Tunze recirculation pump? Is it the best choice?

[ToddTT]

I'm looking for a great submersible sump return pump for my current setup:

75 gallon tank
25-30 gallon sump
FOWLR

I'd like to replace my Mag with something quieter. And something that will reliably start after being unplugged. My Mag is two months old, and like the one I had before it, often needs to be shaken or taken apart before it will start again after being unplugged. Super annoying.

The Tunze pumps sound like they are a step up in quality, and quieter.

The two models I'm looking at:

1073.020
634 GPH
30W
$85

1073.040
792GPH
42W
$143

Here is a link:

Tunze Recirculation Pump/Powerhead Silence

I'm leaning towards the 792GPH because both models have adjustable flow rates, but the 634GPH is much cheaper, and 30W.

Although I must say, I'm afraid that 792GPH will have my fish spinning around in circles.

Would I ever run the 792GPH full throttle in my setup?

Any advice for my setup? Anybody own a Tunze recirculation pump? Any other suggestions, like one of the Eheim compact models?

Thanks!

[Chameleon Bob]

Hey Todd

Are you placing the pump in the sump? If so your going to a lttle over a quarter of your GPH due to height. So your probably looking at 375 gph and 590 gph, so when you get down to it not much water movement out of the small guy.

[ToddTT]

Hi Bob,

Yes, it will be submersed in my sump, pumping the water back up about 4 feet, into my display tank.

So it sounds like you're saying the smaller Tunze is no good. Is the larger one, rated at 792 GPH much better? Am I in the wrong ballpark GPH-wise altogether?

If so, any super quiet pumps you would recommend?

I'm actually running a MAG3 (350 GPH) at the moment, and I know the flow is a bit slow. But I never imagined that doubling the GPH would be possible... without swirling my fish to death.

Thanks,
Todd

[Chameleon Bob]

No your in the area if you have other powerheads in the tank. If not go big and split the into two lines for a exit point on both ends of the tank. For example my tank I run a mag7 with an exit point at both ends and a maxi-jet 1200 in the middle of tank. I've always used mags so I couldn't stear you in the area of quiet pumps. if you position your waterflow where their not meeting at one point their won't be a swirling death trap.

[gregony]

That Tunze .040 is only rated to 3m so by the time it got back up into your tank it would probably only be 400 to 500 gph tops. Chameleon Bob's right, if its too much you just split it going into the tank. That's an expensive pump for that performance though.