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Quite External Return pump for 180

Daniel

Daniel

Officer Emeritus
Officer Emeritus
Hi I need to replace my external return pump for my 180. I am using a Gen-X PCX 4. The pump is just getting way to loud for me any more.
Here is some info on my water flow in my tank. I have four Hydor Koralia Evolution 1400 Circulation Pump and two Hydor Koralia Magnum 2800 Circulation Pump in my display. My return from my sump to the return pump is 1- 1" bulk head. My Gen-X return pump I have it a ball valve on the return and it is set about .25" closed. So I know the pump is a little big for my setup.
The pumps I am looking at are
Water Blaster HY-3000 Pump 1" / 3/4," 37 watts 96% 750gph 7.5ft
BlueLine 30 HD-X External Water Pump 1" / 1", 90 watts 1110gph at 0'
Or something that might be better? Low watts and low noise Big plus!!
 
redfishbluefish

redfishbluefish

Officer Emeritus
Officer Emeritus
Daniel, I think you have the same pump I have….a GenX PCX 40 (MAK 4) rated at 1190 gph. If that is the case, I can’t understand why you have it metered down with the ball value closed about a quarter of the way. I would think this pump would be running wide open?? Your overflow should be able to handle the volume.

Anyway, is the noise being generated by the motor itself, or from the pump assembly? If it’s coming from the pump, there is likelihood it’s the impeller. Replacement impellers are about 50 bucks. If it’s the motor, try a little WD-40…just spray it in the cracks of the pump….it won’t hurt anything.

I’m also assuming you’re looking for “green” choices, and that is why you are not considering Pan World or Iwaki….two quality pumps, but at higher power consumption.

As far as your two choices, the Blueline, hands down! The WaterBlaster is 750 gph maximum flow (at 0 feet) with a maximum head of 7.5 feet. This pump is not one of the choices on RC’s head-loss calculator, however I’d be willing to guess it’s below 400 gph at about four foot, which would be the approximate height from sump to DT.
 
Olivier

Olivier

i have the Reeflo Dart Gold. very quiet. it is about the same noise as my deltec skimmer pump (i think eheim 1265)
 
Daniel

Daniel

Officer Emeritus
Officer Emeritus
Daniel, I think you have the same pump I have….a GenX PCX 40 (MAK 4) rated at 1190 gph. If that is the case, I can’t understand why you have it metered down with the ball value closed about a quarter of the way. I would think this pump would be running wide open?? Your overflow should be able to handle the volume.

redfishbluefish,
I meant to put Water Blaster 5000 pump.
I have it metered down because my overflow becomes very noise ( I have two 1" overflows ). Plus I can get better skimming out of my tank. That is one part reason why I have all the power heads in my tank.

Anyway, is the noise being generated by the motor itself, or from the pump assembly? If it’s coming from the pump, there is likelihood it’s the impeller. Replacement impellers are about 50 bucks. If it’s the motor, try a little WD-40…just spray it in the cracks of the pump….it won’t hurt anything.

I have not been very happy with this pump because of the noise and vibration and I have replaced the impeller in the past still just as noise and the vibration was still there. I did take it apart over the weekend to clean it and clean the fan on the back. That help nothing.

I’m also assuming you’re looking for “green” choices, and that is why you are not considering Pan World or Iwaki….two quality pumps, but at higher power consumption.

I was thinking of getting a new pump that is "green". I have check PCX 40 pump with my watt meter and it is pulling 142 watt. and when I run it wide open it goes to 163 watts. I know I can find better. I do like Blueline pumps and I can get a very good price from Gary at Champion Lighting. But I was hoping get a pump that I can not hear from under my stand. My tank is in my family room with all my equipment.
 
Sunny

Sunny

NJRC Member
Article Contributor
I have a reeflo hammerhead and a blueline HD. Both are fairly quite.

Sunny
 
Daniel

Daniel

Officer Emeritus
Officer Emeritus
steamman said:
Was it always noisy? If you open your supply valve all the way does the noise subside?
Click to expand...

Yes it was always noisy that is how I got a second impeller they thought it was that at first. Now it is just getting worse. If I open your supply valve all the way does the noise subside No way no how!
 
adesimone1

adesimone1

Dan,

For the vibration put a rubber mat under the pump this will stop the vibration. I can get a thin rubber mat from work that is used in between our rolls of paper. We used them when we had the sump under our 180 worked perfectly. If you want it let me know. I can crab some at work this week.
 
Sunny

Sunny

NJRC Member
Article Contributor
I have a falt piece of styrofoam under my external pump. That helps a lot with vibration noise as well.
 
Daniel

Daniel

Officer Emeritus
Officer Emeritus
I just put a piece of Polly foam that is 1/2" thick under the pump. It dose not seem like it help much. I have a house full of people so I will be able to tell tonight when they get the Hell out of my house!!! LOL:grin:
 
Daniel

Daniel

Officer Emeritus
Officer Emeritus
I got a new BlueLine Pump today that Gary shipped to me from Champion Lighting to give it a try. Well all I can say is very quite. I open my cabinet doors and I do not here it running unless I get down and put my head in side the cabinet. Plus it flows more water and uses less watts than my old pump.:encouragement:
Now I will find out what happen to the Gen-X pump. I was told I might have part of a magnet that might be going bad. I will soon fine out.
 
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