What return pump would u buy??

[gregzz4]

I'll keep recommending my fave for tanks in our range;
Eheim 1262

For your 180 you'd only need approx 1000 gph through the sump to satisfy your skimmer

I put my pump on a pad cut from this stuff.
Everyone who's ever heard my sump can tell you it's dead silent

Pump's been running for 3 years this coming May with not 1 issue, and only 1 or 2 cleanings

Only drawback I'll admit to is the 80w rated power usage

[e46er]

i run a reeflow snapper for return and also run carbon and gfo reactors off it. I wasnt a fan of submersible pumps constant cleaning and impellers

[vanreefer]

Originally Posted by e46er

i run a reeflow snapper for return and also run carbon and gfo reactors off it. I wasnt a fan of submersible pumps constant cleaning and impellers

I've had reeflo the past... Found them to be loud and also had a grafite seal go on me... New house with hardwood

[gregzz4]

Originally Posted by vanreefer

I've had reeflo the past... Found them to be loud and also had a grafite seal go on me... New house with hardwood

Sounds like you need an internal pump, ya ?

[crimper]

Don't buy a Mag, it's fr3@kin loud. I just wasted a $100 on a noisy pump, it's over rated

[kien]

I've been running the same mag18 on my tank now for over 5 years. Doesn't seem noisy to me. No one ever seems to mention it (any noise). Maybe I'm desensitized. I'll have to ask Brett the next time he's over.

[SeaHorse_Fanatic]

Found Mag pumps to produce a lot of excess heat.

[lastlight]

Originally Posted by kien

I've been running the same mag18 on my tank now for over 5 years. Doesn't seem noisy to me. No one ever seems to mention it (any noise). Maybe I'm desensitized. I'll have to ask Brett the next time he's over.

Everytime I'm over you've got your junk exposed so it seems a bit noisy to me. I'm sure with your stand doors closed it's a lot quieter.

Like the others I love the eheim. My mag 12 was pretty quiet, 18 a bit noisier and the 24 makes a serious racket now.

[gregzz4]

I've used 3 mags over the years and never liked any of them
They lack mounting options/plumbing options, are bulky/heavy, and the ceramic shafts are too delicate (I've broken more than 1)

[e46er]

Originally Posted by vanreefer

I've had reeflo the past... Found them to be loud and also had a grafite seal go on me... New house with hardwood

i have 2 running and with the door on my stand i cant hear them over my light fans so it doesnt really bother me.
I have 1 that has the seal leaking but its 5 years old and seals are wear and tear items so its not an issue in the big picture. I also have the entire bottom of my stand lined with like 1/8 inch thick rubber and an alarm that lets me know when there is water in it. ($10 at any heating or plumbing company.) I hear you on the flooring tho I just laid all new flooring last year and would not want to do it again anytime soon.
I went through 3 different mag pumps and a couple impeller shafts in 2 years so i decided Id try the external pump route, and run reactors off the return pump and Id need some serious convincing to go back to submersible pumps.