Quiet One pumps. They usually give up the ghost at 12-18 months even if you clean them often. Mag pumps are reliable but can be noisy.

 

[dakar652]

i should be getting my Sicce Syncra Silent 2.0 today and will be installing it tonight with any luck. from what i hear, they're great pumps, but i have no experience with them thus far.

i CAN, however, recommend against any Accela pump, as both of mind crapped out in the last two weeks. ended up having to use an old zoomed power sweep i use for a mixing pump to keep my tank water circulating.

buy once cry once...i'll never cheap out on a pump again.

p.s. if you're looking for high flow, i noticed Reef Octopus has a few DC pumps out. i've had nothing but good luck with my reef octopus skimmers in the past, so would be willing to try that out.

 

[JohnK]

I had one of those RO DC pumps die last night, nearly killed my tank. They are very cool, but don't handle head pressure very well and apparently don't live very long.....

 

[dakar652]

I had one of those RO DC pumps die last night, nearly killed my tank. They are very cool, but don't handle head pressure very well and apparently don't live very long.....

Oh...well then...I would like to retract my previous statement.

 

[Bobbofin]

a Syncra 2.0 does 586 gph and will only pump to 7.9 feet head. It won't work. Figure your 90 will be on a stand and the return will be 4-5' off the floor, 1' for floor and ceiling, the pump in the sump downstairs will be about 5-6' from the basement ceiling. You are going to have 10-12' of head pressure to overcome. You want 3-5x return of tank volume from sump to tank or 270-450 gph then rely on powerheads in the tank for remainder of flow. I would go with at least a 4.0 or maybe a 5.0 and put a ball valve on it to cut it back if need be. A 4.0 will give you 300-325 gph at 9.8'. I run a 1.5 on my 40 breeder wide open and I get about 150-175 gph return to the tank at 3.5' head. Perfect! I think an external pump would fit this application better than a submersible pump that draws 85-105 watts but I've never had one so someone else would need to comment on recommendation.

Got these Little Giant - 3-MDQ-SC Inline Pump in lobster tanks. Run 24/7 for 5-7+ years before giving up the ghost.

http://www.marinedepot.com/Little_G...um_Pumps-Little_Giant-LG2123-FIWPEPZT-vi.html

 

[JohnK]

Oh...well then...I would like to retract my previous statement.

Hey, they are very cool pumps, adjustable flow, near silent, very low electricity usage -but I get mad when I need to stay up until 2 am changing out a pump and redoing plumbing to accomadate the change because a not terribly cheap pump died for no apparrent reason. Technology is great, until it fails

 

[dakar652]

a Syncra 2.0 does 586 gph and will only pump to 7.9 feet head. It won't work. Figure your 90 will be on a stand and the return will be 4-5' off the floor, 1' for floor and ceiling, the pump in the sump downstairs will be about 5-6' from the basement ceiling. You are going to have 10-12' of head pressure to overcome. You want 3-5x return of tank volume from sump to tank or 270-450 gph then rely on powerheads in the tank for remainder of flow. I would go with at least a 4.0 or maybe a 5.0 and put a ball valve on it to cut it back if need be. A 4.0 will give you 300-325 gph at 9.8'. I run a 1.5 on my 40 breeder wide open and I get about 150-175 gph return to the tank at 3.5' head. Perfect! I think an external pump would fit this application better than a submersible pump that draws 85-105 watts but I've never had one so someone else would need to comment on recommendation.

Got these Little Giant - 3-MDQ-SC Inline Pump in lobster tanks. Run 24/7 for 5-7+ years before giving up the ghost.

http://www.marinedepot.com/Little_G...um_Pumps-Little_Giant-LG2123-FIWPEPZT-vi.html

For the record, I was NOT recommending the Sicce 2.0 for his application. Just simply stating that I am getting one, and if it works well for me, I might recommend a larger version of the same series.

Can't go wrong with a mad drive though...if it's noisy, who cares...it's in your basement.

 

[dcforester1]

I had one of those RO DC pumps die last night, nearly killed my tank. They are very cool, but don't handle head pressure very well and apparently don't live very long.....

How long did you have it? What do you think did it in?

I was thinking of getting one of those.

Thanks Derek

 

[hvusalt]

anyone had tried Jebao DC-12000? spec said max flow 3170 GPH and max head 15.7 ft and I know jebao pump has controller too. I went back to the house and took a closer look it was around 9ft . I like DC pump cause it starts very slow and gentle.

hi dakar652 let me know if your new tank is ready I may give you an acro frag if you like

 

[Bobbofin]

For the record, I was NOT recommending the Sicce 2.0 for his application. Just simply stating that I am getting one, and if it works well for me, I might recommend a larger version of the same series.

Can't go wrong with a mad drive though...if it's noisy, who cares...it's in your basement.

Sorry, thought you were the original poster going to use a Syncra 2.0 with 9' of head pressure. My bad. But a Syncra 4 or 5 might work well in that application but where the Syncra not a pressure pump that's an awful lot of watts for 300-400 gph at 9'.