MDM Pumps Powers National Aquarium’s Q-Tank with Recessed Impeller Technology for Better Solids Handling

MDM Pumps has recently supplied its cutting-edge Genesys 3×2-6 Pump featuring our new Recessed Impeller Technology for installation in the National Aquarium’s Q-Tank quarantine system, specifically within the sand filter backwash and solids recovery loop. The upgrade addresses one of the most challenging aspects of aquatic life-support: reliably removing solids from backwash recoveries while minimizing stress on life forms and reducing operational maintenance.

Recessed Impeller Technology: What Makes It Special

MDM’s recently introduced Recessed Impeller Technology is designed to combine high tolerance for solids with a low shear, low turbulence flow profile. Some of its key features include:

  • Improved Solid Handling: The recessed impeller geometry reduces impeller exposure to large particulates, allowing more forgiving flow paths for solids without clogging or damage.

  • Lower Shear / Reduced Stress: By recessing the impeller vanes, turbulence and shear forces are significantly reduced—a crucial factor in aquaculture systems where delicate organisms may be present.

  • Enhanced Efficiency and Durability: Despite handling solids, the design maintains high hydraulic efficiency through careful impeller-volute design, smooth thermoset material finishes, and minimized flow recirculation losses.

  • Simplified Maintenance: Because solids clogging risks are lower, maintenance intervals can be extended. Additionally, recessing the impeller helps protect seals, reduces vibration, and lowers wear rates.

  • Non-metallic Wetted Surfaces: As with the standard Genesys 3×2-6 line, the pump uses composite (thermoset) materials for parts exposed to the fluid, enhancing corrosion resistance in saltwater, brackish, and chemically aggressive environments.

Why the National Aquarium’s Q-Tank Project Benefits

The Q-Tank system at the National Aquarium serves as a quarantine and life-support node that must recover and process solids from filter backwash efficiently, without compromising water quality or threatening the health of organisms during these sensitive operations.

Here’s why the Genesys 3×2-6 with the Recessed Impeller upgrade is an excellent fit:

  • It enables reliable transfer of solids from sand filter backwash with less chance of impeller wear or blockage.

  • It allows smoother flow transitions, reducing sudden shear or pressure spikes.

  • Energy efficiency gains translate into lower operational cost—a key for public aquaria operating under tight budgets.

  • The non-metallic wetted parts help resist corrosion from saltwater and chemical exposure in the backwash, extending the lifespan of the pump.

“The Q-Tank system needed a pump that could move backwash solids reliably and that’s exactly where the Genesys 3×2-6 with our Recessed Impeller Technology shines. Its low-shear flow, high solids tolerance, and corrosion-resistant construction make it a natural fit for the National Aquarium’s quarantine operations—delivering dependable performance while reducing wear, maintenance, and overall system strain.”
Ben Ashe – CEO, MDM Pumps

Broader Implications for Aquatic Research and Life Support

The successful deployment of the recessed impeller Genesys pump at the National Aquarium underscores a broader trend: life-support and aquatic systems require not just raw pumping power, but nuanced, engineered flow that preserves sensitive biological integrity. Pumping systems in aquaria, research labs, aquaculture, and quarantine settings must reconcile conflicting priorities—solids handling, energy efficiency, durability, and biological safety.

MDM’s recessed impeller innovation in the Genesys line appears to close this gap: offering robust performance under solid loads while maintaining gentle flow characteristics and strong longevity. The result is fewer mechanical issues, lower operating costs, and better protection for aquatic life—benefits that go well beyond a single installation.

Conclusion

In a sector where water quality, animal welfare, and operational reliability are deeply interlinked, the Genesys 3×2-6 Pump with Recessed Impeller Technology positions MDM Pumps as a leading provider of solutions that advance all three. The National Aquarium’s Q-Tank installation is an excellent case study in how thoughtful pump engineering can yield practical, measurable value—both in life support efficacy and cost of ownership.