Blog Comments

Why not use the new Maxijet Utility pump then? It can be run externally too.
http://www.reefaddicts.com/content.p...m-Utility-Pump

It is the Japanese model, and has a very distinctive hum. I live in Texas, so the heat is also a factor. I am kinda of used to the hum of the Iwaki, but have visited tanks that ran very silent. if i could eliminate that my wife my would be extremely grateful.

Is your Iwaki US made or Japanese made? I have seen a video on youtube and it showed the difference between the Japanese made Iwakis and the US made ones. The Japanese made ones are much quieter than the US made ones.

I have never had a sump before. When I set one up I'm using an external pump to cut down on heat issues. I live in San Diego so heat is definitely an issue with my system. If someone lived in say Michigan I'd suggest them to use a submersible pump to help heat the tank during the cold times of the year.

How about plugging in the wrong plug, walking away, only to discover that you've pumped out 50 gallons from the sump in the basement. And, the water was missing, no puddles, no drips, no damp smell....thankfully it found the hole in the basement floor. Pay heed your significant other when she says she hears something that's not right in the basement. Crazy!

I used a blueline that was totally silent! Presently, I'm using a Mag and the newer MaxiJet 5500 without complaints of noise or heat.

I ran a mag 18 internally for two years, then externally for two and have recently put it back into the sump as a return. My temperature has ran hotter on the tank since resubmerging it. I now run an external Gen-X PCX 40 (comparable to iwaki MD50RLT) and can tell you from experience, its louder than an iwaki. To avoid confusion, I have two return pumps.

If your trying to find a real quiet return pump. Id suggest an eheim 1262 (900GPH) sumbersible. It won't create nearly as much heat as most other submersible return pumps.
Or, if money is no issue, a Red dragon submersible return pump.
Melev just did a product review on the new Maxijet utility pumps. Maybe one of those would work for you.

That is nice and clean. Can you go into the specifics of what you did inside the drain? We want to see the parts that make it tick.

neat idea, i like it

How about whenever Im filling a 5 gallon container of RO from my reserves in the garage, I always forget until theres about 20 gallons spilled on the garage floor..

Why when doing a water change, and it seems like every time I do a water change, do I "forget" that water is coming out of the other end of the hose I am handling. I always seem to be cleaning up a mess!

So that is a Vertex 170? I like it.

VERY NICE.... ! post more pics of the filter in action.!

Very nice!!!!! Im sure that sucker will do the job with consistancy like none other.


If I could just talk my wife into letting me spend the 2K for the one I want. For some reason, I dont think the "It will help cut down on electrical costs" line will do it for me this time.

When ever you make a change, no matter how long ago, then go out of town something from that change goes wrong.

For me it was adding a vortech. Over a month of doing fine then within 3 days of leaving for a month it malfunctions! They have pretty good CS though.

How about, closing the ball valve on the drain pipe to remove a filter sock, turning on the return pump, while forgetting to open the drain ball valve and then finding water overflowing your tank lol No more ball valve on the drain! ...problem solved.

So true! I Lost about an 8 inch Tiger Tail cucumber in this same black hole. I could see him, but could not get to him. It really gave me skimmer, and lighting issues for weeks.

If you have one inaccessible "black hole of death" in your rockwork, your new frag will invariably find its way there so you have to remove half your rocks to get it out.