Circulation Pumps

[BINKSY]

Hi,

Im looking into getting a circulation pump for my planted tank, that can sit in the cabinet out of the tank. This will have a inline co2 reactor on the return side


Now i have found two that i like the look of the first one is the Eheim Universal Pump 1250

The second one is the Aqua Medic Ocean Runner 1200, which is quite a bit cheaper.


Anyone got any experience with either pump, regarding noise etc?



Cheers Gordon

 

[rabbut]

I have used (and abused) both brands at work, and both are seriously heavy duty pumps, that are quiet and reliable Personally, for a pump, I'd take the Eheim as this is the companies speciality, and where they built their reputation, but realy the choice is yours.

 

[BINKSY]

Thanks for that Rabbut, i was hoping either would not be to noisy, as the tank is in the living room, now could the return side be plumbed in line with my filter return using a tee piece, and any reducers that may be required, because i would like a spray bar running almost full length across the back of the tank.


Cheers Gordon

 

[BINKSY]

Any one else got any input?


Cheers Gordon

 

[rabbut]

Aye, plumbing in-line with the Exturnal would be doable. It has to be in parrallel to avoid issues with pressue and wear in the filter, but it is otherwise simple Also, just adding an extra inlet to the system and then plumbing to the filter's outlet pipe would also work, increasing the pressure to the return pipe. Personally, I'd run from the same inlet and outlet sets to reduce the ammount of "clutter" in the tank

All the best
Rabbut

 

[BINKSY]

Thanks Rabbut,

I was hoping it would be doable . I have no problem adding another inlet pipe if needs be, but using the same return pipe as the filter would be great.

Just one more thing should the tee in the return be nearer the spray bar or can it be done in the cabinet out of the way?


Cheers Gordon

 

[rabbut]

The nearer the outlet the better. If you are dubling the flow through the pipe, and resistance will increase four fold as a result (inverse square rule), decreasing the flow. The longer the pipe, the less effect the pump will have, and the more pressure the hoses will be under, increasing the chance of leaks. If you want to plumb them together in the cabinet, you want the take them up into the tank using a hose that is twice the size of the filter's (assuming you are doubling flow here...) to reduce the resistance and avoid flow loss

All the best
Rabbut

 

[BINKSY]

Thanks for that reply, never even thought about the extra pressure in the pipes. Yes the idea is to double the flow in the tank.


Cheers Gordon

 

[OldMan47]

To double flow rate without a loss of pressure, you only need to increase the cross-section of the tube by double which means the diameter increases by the square root of 2 or about 1.4.
Squares relationships again.