Iwaki pumps

[Crazy Loaches]

70RLT

Tom, this ones mainly for you (since I know you like the Iwakis) but anyone with experience please chime in as well.

I am just considering using a higher head pump, since I am thinking about re-doing some of my plumbing anyhow. I am debating since I already have two mazzei injectors, that I'll be able to better use them with a higher head pump. But I still want high flow as this is a river loach tank mostly. I'm currently at ~1500gph with my low head pump with no restriction in the flow (no mazzeis or anything inline). I'd plan on running 2 mazzei, 1 on each return. I'll have a wye out of the pump and a return line to each end of the tank. The only Iwaki that really fits the bill is the 70RLT from what I can tell.

I have some questions in general, like I've heard the Jap ones (MD) are much quieter, cooler, and efficient than the American motor ones (WMD). Is there truth to this?

And specifically to the 70RLT just how loud is it? Would it work inside a stand in a living room? I've seen a few mention the 100RLT is very loud but so far not sure about the 70. I have not seen a reference yet to the wattage, just a rating of 2.8A, which is on the high side of what I'd like, but acceptable. I suppose an alternate would be using two smaller pumps, and that would also provide redundancy but usually costs more.

Another alternate would be the Sequence Barracuda, since I am currently using the smaller Dart and happy with it, but I've heard these are not nearly as quiet as the Dart and only a small gain in head pressure, but a very high flowing pump. Not sure if the Barracuda would work for the dual mazzei setup or not, perhaps just a single mazzei for that.

So if anyone has had the 70RLT, please give me some feedback on it .

 

[Tom Barr]

I'd suggest another Iwaki RTL 40.

Go 2 pumps.

Not much difference in noise(main concern), and not as bad on electric.

Also, no need to run it 24/7, only for CO2 and added flow to exercise the fish for 10 hours per day.


You can run it through a UV, micron filter etc, things that do not need Bio filtered.

This saves cost and electric.

You do not have that option with a single pump.

You can also place an in line booster pump prior to the venturi.

Regards,
Tom Barr

 

[Crazy Loaches]

Well, the pump I am considering replacing is the return pump so it would need to run 24x7, but perhaps if there were two I could always power one down, but I prefer the extra flow, especially at night.

The inline booster I hadnt considered, that might be another possibility if I wanted to keep my existing setup and use the venturi injectors.

But I was wondering if you have used the 70RLT? Is it a no then? (just curious, and about the noise factor mainly).

 

[Tom Barr]

I run the RTLX on a 350 gal without issue, but I also have a 500gph Ehiem as well.

I use the 40's mostly.

For a booster pump, you do not restrict the flow path for the return, you make a Tee and to have a line off the main return and then a tee for the return loop.

You simply place a booster in line small pump on this loop.
This will draw, via suction, water from the main line and increase the head pressure to run the venturi or you can modify the booster to be a needle wheel or you can do both.

When the pump is off, the flow goes on as normal.

For higher flow at night, you can use a hydro or use a Maxi jet with a modified wave current impeller(see Marine Depot etc) and that will run about 2000gph. Add a magnet attachment and it can be pretty useful.

As far filtration, the RTLX ought to do fine.

The 70 gets into a whole other class of pumps. They are louder, a bit more I'd say, more than I'd want in my living room.

Regards,
Tom Barr

Regards,
Tom Barr

 

[mrkookm]

Unless they changed the fan to mimic their cousin the Panworld 200PS which is a bit quieter, the MD70RLT IME was noisy with an almost high pitch whine. If noise is a factor then look elsewhere.

 

[Crazy Loaches]

Thanks MrK, and yeah, over the last couple days I finally was able to use the search on reefcentral (it usually says its too busy) and found lots of comments about them being quite noisey, even the 55's.

Have you used the 200PS yourself? Or whats the largest one youve used? Still considering the Pan Worlds as well, I suppose the 150PS would be about as small as I would go if I went that route.

 

[Crazy Loaches]

For higher flow at night, you can use a hydro or use a Maxi jet with a modified wave current impeller(see Marine Depot etc) and that will run about 2000gph. Add a magnet attachment and it can be pretty useful.

Actually I already have two Maxi-Jet Sure Flow mods in the tank, ones the 2100gph the other is the 1600 and thinking about adding more. And yeah, I use the magnet mounts too, they are nice. I have two Koralia 4's in my 75g but the magnets wont hold well on the 1/2" glass 240g. The magnets I got on the MJ's are much better.

Something else I just thought too... if I do get a high head pressure rated pump, and say run it through an OC filter, and a venturi, maybe I will still have enough oomph to top of the return with a couple of eductors (maybe the pacific coast flow accelerators) to boost the flow back up to the numbers that my high flow dart was rated at with little head loss.

 

[mrkookm]

Have you used the 200PS yourself? Or whats the largest one youve used? Still considering the Pan Worlds as well, I suppose the 150PS would be about as small as I would go if I went that route.

With Panworlds my experience is with 150PS, 200PS and Blueline 100HD 'exact as 250PS'. I used the 100HD for a year (insane head) before selling to try the 200PS which I sold and finally settled for 150PS currently on my 90gal. I'm kinda sorry I got rid of my 200PS then becasue If I had my Mazzei setup during that period I would have definitely kept it.

My 150PS is just right for my setup but if I want to add any additional in-line accessories I would have to go with a bigger pump for sure to maintain Mazzei performance and overall flow.

 

[khoile]

Can you use needle wheel pump as a CO2 injection instead of Mazzei. As Tom mentioned, if you "T" it off your return line, it would add addiontion pressure to the line and increase the out flow rate. Tom mentioned in his needle wheel thread that the needle wheel maybe even better at breaking down CO2 than Mazzei. I'm considering one or the other for my tank, the only downside to needle wheel is that it's another electric consumption device that I can get rid of if I use Mazzei.

 

[Tom Barr]

k is correct. the trade off with the mazzei is that you have to use a lot of energy to make small bubbles in terms of pressure.

With needle wheel, it's mechanical energy.

Regards,
Tom Barr

 

[mrkookm]

With the Mazzei I agree that pressure is definitely a big factor and unlike some I have no issues using a big pump on my tank, always have. The way my mazzei performance is right now only a true needle wheel pump could maybe possibly give me comparable results to what I have now ......the powerhead mods I've seen floating around...impossible

 

[khoile]

What do you mean true needle wheel pump?

I'm considering this one for my system:
Sedra 2500 Needle Wheel Water Pump - AquaCave

Is that true needle wheel?

 

[mrkookm]

yes like that one or bigger.

 

[Tom Barr]

If you took a maxi jet and added a nice needle wheel, etc, then it would.

You can also use an in line booster pump, like a mag drive etc, run that only when the lights are on to drive the mazzei.

You should gte the highest volume.
The issue is how to do it quitely and cheaply in the short and long run.

I think a booster pump and it's trade offs cannot be beaten.
Also, you can place a venturi intake(modify your own tube volute) on the same side of a needle wheel suction side.
This will draw more pressure into the pump.

To get close to the mazzei results, you need about 500-600gph to match, but then you are looking at larger systems as well.
So then it might become practical given the trade offs.

If you have a large Iwaki 70 or 55, use it.
Or if you have a large sump, add a larger needle wheel or Rio+ mazzei and fed it into the return(double needle wheel)

It really depends on the trade offs and your system.
So there is no one choice that is best in all cases.

However, I think if designed correctly and made commercially, the needle wheel method would be applicable to far more AVERAGE systems than mazzeis.


Regards,
Tom Barr