quietest return pump?

[Jakegr]

Originally Posted by mseepman

reef supply canada dot com has those available. Nick is good to deal with as well.

Thanks! I plan on getting one soon.

Yes, DC pumps very efficient. The DC5000 I believe uses 40 W at 1320 GPH.

[ensquire]

Originally Posted by Jakegr

The reviews of the RLSS DC5000 say it is very quiet. I'm not sure where to get it in Canada though.

Mine is very quiet and only uses 40 watts at highest setting. But you would need to go to the DC10000 to get the flow your looking for.

[sphelps]

Pump efficiency is based on many things like the type of motor, bearings, impellers and overall design. Red dragons use high quality motors, special ceramic bearings and are designed for the specific purpose. Many other pumps are just modified utility pumps or from other applications where efficiency is not of high concern. The RDs are also quiet as a result of being balanced better so they produce very little vibration which also adds to efficiency. I use a RD pump and you can hardly tell it's on even when used externally. I don't have any complaints but I think before I would invest in another one I would consider the much cheaper water blasters which seem to have similar design and specs.

[badAZZlars]

I'm happy with my water blaster pump. Quiet and low wattage.

http://www.conceptaquatics.ca/index....0w-pump-1.html

[RuGlu6]

Yes, Eheim and Tunze are the ones that quiet if not silent.
I was using MAG Drive pumps for a long time with no problem but now i use Eheim because its silent and reliable.
But there are water blaster pumps out now with design similar to Red Dragon for a lot less $. I have never had one though.

http://www.aquacave.com/Water-Blaste...ump-P3432.aspx
.
Water Blaster HY 12,500 Circulating Water Pump.

Our new Water Blaster pumps are based off the same design as the Bubble Blaster pumps but intended for water circulation. These pumps feature a digital control circuit board inside that controls directional start up and RPM speeds. This smart circuit board will shut the pump off if it detects a problem.
Something never seen before on internal or external pumps is the Silicone Nitride shafts and bearings that we use. The benefit of this material is that it will not allow calcium to adhere to it like ceramic. This means less maintenance and cleaning and more time for you to enjoy your aquarium instead of working on it!
With the performance of these pumps and a 3-year warranty how can you go wrong. We offer several different models for water flow and head pressures. Check out our complete line for a circulation pump that fits your needs. You can also download the Blaster pump poster below here.

Specifications:

* HY12,500W
* Dimensions: 9.3″x5.1″x9.1″
* Watts: 175 watts
* 95% efficiency
* Max Flow=3,250gph
* Max Head= 18.5 ft
* Inlet: 1.25" / Outlet: 1"

Eheim looks good as well with adjustable flow (neat feature if you intend to use it)
Eheim Compact+ Pump 5000
http://www.jlaquatics.com/phpstore/s...t_ID=em-pc5000

Specifications:
Flow Rate: 660GPH (2500 LPH) - 1320GPH (5000 LPH)
Energy Consumption: 82 Watts
Maximum Head: 9.5 Feet
Outlet Size: 1"
EHEIM compact: As the name suggests, small dimensions together with high power and many different uses are the most important criteria of this pump series.

3 models with maximum powers of 300 - 600 - 1000 liters/hour cover many application areas. The capacity of all 3 models is adjustable. The priming screen protects the pump and aquarium inhabitants from damage