Ampmaster 3000 for closed loop in my 200

TerryA · #1 10-17-2002, 03:20 PM

Does anyone know if Dolphin has fixed previous leakage/seal problems with this pump and has anyone purchased one of these pumps within the last 2 months?

I am thinking of purchasing one of these but very wary of its history. Also does anyone know if this pump is fan cooled?

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
TerryA

reefburnaby · #2 10-17-2002, 04:12 PM

Hi,

This pump has an unfortunate property of leaking at the seals. It is not a design defect, rather, it is inherit in the design and the seals need to be replaced in a timely fashion. As the seals get older, they will eventually leak.

I would probably stay away from these types of pumps unless you are good at servicing water pumps or you are alright with the seal replacement strategy. As an alternative, two Mak4s will do the job and they cost almost the same.

- Victor.

TerryA · #3 10-17-2002, 05:06 PM

Hi Victor,

Thanks for the feedback and advice! My only concerns with going with 2 Mak 4's is that the combined flow rate of both is 2380GPH @ 0 head, not to mention the increase in amps (if any). I already have a Dolphin 3600 ( not an Ampmaster), Iwaki MD-100RLT and a MAG 1800 on the tank.

The MAG 1800 runs my current closed loop attached to a sea swirl. I am trying to elimainate the MAG 1800 and replace it with a fan cooled pump with an output of approx 3600GPH so I can share this output by adding another sea swirl to the close loop. I could go with another MAG but I think these pumps add excess heat to the tank (even when plumbed externally) and I am trying to eliminate that all together as well as keeping the amp usage down.

Do you know of any other low amp/ high output pump out there that would be more reliable? Also do you know how long the seals usually last and if they are difficult to change on the Ampmaster?

Thanks again!

TerryA

reefburnaby · #4 10-17-2002, 07:14 PM

Hi,

It turns out the regular water pumps (i.e. seperate pump and motor) tend to be more efficient that magnetic drive pumps (the Mags, Eheim, powerheads and etc). The seals are not really hard to replace, but it does take a bit of patience to get them in there.

Mak4s are almost as good as they get (I think they are 90ish watts each) for these types of pumps. There is the iron might pump that is more or less a dolphin. I know of only two people who are using this pump, but both of them are LFS owners so they seem to like them. Iron might are available at spa/pool places in Canada.

Other alternatives...there is the propeller powerhead. It is suppose to do 10000 GPH with 30 or 40 W. And then there is the Wave2k...suppose to work pretty good except for some minor problems (poor belts). Both are more efficient than any pump for its given application.

Say, what kind of a system do you have ? That's an impressive set of pumps for a tank.

- Victor.

TerryA · #5 10-17-2002, 09:10 PM

Thanks for the info Victor. I just heard about the wave 2k but not sure if this type of application will work for my tank as it is built in a wall and is only accesseible from the back. The back of my tank has no room for anything but th sea swirls. Every inch of space is taken up by some large heads of sps that can't be moved.

My system consists of a berlin style 200gal (48 x 31 x 32) show tank with 310gals of refugium and a 90 gal sump behind it. Total water volume is approx 600gals. Its 4 years old and sps dominated. I'm running an HSA 1000 and a 5ft Claes skimmer, K2R Calcium reactor, DIY Kalwasser reactor used as auto watertop off, 3 SeaSwirls, 40w UV. I will try to send you some pictures if you like.

How about yourself, what type of set up are you running?

Thanks

Terry
Thanks

Terry

Doug · #6 10-17-2002, 09:48 PM

I am going to use Mak4 pumps on my returns and closed loop. I was looking into the Ampmaster and even more so, into, Sequence pumps. They are both energy efficient, direct drive pumps, but as you guys mentioned, they have rubber seals. Unless changed on a regular basis, they will at some time, fail.

If your interested in Sequence pumps, contact Jayson at www.saltwaterconnection.com

He uses them on his 500 gal. grow-out tanks.

TerryA · #7 10-17-2002, 10:48 PM

Hi Doug,

I was talking to J&L and they said that the problems with the seals on the Ampmaster had been rectified as of April/02 by implementig a new design. Also mentioned that as long as you didn't get sand into the pump you shouldn't have a leakage problem. Since my use is for a closed loop with the intake only 5" from the surface I shouldn't have a problem with sand damaging or wearing out the seal. However I'm still skeptical about how long the seal will last even without sand intake. I'm thinking that encrustation which occurs over time will eventually wear the seal out anyway.

Was this your deciding factor on going with the Mak 4? What pumps are you currently using if any?

StirCrazy · #8 10-17-2002, 11:44 PM

TerryA, try send a PM to DJ88, I think his was one of the rectafied ones that still started leaking after a month I think.

Steve

Doug · #9 10-18-2002, 12:05 AM

Hi Terry,
I just did not want a leak at sometime when I was not home. Thats the main reason. Plus as mentioned by Victor, the Mak,s are good pumps.

My current tank uses only powerheads and a large scrubber. I have used in the past, small Iwakis, Little Giant 3MD and 4MD.

Another reason I choose the Mak, is because its fan cooled, like a 3MD. I dislike the casings getting so hot on non cooled models. So much so, that I use a fan to cool them.

TerryA · #10 10-18-2002, 01:02 AM

Hi Doug,

Thanks for the feedback. I share the same concern about a leak while not at home! Having said that, as well as finding out the Ampmaster is not fan cooled which will undoubtedly raise my water temp, I think I will go for the MAK 5 or the Sequence. I'm waiting for some info on the Sequence before I choose.

Thanks to you and everyone else for the advice.

Terry