240 w/ 75g sump - external or submersible water pump

[Tankster]

I am coming in the home stretch on the 240g set-up and am now pondering my water pump choices.

My overflow is rated at about 3,000gph however I will dial that back a bit so my Discus don't feel like they are swimming the rapids in the snake river. I have a workroom behind the tank where all equipment will be accessed and stored so no worry about hiding equipment or buffering noisy mechanicals.

I have been thinking all along I would go with a submersible pump but have been thinking about an external recently (thanks Astolfo for posting a sweet deal on a Dolphin 6500).

I am thinking it might be more versatile in the fact I can also use it for water changes to pump out the tank and refill from the aging barrel which will be no small task with 300 gallons (including the sump volume).

Do pumps exist where you can control water flow via an adjustment on the pump rather than dialing back with a gate valve?

At any rate, those with experience on moving large amounts of water, what are the advantages/disadvantages to an external pump and a submersible pump?


Thanks!
Greg

[decoy50]

I've been doing alot of research on sumps myself lately as I'm hoping to upgrade in the near future. I've seen alot of recommendations on Monster Fish Keepers about Laguna submersible pumps. Way more energy efficient than externals, might want to check them out.

[dragon1974]

Don't know but I got this with my 220 gal setup and I'm going to use it with my 75 gal sump

Gen-X PCX40 External Water Pump
http://www.marinedepot.com/Gen_X_PCX...PI1117-vi.html

One of my reef buddies saw it and said that it was a good one. I'll take his word for it LOL.

In my aging barrels I use a couple boyu pump that you can adjust the flow from the pump itself. http://www.boyuaquarium.com/en_Artic...ArticleID=1816

I like the designs of the external pumps.

[Siddhartha Saive]

I say go for a submersible pump. They are usually more energy efficient and quieter. The heat they produce will help heating up your water since they are submersed

[NH Murph]

Don't DC pumps have a potentiometer so you can adjust the speed/flow without messing with valves? DC pumps would also be much more energy efficient.

[MKD]

1+ for Waiveline or Jebao DC pumps.

[Tankster]

Thanks Murph!

Don't DC pumps have a potentiometer so you can adjust the speed/flow without messing with valves? DC pumps would also be much more energy efficient.

Are these top quality brands? I will do some research but wanted to hear your opinion.

1+ for Waiveline or Jebao DC pumps.

[MKD]

Waveline is more better and expensive than Jebao. I can't speak for Waveline because don't own one. I just use Jebao from 06/2014 so too soon to tell but so far so good fit my need and noise is quieter than other Rio, QuietOne...

[Tankster]

Thanks Tony.

Waveline is more better and expensive than Jebao. I can't speak for Waveline because don't own one. I just use Jebao from 06/2014 so too soon to tell but so far so good fit my need and noise is quieter than other Rio, QuietOne...

[musicmarn1]

home stretch sounds amazing Greg, mine got put on hold for a while, my husband refused to make a new stand for me allowing for more sump space ! LOL ill work on him again soon

[Tankster]

Just ordered the Waveline DC 10,000 II

Thanks for the input everyone!

[MKD]

nice!!!! that 's lot of water to push.
let us know how it goes.

[Tankster]

nice!!!! that 's lot of water to push.
let us know how it goes.

I was looking for about 6x turn over per hour and at 5ft head hight this pump pushes about 1,600 gph. I will have a total volume of 300 gallons x 6 = 1,800 gallons.
With the DC controller I should be able to dial it in perfectly... I hope. If I've miscalculated, and am overpowered, I can dial it back with the controller... I hope



Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[MKD]

I ready like the controller, can't be overpower and feeding features.

[Len]

What are you going to use for the intake on the pump? I ask because I have a pump that does less turnover than that and it partially collapses the intake side of the hose.