Dolphin Ampmaster 3000

[alexwolf]

I am planning to plumb my sump to a closet behind my wall. Will I be able to run my main system, my fuge, and my protein skimmer all off the Ampmaster 3000? Im a little confused.

[wkopplin]

yes, if you do it right. I would probably run a separate pump for the skimmer, but I run the return, fuge and other tanks off the same pump.

Those new Sequence pumps are very quiet and are priced very nicely at www.customaquatics.com although Premium Aquatics will price match it.

You can check out the way mine is plumbed or Stave's. Steve's is similar to mine. A few minor differences, but is very close. He used some flex pvc I believe which is probably the better way to go.

[::pete::]

Thats why I purchased mine.

[alexwolf]

I helped Steve plumb his. My setup will be closer to yours Blake, I will come see it when I come back from Cali.

[alexwolf]

Hey, I noticed the Ampmaster 3000 is only $239 from Custom, thats pretty cheap!!! Thats a lot cheaper than the Sequence.

[scuba_steveo]

that is exactly what I paid, man what a work horse of a pump! yes you can run everything with it except a skimmer. You can not do the skimmer because it is not a pressure rated pump.

[z28pwr]

Man I paid $290 for mine after shipping.

[don-n-sa]

this pump sounds almost too good to be true...low amps, high flow, quiet, and virtually NO HEAT TRANSFER? how can this be??

[z28pwr]

this pump sounds almost too good to be true...low amps, high flow, quiet, and virtually NO HEAT TRANSFER? how can this be??

It's not as good as it claims to be. It actually draws from 1.4 - 1.65 amps and it does transfer some heat into the water, but it's still better then some other options out there.

[BA]

Hey in my tank i have the ampmaster, VHO lighting, and the temp stays at 78-81..without nehting else..of course i have like 3/4 acrylic so that might have somehting to do with it, with all of the insulation...

[captexas]

Alex - if you look at the pumps on sale, they have the Sequence pumps cheaper than that. The Sequence Dart (up to 3300gph) is only $180 and the Stingray (up to 3800gph) is only $230 right now on sale. I'm debating which one to get myself along with the AMP3k. I need a new pump myself.

[alexwolf]

lets split shipping. I can convince my wife for $180 right now. I doubt i need more than 3000 GPH, im only plumbing throuh a wall going maybe 8-9 feet. It will be going back 3/4 returns.

[captexas]

Shipping on pumps is expensive as they are heavy. I was going to order either an Amp3k or a Sequence Dart and a new seal for my Amp2100. I really haven't made up my mind on which pump to try. My amp 2100 is a great pump, but it's blown it's seal after only a year and they now have a new abrasion resistant seal, but instead of making them standard on Amp pumps, they want to charge a bunch of money for them. I've heard of peoples AMP3ks having seals go bad after only 30days. Both are quiet and I'm not sure which would be better as far as power consumption goes as the Amp estimates are not accurate.

[wkopplin]

Chris,

I think the Sequence pumps are way quieter than the ampmasters. That one you have is barely audible and it is an older one. The new Sequence pumps (Dart, hammerhead, etc) are specifically designed for SW and from what I have heard are really nice pumps for a good price. 3 yr warranty too. Still looking for the flow charts on them.

[captexas]

Blake - thanks for the info. I found the flow charts on them on CA's website and on acropora.net that sells them as well. They sound like good pumps and it's kind of cool having the clear wet-end to see if it needs cleaning. Yeah, you can't beat the prices that CustomAquatics has right now on them. On a side note, do you think you want to keep mine or are you going to order a new one if you split up your flow like you talked about?

[JesterGrin_1]

I am going to keep a close eye on this thread as I have been very interested in the AmpMaster 3000. So if there is an Order I would like in as I need a good pump for the little 187 gal tank. :)

[kris4647]

The Ampmaster's seal problem is just that "still a problem" I have gone through 4 seals on two pumps. One ran less than an hour.... I finally forked over the cash and bought the abrasive seals for both my pumps, simply because it was cheaper than replacing both.

You have to understand that Dolphin's new take on the situation is that their "saltwater" seals are good for just that, saltwater. No abrasives [Sand silt etc] SO if you have sand in your tank it basically voids your seal warranty. They will tell you to install a micron filter the pump's suction or buy the new and improved seals [which just came out for $80]. I dont know what their plans are for their pumps, perhaps sell an abrasive pump for around $300 which would basically price them out of the market.

Dont get me wrong I love them except for this problem. They are dead silent and put up tremendous flow. You can drive a skimmer off them as well, they arent pressure rated but they have more than enough ooomph to drive a relatively large beckett skimmer. I use one of mine to drive a 24" Beckett and feed my CA reactor AND chiller. They both draw around 1.7-1.8 amps.

Hope that helps,

Kris

[matt]

Actually, using this type of pump to drive a beckett skimmer is a mistake, IMO, at least the skimmers I make, and I imagine most beckett skimmers would be similar in terms of pump matching. The characteristics that make them ideal circulation pumps; low power, etc...come at the cost of pressure performance. Since my skimmers work MUCH better when driven by a rock solid pressure pump that does not change flow when presented with a varying load, it makes using a big flow pump work poorly on the skimmer. As the bioload and foam production changes on a skimmer, the fiction going through the beckett changes. That causes non-pressure pumps to slow down at the exact time you don't want them to in the skimmer. For circulation, they're great.

Blake, were you saying that the sequence pumps are much quieter than the ampmasters or vice-versa?

[JesterGrin_1]

So hmmmmmmmmm which pump to go with gang. So I guess all that stuff we heard about Ampmaster fixing there seal problem was hype. Well I am open to ideas. Maybe we can get a group purchase going. :)

[kris4647]

Matt hope you dont take this the wrong way [dont post here too often and dont want to make you mad at me]. Just my .02..........


Brent Barr and few of the custom skimmer have been using AM3k's as a low power consumption option for people who are concerned about such for some time on their Becketts [I spoke with Brett and Andy at Myreef before I made my pump choice]. If you look at the performance curve of the Ampmaster 3k it performs pretty well in the presence of back pressure. You may only be getting 2000 gph at the injector but that is more than enough to drive a beckett head very well. I have never seen any fluctuation in level or foam production over the course of the last year or so. My amp draw is the same for the skimmer application and the circulation application. As you know these types of centrifugal pumps "amp down" in the presence of head pressure. So I dont think the head pressure has hurt my total flow that much. I also dont know how you would quantify friction in the Beckett in relation to an increased Bio-load. I just cant see hooking dissolved organics to pump performance.

Having said that you are correct, circulation pumps arent a good idea for a pressure application. Volutes are larger and not designed for the head pressure and can actually damage the pump. The Ampmaster and its pool type pumps cousins arent your average circulation pump.

Again I'm just offering my opinionand experience with running this set-up for over a year. Not sayin you are wrong :)

Jester Go Sequence.


Check here for the best prices and free shipping. Keep in mind the saltwater seals are extra.

http://www.azponds.com/new%20sequence.htm

[alexwolf]

I am a little confused about which pump to get. They dont seem to be that inexpensive. Can you give a recommendation?

[captexas]

I just got my Sequence StingRay pump on Thursday to replace my Amp2100 pump that has lost its seal. Unfortunately it is a bit larger than the Amp and with the female threaded connections I would have to add some connections to it to get it to work with what I have. Either way, it is too big to fit where I have my Amp currently so I haven't had a chance to hook it up and check it out. Probably just save it for my 240g.

[alexwolf]

how much $$$$ Chris? Im plumbing through the wall so space isnt sucha huge issue.

[captexas]

I'm not selling it. And I know you wouldn't pay me what I paid for it anyways! Got to customaquatic.com, the new Sequence pumps and that Amp3000 pump is on sale there.

[matt]

I also dont know how you would quantify friction in the Beckett in relation to an increased Bio-load. I just cant see hooking dissolved organics to pump performance.


The way the friction and bio load are conected is that the skimmer produces more foam in the presence of increased organics in the water. More foam means more volume for the same mass of water, and as such, more friction in the tubes. Now, i have to say I've never tried using a big non-pressure pump like an ampmaster on my skimmers, just samller ones like magdrive and a few iwaki circulation pumps. What I've found with these is that the water level in the skimmer is very hard to maintain steady. It drops when there is more foam produced, raises when there's less. It's certainly possible that an ampmaster might be strong enough so that this would not ocurr; I was just giving my experience with pmps and my skimmers. For example, my small skimmer works MUCH better with an iwaki 40rlt, rated at 800 gph, than with a mag 18, "rated" at 1800 but probably putting 1200 or so through the injector. This is not just a matter of flow; it's much easier to adjust the skimmer and have it produce a steady foam and water level; the reason for this is that the iwaki is much better at putting out the same flow, even with variances in the back pressure.

I can't really comment on what works better with other skimmers, not having the experience with them.

And BTW, I'm certainly not mad for your comments! :grin:

[kris4647]

What I've found with these is that the water level in the skimmer is very hard to maintain steady. It drops when there is more foam produced, raises when there's less

IME this is all about to drain... errr the drain. Water level problems, to me, seem to be hooked to drain deficiencies or problems. Meaning, a properly mounted skimmer [esp Beckett] are mounted above the water line. To drain via gravity to the sump regulated by a gate valve. For instance when you feed heavily, a properly drained skimmer will, die in relation to lost surface tension..then surge due to the added organic load and regain its former level when the organics are removed. Most of the folks I've helped with this problem have a submerged drain; which would explain many inconsistent level problems. A pvc tee installed on the drain with one outlet vertical as a vent sometimes helps.

I dont disagree with you on pressure pumps, but from personal experience an Ampmaster 3k [seal problems and all] compare to an Iwaki 70rlt [for the two beckett skimmers I experimented with] at close to half the amp pull [measured at the plug]. Seen some of your skimmers Matt I wish mine was as well made..

Its funny we are having this fairly technical discussion, and myself, presumably knowledgable ;), found his Beckett inlet to have a piece of gravel AND activated carbon in it. Probably reducing my efficiency by 50% for around 4 months. I guess you never quit learning.

I have heard of the sequence install problems BTW. They are huge, still hear nothing but good once you wedge them in. The suction/discharge pipe diameter are killer. Some are 2", just keep in mind [sure you have] not to restrict the suction side. A sharp install guy once gave me a tip on increasing your bulkhead size.....(drum roll)

You can temporarily glue a piece of acrylic [silicon?] over your current hole [covering it completely] This will give you something to start your drill bit on the hole-saw going with, which will pull the teeth on the hole saw through. FYI. Hope anything I've posted helps.


Good Luck!!

[JesterGrin_1]

There is another way as well to make a hole larger :). You can put the next size smaller hole saw inside of the one you are going to use that matches the original hole that way it will be centered as well. :) Just another idea . :)