Via Aqua
 

Why are Via Aqua pumps so much cheaper than Eheim?

http://www.wcaquatics.com/cgi-bin/it...er_image=.html

Are they louder or something?

Cheaper parts? Also I think the Ehiem pumps are imported....taxes+import/export fees, etc=higher markup.

Via Aqua are still magnetic based though, so they won't be really loud? - does anyoone have one?

I use them and have many of them in many sizes. I use them in res's and inline. I also have an ehiem 1250.

The via's work great I'm verry happy with them.

Pics:
http://community.webshots.com/album/35111553UecmAe
in a res

http://community.webshots.com/album/38150901opPARw
in line

http://community.webshots.com/album/40268738Vcjeom
just a few more pics showing the same.

I have one of webmedics setups and the pump (via aqua 1300) is great. It's not loud at all and seems to have real good flow.

So other that price and shape what's the difference???

The via is rated at about 50gph higher than the ehiem.

The vias have a ton of models though - there's a 740 GPH one for 37 at this one place... thats like 20 less than both Eheim models (which are no where near 740 gph)

Eheims are overpriced as well in Europe.
There are several reasons:
- they're made in Germany. Like cars and everyhting else, it seems german items are priced higher...
- they're *very* reliable, leak-proof, and silent
- they're well thought and compatible with a good range of items, either made by Eheim or standard (and threaded)
- Eheim know they've got virtually no challenger in this category (centrifuge aquarium pumps) - they've got most of the market. So they can afford driving prices up.

Yes but I like to be able to use a res and the biggest one that can do that easily is the 1300. The other via pumps get to be much larger. However the larger one you refer to is still probably about the same size as the 1250 ehiem.

On a side note the via 1300 even though its about the same watts as the ehiem 1250 runs much cooler to the touch. In my system they give the same temps however. Even is the via is in a res I get the same temps.

I'm not following that. Does the wattage matter, or just the given GPH of the units?

http://www.wcaquatics.com/cgi-bin/it...er_image=.html

At that place a Via Aqua 740 GPH is sold for $37. Neglecting hte wattage of that and the Eheim 1250 (317 GPH) for $68 ... clearly Via seems to be the better deal by far. But will the Via actually perform like a 740 gph or would the wattages affect it.... I just don't see why you're comparing by wattages and not GPH. Maybe that Via does hvae a high wattage and GPH is directly related to the power - but i'm not sure if the different types of pumps have much different efficiencies as well....

Why would the 740 GPH not be able to use a res ... but any of the Eheim's be able to? I don't see why you'd have to go with a 1300+ gph one- thats over twice as powerful as the maximum Eheim that i've seen (600)

In all my testing higher flow should reduce temps but the wattage of the pump is enough higher that temps stay the same.

You can use a res with these pumps but the kind of res I'm talking about is with the pump in the res. If you ge tone of the bigger pumps they are so big you will see why you will not easilly be able to put them inside of a resevore.

The via 1300 is the largest you will be able to get and easily put inside of a resevore. The others if used with a resevore but not inside of it will pump the water so fast that the resevore will cause foam in the system.