rworegon Posted November 6, 2014 Share Posted November 6, 2014 I'm starting a 30 gal cube build. The stand is small because of footprint of the tank so space is a consideration. the sump will be have a footprint around 14 x 17. I'm looking for recommendations on a return pump that isn't huge but will still give me good flow. Thanks for looking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matty Posted November 6, 2014 Share Posted November 6, 2014 Sicce Syncra silent and Tunze silence pumps work very well for smaller applications. I used a Sicce in my last tank and loved it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheClark Posted November 6, 2014 Share Posted November 6, 2014 I am a jebao fan, so take it for what it is worth, Matty has way more experience with different pump types. I feel totally biased but inexperienced with the other pumps. Nice thing about a DC pump is that if you oversize it, it is easy to turn down in a small way. Not sure of the dimensions on the DC3000 or 6000. Well anyways hope that helps! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matty Posted November 6, 2014 Share Posted November 6, 2014 I am a jebao fan' date=' so take it for what it is worth, Matty has way more experience with different pump types. I feel totally biased but inexperienced with the other pumps. Nice thing about a DC pump is that if you oversize it, it is easy to turn down in a small way. Not sure of the dimensions on the DC3000 or 6000. Well anyways hope that helps![/quote'] I completely agree with Dc pumps being awesome! My only reason for suggesting the others is size but Randy if you can get a dc pump in there, that would be my recommendation as well. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pledosophy Posted November 6, 2014 Share Posted November 6, 2014 IME it depends on what you want to keep in there, and how much flow you want out of your return. I used a maxijet 1200 as a return on a 30g for years and loved it. Back then it was one of the few pumps you could turn on and off at will (I was turning off for feeding 3x a day) and that ran silent. If your not looking for much flow this is a cheaper option that IME ran very well. If your looking for a bit more flow I would decide between the Eheim and a DC pump (I like the Jeabo even over my reef octopus). Eheims are beutiful little quiet tanks that will always work. I have never had an issue with one of mine, my oldest is about 10y IIRC. I switched from the Eheim to the Jeabo 9000 or something like (it's the blue one) and for the 6 months or so I have been running that pump I have nothing but great things to say about that, but it might be to much flow for what your looking for. I would factor in what you want to keep in the tank, if you want additional power heads, what the head loss is, and then is there room in your plumbing for something like a SCWD (depending on what you want to keep) or a sea swirl, and then size appropriatley. IMO being a fan of strong random water movement I would go big on the return and ditch the powerheads. Oh and the Jeabo is onsale at Aquacave for $80 off right now.... just sayin. About to order me a back up. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scubasteve Posted November 7, 2014 Share Posted November 7, 2014 The Jabeo dc 3000 is pretty compact Randy, and quiet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bicyclebill Posted November 7, 2014 Share Posted November 7, 2014 I'm a fan of the sicce pumps. Right up there with eheim imo. The 1.5 would be about perfect for a 30g return. Keep in mind though that you can only return as fast as you can drain, so a big pump is worthless unless you've got a huge overflow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rworegon Posted November 7, 2014 Author Share Posted November 7, 2014 Thanks guys, I've been looking at the Sicce 1.5 and the 2.0 as well as the Eheim compact 2000. I like my Eheim 1262 returns that I have on the 90 gal and the frag tank. The new 30 gal cube has a single top center overflow with a 1" return. I think the overflow will handle either one of these pumps. The Sicce 1.5 will push 258 gph at 3' of head, which is about what this tank will require, the 2.0 will push 423 gph, while the Eheim 2000 is adjustable between 265 & 528 at 0 head. I haven't been able to fine a graph that shows head loss for the Eheim. Either way I'll add a valve upstream from the pump to fine tune the flow and to shut down the flow for pump maintenance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matty Posted November 7, 2014 Share Posted November 7, 2014 I believe the Sicce's are adjustable too, mine had a dial on the front. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pledosophy Posted November 7, 2014 Share Posted November 7, 2014 IIRC a 1" drain unobstructed should be able to handle about 600 gph. What are you planning on keeping in the tank? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rworegon Posted November 7, 2014 Author Share Posted November 7, 2014 This is going to replace Jenn's 6 gal. She likes the movement of Euphelia, colors of zoa's and little nano type fish. Probably not much to non on the sps front. Also probably move one or two of the nine RBTA's from the 39 cube into this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheClark Posted November 7, 2014 Share Posted November 7, 2014 This is going to replace Jenn's 6 gal. She likes the movement of Euphelia, colors of zoa's and little nano type fish. Probably not much to non on the sps front. Also probably move one or two of the nine RBTA's from the 39 cube into this. Nine RBTAs!!?? Nice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rworegon Posted November 7, 2014 Author Share Posted November 7, 2014 Nine RBTAs!!?? Nice Yea, started with one a couple of years ago. Have sold or traded off probably 5 or six. Just seems to be some kind of BTA orgy going on in that tank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pledosophy Posted November 7, 2014 Share Posted November 7, 2014 If she likes the movement, and for those corals I would really recommend a scwd. They are not very expensive and they work really well IME. I've had the same one going for about 7 years now without cleaning or any problem what so ever. Great for a smaller tank so you don't need the powerhead and cheaper then a sea swirl Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rworegon Posted November 7, 2014 Author Share Posted November 7, 2014 Wouldn't that require me to add another return? Currently the tank has one return in the upper left corner through the back pane, the overflow is in the center. Would I need to drill for another return in the upper right hand corner? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pledosophy Posted November 7, 2014 Share Posted November 7, 2014 You can float one over the top pretty easily IME. Just paint the plumbing to match and it blends nicely. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rworegon Posted November 7, 2014 Author Share Posted November 7, 2014 If I'm going to do it, I'm going to do it right. I want this build to look clean. I'll find someone with a diamond drill or buy one and drill it symmetrically on the other side of the overflow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pledosophy Posted November 7, 2014 Share Posted November 7, 2014 If your going rimless I can see the need for the holes, but if your going to use a canopy I'd go over the back IME, on both sides actually. Easier on a few things IME. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rworegon Posted November 7, 2014 Author Share Posted November 7, 2014 The tank is already rimless. 20141102_205452 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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