Replacement Pump Recommendation Needed

[scottgjerdingen]

I have a 125g tank that was originally set up with a external Little Giant pump (model 3-dmq-sc) and to increase waterflow a threw an Eheim 1250 in the sump. Last night my Little Giant started to make a lot of noise so to took it apart, cleaned it and is it still sounding ill.

So, I want to play it safe and replace the pump but at the same time I would like to upgrade such that I can get my Eheim out of the sump. In total I believe I have somewhere around 1500 gpm flow, any recommendations on replacement pumps?

Also any thoughts on where I can get a replacement impeller for the Little Giant?

tia

- scott -

 

[scottgjerdingen]

One quick correction, my Eheim is the model 1060 with a higher gpm rating. I also checked the gpm on my Little Giant and it was significantly less than I recalled, I believe my total gpm is really closer to 1300.

 

[scottgjerdingen]

OK, now I am thinking about this too much (but I guess better to do so now vs. later), one of my goals is also to clear out space in my 25 gal sump (hence the desire to pull the Eheim) so that I can build a bit of a refugium). In my sump I also have a Rio 2500 in there running my protein skimmer (regular old Berlin), would it make sense to ditch the Rio and have the protein skimmer powered by the external pump as well. The Rio is rated to 750 gpm but I am sure that backpressure caused buy the skimmer is cutting this way down but I am not sure how much. If doing something like this makes sense, how would I factor this in?

~1300-1500 gpm @3-4 ft desired in he tank + enough to run the Berlin skimmer = optimal pump???

...and if this seems reasonable, I have another "no name" skimmer I run off a Rio 1700....I can leave this as is or factor it in but it sure would be nice to get all this junk out of my sump so I can create a nicer refugium.

Thoughts?