My new 6ft panaque tank

[matubula]

I've just been looking through some of the major pond pump brands (Oase, Fish mate, Hozelock, Laguna, Blagdon, All Pond Solutions, Aqua/Pond One) and in terms of flow rate VS energy consumption.

I'm quite keen on reducing the energy consumption on my tanks (and pond) so I look for the using the least amount of wattage I can but maintaining a powerful flow. From the brands I've looked at these are the ones that stand out. I currently have two of the Laguna 5900LPH on my pond and tank and wouldn't hesitate to recommend them.

Oase Eco Premium - 6000LPH/8000LPH/12,000LPH - 50/65/110 watts - 3.6/4.0/5.0m - £200-380

Oase Gravity Eco - 10,000LPH/15,000LPH - 65/85 watts - 1.3/1.8m - £230-300

Laguna Max Flo - 5900/7500/9000LPH - 80/100/100 - 3.5/3.7/3.7m - £150-180

APS - 8000LPH - 70 watts - 3.2m - £65

Aqua/Pond One - StingRay - 70 watts - 2.7m - £130

The All Pond Solutions pump looks the best blend of performance, power and price. But I'd imagine the cheapness comes at the cost of build quality, but even so, you could two or three for the price of the others.

I want to investigate the Oase Gravity Eco some more since the 15,000LPH appeals to me.

 

[matubula]

So are these pond pumps just a pump itself that you have to hook up to a canister or bio filter?

Yup, like the one I use on my 5ft Panaque tank. The pump sits in the tank and pushes the water in to an external canister and pressure forces it back up into the tank.

for the money you spend on the pump you're better off buying the eheim 2262. I know they're much cheaper in the UK then here.
My first one I paid $600 almost I just bought a used 2260 for $200 the pump is worth a good $100 still used.

I got my 2260 (with taps) for £110 off ebay, but I've not seen a 2262 in it's entirety second hand, only £300 from a shop. But like you say, you could combine a 2260 with a 1262 pump for about £200 (plus you'll have a 1260 pump spare).

But the 'issue' with these is their flow rate vs power consumption with these old pumps, compared with what you can get with newer pond pumps. When comparing these big Eheims with other domestic external canisters they seem to win hands down but against the pond pumps they are lacking.

1260/2260 - 2400LPH - 65 watts - 3.7m

1262/2262 - 3400LPH - 80 watts - 3.6m

It may be possible to adapt the new 'compact' pumps on to the 2260/2262 canister and you'll get increased flow rate and reduced running costs.

3000LPH - 66 watts - 3.0m

5000LPH - 78 watts - 3.0m

 

[Jackson]

Those compact pumps don't work like the 1260(2).
You'll get more flow from the 1260 through the canister than you will with the 5000l compact.

They don't perform like what's written on paper. Their head performance is nothing like the 1260(2)

There's a lot more to look at other then the specs on paper. Majority of the time they're bull. I think if I'm nit wrong the most important thing is the max head rating.

You can add almost any pump to these canisters. You just have to fit it properly.

So when you buy the pond pump you have to buy the media house/canister separately?

I looked online it would cost over $600 here for a decent sized set up.

 

[matubula]

You can probably cut 50% of the max rate flow straight away from the stats when it's set up.

I estimate (with a bucket and stop watch) that mine (5900LPH with max 3.5m head height) puts out around 1800LPH in the end. And thats pushing through about 2.5m of hose, filter media, and +/- 1.5m in height.

You can get pump and canister combos, or mix and match. I think the one I use, both Laguna, cost about £280.

 

[Mark421]

There is so much choice just checked the 2262 found this

http://www.discountedpetproducts.net/FILTER_2260-38-UKP45974.html

I like the idea of a massive filter. I want to keep the maintence down to minimum.

All my APS filter run well there so cheap for the money £70 for 2000lph with media and pipe work.

I am defo tempted for a APS 8000lph. Im thinking a oase filter as i have heard they are really easy to maintain. I can get the pipe work for next to nothing. All pipe work i put in will be solid. and the pond filters come complete with media. So not to expensive?>

 

[matubula]

I was doing some calculations for how much it actually costs to run pumps and such. For me, it roughly works out at 1 watt of power = £1 per year (if it runs 24/7).

An example using my Laguna pumps at 80 watts:

power in kilowatts x time on x £ per KWH

(80/1000) x (24x365) x 0.12 = £84

 

[Mark421]

On my tarrif 80W is £119.13/year. That's if it actually runs at 80W!

 

[Mark421]

After a 450mile trip I have my new tank and FX5.

The cupboards underneath are big so I'm hoping to get a pond filter in one of them and the fx5 fits in the other.

Just gotta pull the 3D background off and the silicone. Nice!

 

[Jackson]

Congrats Mark

I can't wait to see your Panaque in there.

 

[Mark421]

Thanks dude. Neither can I!

I don't want to rush into setting it up, but I will!