Dolphin pumps

StephNewman · 12/16/2006, 09:58 PM

Are olphin pumps any good? Are they Noisey? I am loking for something that pushes about 1200 a 4 feet which dolphin or other brand should I get?

sherm71tank · 12/16/2006, 10:50 PM

Are you looking for submersible or external? Dolphin makes pumps that fit your needs in either case. I've never owned one of their external pumps. I heard it through the grapevine they had problems with seals leaking on them but were energy efficient. Their submersible pumps are built well, but will transfer a good amount of heat to the water (like all submersible pumps do).

shawnz28 · 12/17/2006, 06:25 AM

Many have had bad luck with the seals on the Dolphins though mine is going on 3 years with the original seal and just some salt creep it has had for a long time. My ampmaster 3000 is dead silent almost and am very happy with it, though many aren't so happy.

WendyChris · 12/17/2006, 08:41 AM

I had an Ampmaster 3000 for about a year and a half. After about a year, the seal began to leak (slow drip). I ordered a replacement seal and had no problems for about 4 months until I came home from work to find I had lost about 5 gallons of water through my leaking pump. It leaked through the carpet, the floor, and the ceiling in the basement. I threw away the Ampmaster and got a Sequence.

jeffgp · 12/17/2006, 09:22 AM

ya i was looking at one on ebay but was never too sure on them . so far we ahave one good and one bad . i wosh a few more people could say something
i need a large external pump im looking for about 1200 gph or maybe a little more ...

shawnz28 · 12/17/2006, 10:05 AM

You say 4'..... is that just height? what size plumbing how many returns, any 90's?

frank2926 · 12/17/2006, 10:18 AM

If you are looking at an external, they make 2 different types of pumps. One that comes with a normal seal for freshwater only use, and one that comes with a heavy duty marine seal. Most online vendors list one seal for sale for 25 bucks. This is the freshwater seal. If you look and find a marine seal they are 75 bucks. The actually pump itself is great, its just the confusion over the seal . The marine seals do hold up, its just most people are not aware of the different seals and buy the cheaper pump that is listed and end up with the seal for freshwater only. I own 2 dolphins. I buy the one with the cheap seal and also purchase the marine seal separatly . when the first seal starts to leak I just change them out.

StephNewman · 12/17/2006, 10:27 AM

I am lookin at the submersible pump 2000. It is suppose to do 2000 gph at 0' height. I a needing a pup that can get me about 1200 gph or more at 4' height, I have two overflows it willbe pushing water back through so there will be one T in the plumbing and plan on using flexible tubing because I have heard that it is better to do so for less restriction on flow.

ARNETT · 12/17/2006, 11:13 AM

I have the amp master 3600 and it works great had it for 3 years and no prolbem at all . The seq . darts are great also for less money .

12/16/2006, 09:58 PM	#1
StephNewman Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Arnold, Mo Posts: 1,467	Dolphin pumps Are olphin pumps any good? Are they Noisey? I am loking for something that pushes about 1200 a 4 feet which dolphin or other brand should I get?

12/17/2006, 06:25 AM	#3
shawnz28 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Amherst Ohio Posts: 3,277	Many have had bad luck with the seals on the Dolphins though mine is going on 3 years with the original seal and just some salt creep it has had for a long time. My ampmaster 3000 is dead silent almost and am very happy with it, though many aren't so happy. __________________ Shawn Current Tank Info: 93g cube

12/17/2006, 09:22 AM	#5
jeffgp Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: milwaukee Posts: 625	ya i was looking at one on ebay but was never too sure on them . so far we ahave one good and one bad . i wosh a few more people could say something i need a large external pump im looking for about 1200 gph or maybe a little more ... __________________ (Member of the Gem Tang Rider Posse) check my red house Current Tank Info: reef tank

12/17/2006, 10:05 AM	#6
shawnz28 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Amherst Ohio Posts: 3,277	You say 4'..... is that just height? what size plumbing how many returns, any 90's? __________________ Shawn Current Tank Info: 93g cube

12/16/2006, 10:50 PM	#2
sherm71tank Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 3,670	Are you looking for submersible or external? Dolphin makes pumps that fit your needs in either case. I've never owned one of their external pumps. I heard it through the grapevine they had problems with seals leaking on them but were energy efficient. Their submersible pumps are built well, but will transfer a good amount of heat to the water (like all submersible pumps do).

12/17/2006, 08:41 AM	#4
WendyChris Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Mahopac, NY Posts: 24	I had an Ampmaster 3000 for about a year and a half. After about a year, the seal began to leak (slow drip). I ordered a replacement seal and had no problems for about 4 months until I came home from work to find I had lost about 5 gallons of water through my leaking pump. It leaked through the carpet, the floor, and the ceiling in the basement. I threw away the Ampmaster and got a Sequence.

12/17/2006, 10:18 AM	#7
frank2926 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: phila Posts: 1,645	If you are looking at an external, they make 2 different types of pumps. One that comes with a normal seal for freshwater only use, and one that comes with a heavy duty marine seal. Most online vendors list one seal for sale for 25 bucks. This is the freshwater seal. If you look and find a marine seal they are 75 bucks. The actually pump itself is great, its just the confusion over the seal . The marine seals do hold up, its just most people are not aware of the different seals and buy the cheaper pump that is listed and end up with the seal for freshwater only. I own 2 dolphins. I buy the one with the cheap seal and also purchase the marine seal separatly . when the first seal starts to leak I just change them out.

12/17/2006, 10:27 AM	#8
StephNewman Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Arnold, Mo Posts: 1,467	I am lookin at the submersible pump 2000. It is suppose to do 2000 gph at 0' height. I a needing a pup that can get me about 1200 gph or more at 4' height, I have two overflows it willbe pushing water back through so there will be one T in the plumbing and plan on using flexible tubing because I have heard that it is better to do so for less restriction on flow.

12/17/2006, 11:13 AM	#9
ARNETT Registered Member. Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: michigan newport 48166 Posts: 64	I have the amp master 3600 and it works great had it for 3 years and no prolbem at all . The seq . darts are great also for less money .