Aqua Medic DC Runner App-Control Pump

• Five sizes, one platform – 1.3, 2.3, 3.3, 5.3 and 9.3 share the same app, controller and ceramic-bearing design, so the buying decision comes down to flow and head, not features.
• App and manual control – set flow as a percentage, run 24-hour feed and night profiles from the app, or drive the pump from a compatible reef controller over the 0–10 V input.
• Ceramic shaft and bearings – built for continuous saltwater duty, with less wear than a plastic-sleeve pump.
• IP X8 rated – fully submersible on every model in the range.
• Universal power supply – a 100–240 V / 50–60 Hz transformer feeds the 24 V DC pump, so it runs on Australian 240 V / 50 Hz power without a converter.

Power supply: 24 V DC pump run from a universal 100–240 V / 50–60 Hz external transformer. Protection rating IP X8 on every model. Wireless control on the 2412–2472 MHz band.

Aqua Medic publishes two figures per model: the rated flow at zero head, and the head at which flow reaches zero. It does not publish the points in between, so the table below is the outer limits of each pump, not a straight-line curve – flow falls away faster near the top of the range than near the bottom.

If your plumbing lifts water 1–1.5 m to a display tank, expect meaningfully less than the rated flow figure – size to your actual head, not the headline number.

As a starting point for return duty, look for a pump rated at several times display volume per hour at your actual head height, then check that against the table above rather than the headline L/h figure. For a sump feeding a display through 1–1.5 m of head, the 3.3 and 5.3 are the most commonly matched sizes; the 1.3 and 2.3 suit nano and small setups with a short lift; the 9.3 suits larger systems or long plumbing runs.

• Suitable for freshwater and marine aquaria as a return pump, general circulation pump, or feed pump for a calcium reactor or algae scrubber.
• Not a dosing pump – flow isn't metered precisely enough for chemical dosing. Not for dry running; it's IP X8 rated for submersion, not designed to run without water.

• DC Runner x.3 pump with intake/pre-filter basket
• 24 V transformer (100–240 V / 50–60 Hz)
• Manual controller

App control needs a compatible phone, the Aqua Medic app, and a WiFi network for remote scheduling. Plumbing fittings beyond the stated intake and discharge sizes aren't included.

Ceramic shafts and bearings are a low-wear design but are still a wear item in saltwater – rinse the impeller assembly and intake basket periodically, and keep a spare impeller/bearing kit on hand as units approach a service interval.

Mains-powered via the supplied transformer. Keep the transformer itself out of the water and above the aquarium's high-water line, and run it from an RCD-protected circuit, as is standard practice for aquarium equipment in Australia.

Covered by Aqua Medic's manufacturer warranty, in addition to your rights under Australian Consumer Law. Standard freight.

Will the 9.3 fit through a standard bulkhead?

Check its 40 mm / 1½" intake and discharge sizes against your bulkhead and plumbing before ordering – the 9.3 needs larger fittings than the smaller sizes in the range.

Can I run it in-line rather than submerged?

Yes – the DC Runner x.3 range is designed to run either fully submerged or plumbed in-line, depending on your installation.

Does it need the app or a controller to run?

No – it ships with a manual controller and runs standalone out of the box. The app and the external 0–10 V control input are optional extras for scheduling and reef-controller integration.

Why is real-world flow so much lower than the rated L/h figure?

Every centimetre of lift, plus elbows and valves, adds resistance the pump has to work against. The rated L/h figure is measured at zero head – see the performance table above for what each model does as head increases.