Mag drive pumps

[Joekool]

What is the mechanical difference bettween mag drive 12 and 18. They both have the same size body. Is it the impeler or impeler housing or internals such as stronger mag unit.

I think they might be the same pumps just different impelers or pump housing.

What do you guys think?

[gregony]

They draw a different amount of power, which almost certainly means the motors are wound differently. More turns means more inductance which means more reactive inductance which means more impedance which means more power. Some pumps are obviously the same, but have different sized volutes. The smaller the volute, the more pressure but with less flow, and vice versa. I believe the Iwaki's do this with the RLT and RLXT lines. The power is a little different because the load's a little different. The Mag drive 12 and 18 are significantly different but the inlet and outlet are both 3/4". I'm not much of motor guy, but with transformers (which are theoretically very similar to motors) you can have the exact same size bobbins (which is like the frame) with just a different number of turns. You can put a little plastic cover over them, you'd never be able to visually tell them apart but one might have twice as much copper in it.

[Joekool]

good reply.

I figured that might be the case.

What I need is a pump that can do 1200 gal an hour. Lets figure head I have two mega overflows (600Gal each) The tank is 2.5Ft high so 5 Ft+ plus about 7 Ft of tubing under the tank plus a tee spliter.

I need pump that can do 1200 at 12Ft. including the resistance of the tee spliter

A Y spliter would be less restictive. Who sells Y's at 1" I.D.

I think I will go with two mag drive 9.5 with 4.5 feet of tubing underneth each with 2.5 feet through both bulkheads into top of tank should put me at 600 gal per pump or just under do to bulkhead and ind tank devider.

My tank stand is 4 feet from the floor. I bilt it like that so you look right into the middle of the tank. I know about a ton of water glass and sand, fish etc. up in the air.

I know my spelling is not on key but you get my point.

[gregony]

That's up there. I thought building my stand 30" high was a bit much. Are you using a sump and is it on the floor, or is it off the ground too. If it's on the floor that's probably too far for the 9.5's to pump. Two 9.5's won't do 1200 at 12 ft of head. They each do about 600 at 6 to 7 ft of head, but it tapers off quick. In fact I think they max out at 13ft. If you're returning water from the floor to the top of the tank, I don't believe you'll have any real choice but to go with an external pump that's pressure rated like an Iwaki, or Pan World, or something similar. These would be more efficient electricity wise as well versus two 9.5's. Remember the Iwaki's ratings are usually given at 4 ft of head. It sounds like you have a 200g or larger aquarium. You don't want to cheap out with the return pump on a system with that much invested.
If your sump is 2 feet of the floor though, you may be able to use two 9.5's. I've never owned a really big tank like what yours sounds like, maybe charlie or parrothead or one of the other big tank owners would be able to give you more solid advice on return pumps for a big system.

[Joekool]

My sump is 4" off the floor. Each pump would only have to go 6ft not 12 two seperate lines each 6ft one pump 6ft the other pump 6ft. I have an allglass 210 with double mega overflows flow rate of 600 each. maybe you got mixed up but doesn't matter anyways I do it too. I thank you for the reply.

My biggest concern is electric. I don't want to spend a lot of money on a pump but will if it is cost effective. I.e. the pump's quality is the same as the price. You get what you pay for... blah blah...

Basicly I want to pump water with reliabilty and keep energy use to a low.
Also I'm adding a coralife light to the top to simulate all the lights through the day (10,000k, Antic, and moon leds) so that's going to cost me money on the electric side.

We all that this is not a cheap hobby if you go big.

[gregony]

If you only need to pump 6ft but with two seperate lines, you could tee off one pump. I don't think you add the head, you just split the flow when you do that (could be wrong on that, I'm not a plumber). People tee off one 1200gph pump to run dual injector becketts for instance. If you want energy use on the low side, and the initial investment isn't that big a concern an Octopus Water Blaster HY-5000 pumps 5000L/H and uses just 65W. Its 200 dollars from Premium Aq. About the same price as an Iwaki RLXT that moves the same amount of water. The RLXT's are the high flow low head style. The new Sicce (I think Aquacave has them) and the Tunze (Marine Depot, Salty critter maybe) circulation pumps are also very stingy on electricity and I believe they're in the same price range. The Red Dragons are terrific pumps in every way, but they're just crazy expensive. Besides the same company that makes the Red Dragons makes the Water Blaster (Honya). www.proteinskimmer.com.cn is Honya's website. Their English is almost as bad as your typing