As my exciting new adventure in setting up a new reef tank continues, I moved to the next step and decided to look for the right return pump to fit in my new setup. Last time I told you how I started with choosing the right protein skimmer. That has all worked very well, and I knew the next step shouldn't be anything else than the return pump.
Author:
As a lifelong aquarist, Yuliya has an endless curiosity about our underwater universe. After graduating with a bachelor’s in Environmental Engineering, she transformed her passion into a successful career. While working at the Institute of Environmental Protection in Moscow, her passion for saltwater and reef aquariums only increased. Moving to the United States in 2013, Yuliya embarked on another impactful journey by sharing her unprecedented experience for all aquarium hobbyists ... Read More.
Why is flow rate so crucial in a reef tank and what you should know?
If you have ever had the chance to explore and feel the natural flow of water in the coral reefs, you will definitely have a better picture of what the pumps in the aquarium really do and why it is so important. After I had that experience of diving in the natural surroundings of the coral reefs for the first time, I got a much a better understanding of the coral reef flows.
The flow movement underwater can be very powerful; only divers can feel it to the full. And as we are building our reef tanks, we want to bring that same natural and powerful water flow to the tank to mimic nature and be close as we can to the real ocean conditions. Can our powerheads and return pumps achieve this kind of movement in the reef tank? It totally can, but not any pump and that's why we have to be careful when choosing which pump to go for.
But before going into pump details, let me tell you why the water movement is so essential in the tank. When I was diving in the beautiful reef, what amazed me the most was that how they didn't seem to be bothered at all about the strong water currents. It's because they needed the flow to thrive them and grow them stronger, it's their "air".
It's kind of a fundamental thing in the tank; we all know that the water must circulate in order to maintain a healthy reef tank. It supports many essential elements that keep the tank habitats alive. It supports the gas exchange, helps the waste removal and transports the food.
You might get a headache after looking at the selection of pumps which are available at the moment. There are just so many pumps from different manufacturers that you can spend ages trying to choose for one. That's why I also wanted to ease your burden and give you a full review of the pump which I decided to go for. I hope you will find this very useful when it's time to choose one for your reef tank.
What is the best return pump for a reef tank?
I was looking into many different options, and I was even going for one already until I did the review of the Reef Octopus skimmer. I'm not going to tell you more about the brand itself this time as I covered it quite well already in the previous post I wrote about their Elite 200SS Cone Skimmer which you can read here. But there were three good reasons why I decided to go for Reef Octopus when selecting the return pump.
Firstly, the quality and durable material which I saw in the skimmer was very outstanding. I knew that with this brand, I wouldn't have so many common maintenance issues with broken parts. Their exceptional quality products speak for themselves.
Secondly, I found out that both the skimmer and the pump can be controlled from the same app as they both can be hooked to the same HYDROS WaveEngine. That's a very improved system which allows you to control the whole operation of your reef tank pumps, no matter if it's return pump, powerhead or skimmer air pump, even from the other side of the world and helps you to create a much better cable management.
Last but not least - Quite operation. As this reef tank will be installed in my office area, I want to be sure it won't be distracting me while I'm working.
So what you get when buying the Reef Octopus VarioS 8 return pump?
I'm sure you're excited to know already all the little details about this pump. Then let me tell you some technical information and other features that you might find very interesting and useful.
But first, personal thanks to Reef Octopus for including the bulkheads for hard plumping in the box! I appreciate that you are saving my time and money and I don't need to drive to ACE Hardware, and that I can start the installation process right after opening the box.
VarioS return pump comes in 4 different models. The VarioS 2 is the smallest model and suitable for tanks not more than 65 gallons. The VarioS 4 can fit in tanks up to 90 gallons. The VarioS 6 tanks not bigger than 125 gallons and VarioS 8 even up to 220 gallons.
It can be a good idea to go for a larger model if you are not yet quite sure which size of a tank you will have. The good thing about that is that you can always tune the bigger pump lower, but you will not be able to tune a smaller pump higher than the maximum power of the pump.
The pumps vary in size, but I would say that even the biggest VarioS 8 is of compact size that can easily fit even in smaller sump chambers. The material is high-quality ceramic shaft and bearings. You can tell the difference to a low-quality pump immediately. VarioS is easy to build up, the parts attach nicely, and it has a very firm and sturdy feel.
Reef Octopus VarioS - The Art of Control or How You Can Control Your Return Pump?
The controller with variable speed flow technology is absolutely fantastic. It's well-known that different species in the tank thrive in various flow patterns. Yes, we have general rules about how to maintain a healthy tank and which water flow is suitable for that. But not even nature always works in the same ways. So you will be able easily to adjust the flow rate with a push of a button if needed or put it in the pause mode for feeding or maintenance reasons. With this controller, it's even easier to maintain the best possible flow at all times in your tank even if you don't have the WaveEngine.
Also, if energy efficiency is close to your heart like it is to mine, VarioS is an excellent choice. And why is that? Because it uses a DC that boasts several advantages over traditional AC pumps that we are used seeing in other pump models. DC pump creates safer operations, and it produces less heat with every volume of water flow, it has higher energy efficiency and like said, the controllable water flow rates make it easy to operate. The pump also has excellent safety features such as if the water level drops down or raise too much, the pump will automatically shut down, preventing any possible damage. It's controlled by a float switch that you connected directly to the controller.
VarioS Return Pump additional Level of Security For Your Reef Tank.
The controller also includes a button for float switch which can let you choose whether to respond to it when it's switched on or off.
The enhanced controller has all the options quickly at hand. It is a compact size, but big enough even for us who have difficulties reading small print. It comes with a mounting bracket, so it's easy to place wherever is best for you.
With the controller, you can adjust the flow rate with 5 different preset speed settings. The LED lights show you the selected speed. There's an automatic 15- or 60-minutes feed mode which can be easily turned on and off with a push of a button. The good thing is that the pump will automatically start again even if you walk away from it and forget to turn it on again. When left like that, it will continue pumping from the last set speed after 15 or 60 minutes, depending on which pause option you chose.
Maybe you are now wondering about the models and which one would you go for. Personally, I went for VarioS 8. I took the time to consider it, but I wanted to be on the safe side. I know my next tank will be big, although not yet decided how big exactly, but I knew if the pump is too small, it will not be able to handle it and then I would need to get another one. But I'm pretty sure it will be over 120 gallons, so the VarioS 8 with a max flow of 2,700gph was a perfect option.
With all the great features of the enhanced controller, I will be able to adjust the flow even to the minimum, but with the smaller pump, I would not necessarily be able to reach a required flow.
Is it compatible with Apex Controller?
I will be definitely controlling the pump through HYDROS WaveEngine, and I can have the skimmer in the same system. But there is also another way to control VarioS, and that's through Apex Controller. We previously did a review of this great controller. There is a lot of helpful features in Apex through which you can control the pump. I would even spend a bit more time familiarizing all the possibilities that it offers. You will find it extremely useful, and it allows you to make multiple adjustments.
Just remember that the cable for connecting to Apex does not come with the package, but you would need to buy one separately. The Apex users can also get a flow monitoring kit that will allow you to see exactly how much water flows from the pump. It can detect some issues in the flow that might need maintenance, like small snails blocking your return pipe or allergy growing on the protection cage.
The essential maintenance, which usually includes only throughout cleaning of the return pump, doesn't have to be done more than once every three months. Normally running it in water with vinegar does the job, but you can also do a deeper cleaning. Removing the parts from each other is very easy and doesn't require any tools at all. I love using these small, hard brushes when doing the maintenance of my reef equipment. They can even clean rocks underwater, be sure to check them out.
Conclusion and feedback - Final Thoughts.
So how does it sound like? Pretty good, doesn't it? You know I would never support a product which I wouldn't find among the bests in the market or that I'm not using myself. I was so impressed with the Reef Octopus skimmer that it gave me the confidence to choose the pump from them also. They promise a 10-year life span for the pump, which is quite good considering the conditions it will be working on. The warranty is 2 years for the pump and 1 year for other parts.
I would love to hear if anyone of you already has this pump and how well have you benefited especially from the controller that allows you to adjust the flow. Also, let me know if you think there was something important that I didn't cover in this review. I tried to be as detailed as possible, but maybe you have some questions in mind that you didn't find the answer for here.
In conclusion, I can say that VarioS pumps are an excellent choice for any size tank. They are also very suitable for reef tanks, and it's a good idea to invest your money in this series. VarioS offers excellent durability, quality and it's easily operated control system also gives a chance for a hobbyist to learn more about pump operations.
I'm so excited about getting one step closer to my new reef tank. The time and effort I've put on choosing the right equipment have been worth it, and I'm so glad to share this information with you too.
Be sure to follow our Facebook Page, and while you're at it, send us a message with any questions you may have. Although mastering the art form of reefing is a lifelong journey, you aren't alone!
As always, Happy Reefing!
by Yuliya Ivanova for ReefHacks.
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