Please approve my pump choices before I order...

[Patrick G.]

I've got a 75g RR with a 1" bulkhead installed in the back glass for a closed loop. I have decided to purchase a Dolphin DP-800 for the closed loop, which will be feeding two 3/4" Sea Swirls. And for my in-sump return pump, a Mag Drive 9.5. Comments/Suggestions?

 

[94MR2]

FWIW ive been using a dolphin DP800 as a return pump on a 75 for close to a year now. its submerged, and i break it down regularly to clean the impeller and housing. within the last 2 months it has started to become extremely noisy. at first it was intermittent but now its nearly constant and very annoying. its to the point that im going to replace it ASAP.

 

[Patrick G.]

Aside from the recent problem though, how quiet are they?

 

[94MR2]

before this started happening, it was a very quiet pump. no different then a sen/sedra.

 

[Patrick G.]

I'm now wondering if I should go with a higher flow pump for the closed loop. Something like an ampmaster that pushes over 2000 GPH?

 

[ChrisRD]

I have decided to purchase a Dolphin DP-800 for the closed loop, which will be feeding two 3/4" Sea Swirls.

It depends on what you want to keep (and therefore how much circulation you want), but if you're looking for strong circulation, IMO the DP800 is going to be WAY underpowered for two 3/4" SSs.

Keep in mind that, even in a closed loop, you're still going to have friction losses, so you won't see the max pump rating at the output of the SSs. So, in this case, you're talking about substantially less than 400 GPH out of each 3/4" SS - that's not much flow.

FWIW, I tried using a couple of the small Dolphin DP series pumps for a closed loop and found them too noisy (running externally). I tested them submerged and they were a lot quieter.

And for my in-sump return pump, a Mag Drive 9.5.

Not sure about the Mag 9 (never owned one), but it might be a bit much for the standard 1" drain that comes in those RR tanks (depending on how you have the return plumbed). Worst case you could always add a valve later if it proved to be too much...

HTH

 

[liquid]

You can find a comparable pump to the DP800 here: http://www.reefs.org/library/pumps/

hth

Shane

 

[ChrisRD]

Ocean Runners (AquaMedic) are also a good choice, although I don't see them in the library data sheet.

BTW Shane, great job on pulling all that pump information together - very helpful.

 

[liquid]

Nope, they're not in the datasheet as I could not locate the manufacturer's website nor a pump curve for the pumps in order to add this info to the datasheets. If you know of the URL for the manufacturer along with the pump curves, I'd greatly appreciate it.

Shane

 

[ChrisRD]

There's info on AquaMedic's site, but it's not in a really obvious location.

Not sure if I can link you right to it because it's a frames page.

-Click on the picture of the pump (about 8 o'clock) on the main page.
-Click on "More about --> Ocean Runner OR series"
-Click on "Operation manual:: Ocean Runner OR series"

The file is a PDF and has all sorts of info including inlet/outlet sizes and pump curves (although they're in metric so you'll have to convert).

HTH