Energy efficient pumps

[Money Pit]

I currently have a Ampmaster 3000(return) and 36000(closed loop) and I'm thinking about replumbing the closed loop. I have a chiller plumbed in and it considerably reduces the flow rate. I would like to plump the chiller seperately and will need another pump. I'm looking for something that can move 600 to 700 gph through 20 feet of PVC without adding lots of heat or running up my electric bill much higher then it already is. Any ideas?

 

[shawnz28]

Not sure of the head pressure but if external I would go with a GenX pcx30 or 40. The 30 moves 850 gph and uses 100 watts and the 40 moves 1100 gph and uses 110 watts. Both run cool and are realitively quite. We have been selling them at the shop for quite a while and have had very good luck with them as far as reliablity goes as well

 

[hillbilly]

Yeah, those little GenX pumps are great. Cheap too! I brought 2 of them last year from Marine Depot to replace a pump that died. ( I got 1+a spare) It just keeps on running. In fact I may use the spare on a new nano sps tank I'm putting together. The ones I have are the MAK4 external.

 

[Money Pit]

I think I might have a GenX laying around in the garage some where. Is it possible to have the pump and chiller come on only when needed?

 

[shawnz28]

The pump will run all the time but the chiller will come with a controller that will keep it running only when needed

 

[reefNewbie]

if you dont need it to be external, and you want energy efficient, go with an oceanrunner 3500 or osmething like that. It only uses 60 watts.

 

[Big Fishy]

when looking for an energy effiecient pump you need to pay attention to the amp rating. The more amps it puls the more your electricity bill. The amount of watts doesnt determine the amount of electricity used. As an example flourescent tubes used in hospitals and such have the same wattage output as the incandescent light bulbs in your house but use much less elcetricity therefore have less amp ratings. In electricity terms watts equals power amps equals flow, you want less flow.

Hope this helps,
Fishy

 

[reefNewbie]

well considering Watts = Volts x Amps

watts have everything to do with efficiency as they are directly correlated to amps.

 

[tangir1]

Welcome to RDO, Big Fishy. Yes, flourescent light is more efficient because it use less amp(and watt, as reefNewbies says) than those hot incandescent, but still give you same amount of light output. This is why we don't recommand incandescent (halogen, etc.) among other reasons, for this hobby.

Look for a pump with the least amount of amp (or watt) when running at the specific head pressure *and* flow rate. Both pressure and flow rate are important because an efficient pump at one setting will not be useful for others. For example, using a Stream pump to drive a skimmer is as bad an idea as using a booster pump to drive a closed loop.

 

[utahsaltreefer]

Here's one that's really energy efficient

 

[Money Pit]

The pump will run all the time but the chiller will come with a controller that will keep it running only when needed

I thought I could hook the chiller and pump up to the controller. My only concern is that the water would get funky sitting in the pipes in between chiller use.
Also I looked into the GenX and think it is the way to go, "1190GPH, 55W, 3/4'' in/out"

 

[Big Fishy]

Thanks for the greeting Tangirl, though i have been around this board since around 2001 under a different name Dan81. My point with the amps thing is you can have a 240 volt something with the same amps as a 120volt something and they would both use the same amount of kilowatthours. Yet the 240 volt something would have twice the watts. When you decide what siae wire to use for an application it is based on the amount of amps thats going to be pulled through it( FLOW). Amps is your main indicator of how much your electricity bill is gonna get raised. As TanGirl points out there are many factors that play into the type of pump i was just addressing the energy use.

 

[usafa93]

"My point with the amps thing is you can have a 240 volt something with the same amps as a 120volt something and Yet the 240 volt something would have twice the watts. "

Sorry, but there is a big breakdown in science here. Let's throw some numbers in here and see why.

A 240 Volt pulling 1.1Amps is 264 watts.
A 120 Volt pulling 1.1 Amps is 132 watts.

You are correct that the 240 Volt pulls twice as watts.

You are not correct in stating that "they would both use the same amount of kilowatthours."

The high voltage line would use twice as many kilowatt hours. Double the electricity bill. Watts is the final number to look at when determining energy usage. Watts is a measure of energy. Amps is not. Therefore, to state: "Amps is your main indicator of how much your electricity bill is gonna get raised," is not correct.

This stuff can be confusing, so please do not take offense - none is intended. I merely needed to set the record straight for those that may be reading this and feeling confused.