So whats the final prognosis doc cathar? And have you tried pairing the 3/8" pump with 7/16 hose? I am very interested in this as I want to ditch this noisey arse mag3 with it's 12' python cord.

Haven't had much of a chance to play with the pump since I got the 3/8" OD outlet.

A quick pressure test did seem to show that the pump's static pressure head was better than with the 1/2" OD outlet, however overall flow rates did not improve. Pump was a touch quieter but still has a pinging/rattling sound that will annoy the truly quiet conscious. The pump would be as quiet as an Eheim 1250 if I could only
get this faint pinging noise to go away. There seems to be something faintly touching the back of the sealed motor section which I can't get to.

No, not a Mag 3 beater, or even matcher. Power-wise it's mid-way between an Eheim 1250 and an MCP600. Still good - just not special.

Any 12v pump you recommend for a quiet concious type of guy looking to beat or match a mag3. I was looking at the mcp650 but the stuff I have read about noise has me questioning it. I am not against spending money but I want it all. Performance, compact size and quiet.

As soon as I find one, I'll let you know about it.

Perhaps getting one of the Iwaki RD20 12v pumps at a rated 20dBA would be the best bet, but you're talking mega-bucks (~$300US at the least). Performance would kick a Mag3 square in the hiney. I'm a little crazy about the water-cooling hobby with a nice salary to support the obsession, but even I balk at that sort of price-tag.

At that site they do say 24v, however you can get them for 12v operation from Iwaki if you special order it.

Niiiiccccceeeee!!!! Only prob for me is that it's a little too big.

What are your thoughts on the Iwaki RD-05H? Maybe even two of them?

Probably not a good idea. Rated only for intermittent use.

Ahhh, nice catch, I missed that, thanks.

Yeah, that woulda been a shame to kill a pump like that. Shame is that it has that almost perfect curve too heh.

Too big? The RD-20 is about the same size as a Laing D4.

I was going by the spec sheet which says it's the same size as the RD30 which is 106x108x110, is that not correct?

Yeah, that's correct...being only fractionally larger than the Laing D4.

How does this pump (or the Eheim 1024, MCP600, or c-systems for that matter) compare noise wise with your MD-30Z @ 50Hz? I have an MD-20Z @ 60Hz (in the USA), and I'm curious as to just how quiet the Iwakis are to other 'quiet' pumps.

Also, what would you say the life expectancy of an Iwaki MD-20Z would be? I bought an old used one and I'm not sure if I really want to put it in my new rig. :shrug:


Thanks,

DrCR


__________

Any thoughts?

longer than you

it is said a properly maintained iwaki will attend the owner's funeral

the problem is knowing its prior use
I've had a number of 40s, dry for an instant buggers the impeller and front housing

Excellent. I got the impression though the pump was run 8hours a day for several years as a "protein skimmer" (no clue what that means) it was treated well.

Um, how do you "properly maintained" a pump? Change the seals ever once in a while?

Any thought on reference to Iwaki noise vs. Csystems, the quiet Eheim model, and/or the MCP600?

Thanks

- not run dry
the 40 is a 1/4 (1/3 ?) hp motor @ 3600 RPM

How goes things on the March front Cathar?

Protein skimmers are a kind of filter, generally used in a marine aquarium.

[off topic]
Indeed.
They consist mostly of a transparent tube of different heights and diameters (depending on the capacity) and a strong waterpump that injects water from the fishtank through a venturi where it is mixed with very fine air bubbles into the tube.
The rising air bubbles act as a lift in the tube, allowing the chemical compounds of the proteins to attach to the bubbles and hitch a ride to the surface, where they are captured in a collection cup and disposed of. (under the form of a very smelly dark liquid)
[/offtopic]

CD :)