Convince me not to go with submersible return pumps

[Len]

I'm a post whore these few weeks, but I have a new tank being set up as we speak, so I've got a valid excuse

Anyhow, been dry-fitting the equipment/sump in the stand and I'm considering going to submersible pumps (e.g. Eheim) and foregoing my trusty inline Iwaki. Anyone have good reasons why I shouldn't? I'm still fixated on the idea of going inline, but to be honest, I can't really think of many valid reasons why I have to.

 

[Anonymous]

Submersible = quiet
Inline = slightly cooler

All tanks are unique.

 

[ChrisRD]

I'd go with the Iwaki. Less maintenance and less added heat to the system.

 

[WRASSER]

how is an in-line slightly cooler than a submersible :?:

 

[Len]

Most in-lines are air cooled. Submersibles are water cooled (meaning the water gets warmer).

Now, I'm not too concerned about heat. Noise is more imperative, along with reliability. Nothing beats Iwakis in regards to reliability, but as quiet as they are for inlines, an Eheim will be much quieter ... and easier to install

 

[WRASSER]

i dont know how big your tank is, on my 150 i have a Mag 1200, and my protien skimmer is louder than the Mag is

 

[Anonymous]

All of my tanks are submersible. Easier to install, less chance for leaks, and if a pump ever fails on you, easy to replace.

 

[fishinsouthga]

i like the drop ins cuz they are simple to clean and put back together, just shut off it undo 1 clamp and 5 min later its running again, not to mention if it breaks the only think i have to replace is the little magnetic impeller... how much time it take you to clean/maintain you inline??

 

[D.W.L.]

Len, I ran both a 3MD and a Mak 4 return pumps. I switched to a Mag 12 and would not go back to the inlines.

Then, I suppose thats as long as I have no problems with the Mags. The Mak 4 was a good pump, as are your Iwaki,s.

I also run a Mag24 on my beckett, instead of the Mak4 I ran before. Just all seems neater in some way. And as mentioned, less chance of leaks, although I only ever had one minor leak with inlines.

Like you, heat is not a problem and the submersible pumps actually keep my pair of 250w heaters from running to much, so it all works out.

 

[Anonymous]

I really like the Mag-Drive pumps. I had two Mag-24's running from a common sump to a 90gal and 110 gal, and never had issues with heat. And, I was running about 2,500 watts total lighting, a skimmer, a calcium reactor, a kalk reactor, and about 6 maxi-jet 1200's.

Course, my set-up was in the basement...never needed a chiller.

 

[Len]

You guys aren't doing a very good job convincing me *not* to get submersibles

I think I'll start with Eheims or Mags. I can always drill the sump later (or maybe drill now and plug it up).

 

[Unarce]

I'm also considering going with dual Eheims or Mags for my return. Do you guys know if either can be alternated with a wavemaker, or is that just too much for these guys?

 

[Jolieve]

Len, I haven't used an inline pump, but I can say that my mag 12 is quieter than the sedra on my skimmer, and it's also quieter than the cooling fans I have installed in the canopy.

I had to place a whole boatload of mouse pads under my sump to baffle noise.. and it wasn't the mag that was the problem, it was the euro.

J.

 

[WRASSER]

sounds like len is getting a submers.

 

[fishgills]

Less heat to the system.
_________________
Honda PC50

 

[Anonymous]

go with the mags, their cheaper and more powerful than the eheims, ...you know how it goes...anything German, is overpriced.

Go with a mag pump one size bigger than you think you need. You can always throttle the discharge if it's too much influent.

I mount them inside the sump on top of a big, car-wash sponge...completely silent they are.

rinse the sponge often tho in fresh water to keep nitrate factory down.

 

[Anonymous]

Have you compared curves and power usage for the flow you want? I would use thet to narrow down the choises regardless of the type of pump. I have run both and prefer the in lines. The ones I have are quiet and keep the heat load down. Well almost quiet on the pan world I can hear the fan, but is no worse than any other fan I have on my tank. The sequence is silent.

 

[Len]

My overflow is a single 1" durso, so Sequence and their ilk are out of the question. My choices would be limited to those with about 1000gph @ 4ft. I know Panworld and Iwaki have these, but the Eheim 1262 does the trick as well. I have no fans on the tank and can't use a pump with a fan. This is in my living room right next to my home theatre, so noise is very important to me.

 

[Anonymous]

Given that requirement I would lean to a mag12 or 18. I think the 12 would be a little under powered and the 18 a little over for what you are looking for. I had a mag 12 on my 110 as the return pump and was never quite happy with it. It was tins better than the rio it replaced. Before ruling them out I would check the iwaki 40rxt to see if it has a fan.

 

[Len]

I've had the 40 Iwaki series and they have fans. I've actually owned everything in the Iwaki line from 20 to 100.

I might get the Mag 18. Eheims have always been really reliable, quiet, and cool IME, so I am still considering them. They also seem to under-rate their pumps. I had the 1260 before and it was a lot more powerful then the 650gph they rated it as.