changing to a low flow sump

[cali_reef]

Jonathan,

There are a few US dealers that carries red dragon pumps, no Canadian conversion required:lol:.

Mshur runs one (actually two if you count the one on his skimmer) of these bad boys and a friend of mine out west also have one, they both love it. I would like to try one on my system one day, but it is just too damm expensive for me to place the order for one. Anyone got the winning lotto numbers for this week?

 

[Deanos]

Well, if Pierce and Rich think these pumps are too expensive and they have tons of SPS and equipment already invested in their tanks...I think I'll stick to my potentially rusting screw Mag 7.

 

[jackson6745]

LOL, you're better off Dean.

 

[moonpod]

J, If you are looking at it in the long run it will save you some money. I will try to find the threads on RC. I guess the dead silence is a bonus on top of that.

Herman asked me to comment on my experience with the red dragon pump. It's been 2 thumbs up, BUT I have only used it for a few months. I have RD 12s, putatively rated at 3100 gph and 115w draw--those are the numbers on European volt/hz. Typically in the US you see a 33% or so increase in both of those numbers on pumps (compare Euro Eheim numbers to US for instance). Also, I'm sure most of you are aware that the Sequence and Ampmaster pumps draw more wattage than claimed--at least based on "kill a watt" testing. I have no accurate way to judge flow, BUT subjectively a RD 12 pushes at least as much water as a Dart, IMO more water and draws 40w less (160 vs 200 on the killawatt). It is literally silent (like the way velocity pumps are silent--you hear the water moving through the pipes, you don't hear the pump at all. It is considerably smaller than a Dart (8" long). It uses 40mm in/out which converts to 1.25" roughly (actually is a bit smaller b/c the 40mm is the outside diameter of the pipe) which is nice b/c you can "T" off to 2 1 inch lines without "restricting" the flow. Plumbing is easier. You need to "T" to 3 1 inch lines to accomodate 1.5" outlets without restricting. And near as I can tell there is NO heat transfer.

Now is it "worth" the price--I mean, you can buy almost 5 Darts for the price of a RD12. Well, I think it really depends on your application. For me, the pumps are in the living room (silence is golden) and I really, really want to avoid a chiller (there is SOME albeit very reasonable heat transfer with other pump options). The electrical effeciency is a bonus. So for me it's worth it. However, if you've got say a basement pump room and you need to run it against significant head pressure and noise isn't an issue....than no this is not the pump for you.

 

[marrone]

For $600CND which is about $500USD I could live with the noise then again none of my pumps make that much noise and there also in cabinets.

 

[herman]

I don't know about you guys, but I would rather spend an extra $200 through the course of a year on a big electric hog of a pump than spend the initial $600 for a Red dragon.

Thanks Moonpod for your time and views.

It always depends what you value in a tank. As for me the tank will be in the same place where I work, watch movies and drink my beer. I cant be watching movies with the tank rattling and whirring. The reason why I am holding off on the tank is to save up for good silent equipment that will last me a long time. In my case a quiet, energy efficient pump that does not transfer as much heat is definitely worth the extra bux.

 

[jackson6745]

Moonpod, nice to see you post here.

 

[Deanos]

Like Moonpod, my tank is in the living room. However, silence is not golden in there. If the TV's not playing some DVD or sporting event, then I have music playing or entertaining guests for drinks and conversation. In those cases, I could have a waterwheel pumping in my stand...I won't hear a thing.

 

[DRZL]

Waterwheels? psshhh those are silent compared Iwaki's

 

[cali_reef]

Chuck.. Welcome to Manhattan or is that welcome "BACK" to NY?

Where is Mike with his feed back on this pump?

 

[jhale]

all good ideas and logic to think about.

And thanks for the real world experience MP that's awesome info!

I agree the cost to convert to RD's is a deal killer.

For my own tank to see the most efficiency immediately I could replace my two
CL pumps with combo of tunze 6060's and 6080's, I don't care about controlling them
at 11 watts and 19 watts you can not beat that.

Then I can put the blue line on the return and save up for the Red Dragon's.

 

[jhale]

I forgot the deal with the noise is the tank is in my one main room which has the kitchen, dining, and living room in it. so any noise tends to fill the room. not bad if music is on, but if your watching a movie it gets annoying. and even though the chiller is quiet for a 1/2 hp when it comes on and I have company over I cringe.
I'd like to replace that with a smaller 1/3 Prime unit someday.

 

[alrha]

my tank is also in the living room. cutting out the pump "hum" is a priority as is electrical efficiency.

 

[House of Laughter]

I would encase the pump and put the vent on an angle down so the noise is baffled, but the heat can escape.

I don't thinkslow flow is ever a good idea, unless you have a softies tank of course.

Although, I have to say, TUNZE's are MADNESS

House

 

[DRZL]

TUNZE are B-A-N-A-N-A-S... Jim what you said about the top 3 pretty much summarizes it. I cant wait to go BIG and have 2 6200 on multi's

 

[alrha]

I don't thinkslow flow is ever a good idea, unless you have a softies tank of course.

We are talking about a slow-flow sump with a fast-flow display.

 

[House of Laughter]

and I am disagreeing - keep the fast flow sump and increase the flow in main display.

slow flow sump = settling.

House

 

[moonpod]

Chuck.. Welcome to Manhattan or is that welcome "BACK" to NY?

Where is Mike with his feed back on this pump?

Well you know...it is in all how you look at it...this IS where my addiction started....House of Fins and school in Westchester....

 

[jhale]

house of fins would start you out on the expensive end of the addiction

 

[moonpod]

Yeah, they are not cheap, that's for sure.