External Pumps? The best, the worst, any experience

[Jackson919]

Hello, Does anyone have any suggestions for a good external pump? Or pump brands to stay away from.

I have a 55 gallon tank with roughly 15 gallons in the sump and would like to move about 700 gallons per hour. The pump is pushing the water up about 4 feet through a sqwd device.
Is this the right volume of water for roughly 70 gallons?

I currently am running a mag drive 5 but would like to increas and externalize the pump. Thanks for any suggestions.

 

[Anonymous]

I don't have much experience with pumps for that size tank, so I don't think I can help you much there.

Have you checked out RDO's pump selection guide? I found it very enlightening last time I was pump shopping.

http://reefs.org/library/pumps/

 

[Anonymous]

I have a blueline/pan world 40HD on my 60. It does around 700 GPH after losses. It is a nice pump. A little fan noise, but nothing to bad.

 

[sediener]

If you want 700 gph in your tank through a SQWD I would plan on at least a 1000 gph pump. Just make sure your overflows can handle it.

Blueline's are well reviewed. I have 2 GRI pumps and would recommend the 518 but the 520 is a little noisy.

- Steve

 

[Anonymous]

I have the blueline/pan world 40HD as well and am very happy with it.
_________________
Mercedes 450

 

[Ben1]

Blueline, PanWorld, and Iwaki are all pretty much the same pumps, and all very good quality. FWIW I wouldnt depend on a return to be my sole circulation pump. I would run a good external return pump and a second one on a closed loop with the sqwd.

HTH

 

[Anonymous]

I have an Iwaki WMD40RLT running 24/7 for 14 straight years now. It's a little loud because of the fan but it's a workhorse.

 

[sambo1]

Sequence = Good and quiet.

 

[RicardoMiozzo]

Little Giant 2 MD. Less noisy than the american Iwaki and incredibly long lasting.