Return Pump Recommendation Poll

[The Grizz]

Originally Posted by ensquire

Are you trying to source it locally ( Alberta) ?
.

YEP!!

[don.ald]

Originally Posted by The Grizz

Well I have been waiting 6 months or better for 2 - DC10000 & 1 - DC5000, can't seem to get them from here yet for some reason but hope they show REALLY REALLY soon as I would like to get building my 300.

http://reefsupplycanada.com/cgi-bin/...anada&pc=14266

[MKLKT]

I forgot to mention that I had meant with the adjuster it was better in that it's considerably smaller and simple. It requires a lot less of a rube goldberg device so less chances of friction or turbulance in order to reduce the flow not that there was zero loss. Basically you've got more control over exactly how much head is applied.

The differences between even internal/external with the same wattage pump and how it'll affect the tank and room just reinforces the point of how specific to a setup each piece of gear is. You just need nice accurate specs! You're technically inclined so I'm sure we could talk ad naseum about these things, haha.

[nrosdal]

Originally Posted by The Grizz

Well I have been waiting 6 months or better for 2 - DC10000 & 1 - DC5000, can't seem to get them from here yet for some reason but hope they show REALLY REALLY soon as I would like to get building my 300.

Jelous??

[The Grizz]

Originally Posted by nrosdal

Jelous??

Yes YES I am you big TEASE!!! Heard today that my pumps where shipped out on Monday to Concepts I am sure Dave is getting sick of me bugging him ( SORRY DAVE )

[Doug]

Originally Posted by BeanAnimal

I just replaced a velocity T4 closed loop pump with a DC5000 and am more than impressed...

http://www.beananimal.com/other/wave...d-dc-pump.aspx

I have waited for a long time for a company to offer a reasonably priced variable speed pump.

I have a DC5000 and DC10000 and will be purchasing a few more. The ReeFlo dart is on its way out the door as soon as I get a chance.

Welcome to Canreef Bean. Thanks for posting some of your usual wealth of equipment info.

[BeanAnimal]

Thanks for the welcome guys...

It is my understanding that both SaltySupply and Aquarium Specialty are stocking and selling them. I have no affiliation with either. I don't have an affiliation with RLSS either.

In Canada, you will want to call Aquatic Kingdom in Mississauga.

It appears that the list of stores is growing quickly too:
http://www.rlss.ca/#!retailers

I think most of you know I am not in the "review" business and most of the time when I talk about a product, it is because I hate it I took the time to post here (and on my site) simply because I am that impressed with the pump so far. If my post, comments or link to my personal site is not appropriate or viewed as some a solicitation or violation of the TOS or spirit of your forum, please do remove it (them).

The back story for anybody who cares:

I have been looking for suitable DC aquarium pump for YEARS and even purchased a brushless DC motor or two to try and adapt to a ReeFlo wet end (as well as 3-phase AC motors). Bleh... too messy and too much hassle, noise, etc.


I am in the process of a possible total system redesign and rebuild and got the "variable speed" tunnel vision again so started looking again. A guy in our local club had the RD DC pump and it was expensive and died several times, so no go. I tried to source the Iwaki DC pump but it appears to be vaporware.

I found a youtube video for the waveline and was impressed. I called RLSS when I read more about the pumps and was even more impressed after talking to them.

No kidding, after I saw the youtube video and then talked to them, I was like a little kid waiting for a Daisy Red Rider! I don't honestly think I have been this anxious to get my hands on a new toy since I was a little kid. The last few times I have been even close, I have been sorly let down when my expectations have exceeded reality. In all honesty the only two aquarium products I have ever owned that have met my (maybe too) high expectations are the Waveline pumps and my Oceans Motions.

I certainly hope these pumps are long term durable, because I am designing my rebuild around them. I figure at $300 each and roughly 85W at full power for the DC1000, they are an efficient bargain any way you look at it.

Currently :
140W Velocity + all the heat it adds
150W ReeFlo snapper
35W Magnum 350 Power Filter (skimmer feed, mechanical filtration, media)

Roughly 325W + a fair amount of heat.

If I run 2x DC1000 (return and closed loop) and the DC5000 for the skimmer, media reactors etc. I am at 210 Watts WORST CASE! That is (at face value) 120W of savings right off the bat. The T4 was likely putting at least half of its power (~60W or so) of heat INTO THE TANK!

I gain control and impart less heat to the tank. So I figure more like 150W-200W of saving 24 hours per day. At $.25 per kWh, that is close to $.75 a day in electrical cost savings. That is $22 a month!

Now... I am not deluded into thinking these (or any equipment) will pay for itself. It may or may not. The IMPORTANT part is that you can beg, borrow, cheat or steal momey for equipment and the warden does not need to know. What the warden does see is the monthly electric bill! It follows that any fixed one time cost (recouped or not) to lower the montly appearance of expendature is well worth every penny! So I spend $1000 on new pumps, but the $300 electric bill goes to $275 and I am not a hero, but I am no longer the $300 villian, just a $275 villian. Do the same with some LEDs (that I am not yet fully sold on) and maybe another $20 a month... and I am only a $250 Villian! Remember to turn off more lights, shut the compressor in the shed off (I often forget) and I am a $200 villian and life is much better!

[MKLKT]

Cool to see a reef celebrity On topic, I suppose it also depends on where you live and the temperature balance as removing residual heat from a pump might need to be offset by the aquarium heater (Canadian winters!), could possibly be even less efficient overall. Obviously every case is completely different and it's a matter of understanding your system and its components. Same situation as how watts/gallon still persists even though it means nothing.

To add to this discussion in my case for submersible pumps I recently switched a Sedra 9000 which had an impeller issue (unit itself was buzzing) and frankly was too small for my setup anyway for an Eheim Compact 5000+ and love it so far. Having the adjustable flow right on the pump saves the plumbing and head loss from any sort of flow adjuster above the pump. While not dead silent, it's got a very tolerable frequency of sound. Plus the pump is comically small compared to the Sedra, about half the size and ~1.5x stronger. You can also crank it down to the same flow as the other pumps if required, and it gives a fairly large range for a potential upgrade later.