Little Giant or Mag?

[pilot_bell777]

For my closed loop:

two inlets
3.5 - 4ft rise
tank: about 70 gal (Corner)

Have a Mag pump for my return but on the closed loop was going to have one feeder line coming into the pump and then the line going out to a sqwd and then that to the two inlets.

The return will be a seperate inlet (3rd) from the Sump/Fuge.

So all this pump is going to do is circulation for the loop.

Looking at the
Little Giant 2-MDQX-SC - 640 GPH at 3'

or the

Mag Drive 9.5 - 800 GPH at 4'

The little giant is more expensive and has less GPH but is truley an external pump where the Mag 9.5 has more GPH and is cheaper. Can the Mag 9.5 be used as an external pump????

Which pump?

[Polkster13]

FYI: The Little Giant pump is only rated for freshwater if memory serves me correctly. Trying to use a pump designed for freshwater in a saltwater environment will cause the impellor shaft to corrode and eventually fail.

[SBreef]

If I am not mistaken, they are rated for saltwater. I will check that out.

[Dozer]

Hey Pilot- I used a Mag 9.5 externally on a closed loop one time and wasn't satisfied. Was very loud and just flat out didn't seem to work well. I'm sure some of it had to do with my lack of plumbing skills, but I definitely had much better luck when I returned it and went with a used Iwaki. Are you in a pretty big hurry? If there was a way you could wait and get a used Iwaki or PanWorld for a decent price I think you'd be a lot happier for what you're using it for. Sorry for not answering your exact question but just wanted to throw out my 2 cents.

[pilot_bell777]

no that is good to know info......never used either so all I can see is the ratings and such per pump.

[SBreef]

Here ia a link, for a little more info about Little giant
http://www.aquarium-supply.biz/ordering/pump_LittleGiant.html

[MikeyBoy]

I would say an external pump.
I am trying to use a BRAND new mag 3 fr my calcium reactor, it leaks, and is cavatating.........wasted money.
I think they work fine in sump....

[alton]

I use a Mag 18 externally on my 155 and its great. Quiet, doesn't heat up the water but the GPH per ft is not correct. It is a lot lower than advertised, I would compare my Mag 18 to a little giant 3-MDQ. Little Giant pumps are a little too noisey for me thats why I switched.

[purplesprite]

i agree with Mikeyboy,IME internal/external pumps work better internally.Ive tried mag drive 5,7 and currently a quiet one3000 and have not had good success.im now shopping for an external pump,prolly pan world.just my 2 cents