Dolphin AmpMaster Pumps
- Thread starter acrylic51
- Start date
solonfairy
Member
they are quieter than sequence pumps by just a tad... the dolphins are known to leak and creep salt
within months of having two brand new ones... one started creeping and the other developed a rattle. i sent them to dolphin who has the worst customer support on earht and that was the end of my dealings with dolphin
i now run sequence pumps... they seem a little more industrial
the dart, barracuda, and hammerhead all get great reviews... but i opted for the pro series to get the cast poly-head instead of the thinner plastic head that a few have cracked here and there. ... i would like to get a hammerhead to compare noise with my pro series though.
anyway.. back to dolphin... just about everybody i know with one or seen their specs online has them wrapped in a towel/rag because they salt creep/leak so bad
of course there are exceptions... just like everything else in life.
within months of having two brand new ones... one started creeping and the other developed a rattle. i sent them to dolphin who has the worst customer support on earht and that was the end of my dealings with dolphin
i now run sequence pumps... they seem a little more industrial
the dart, barracuda, and hammerhead all get great reviews... but i opted for the pro series to get the cast poly-head instead of the thinner plastic head that a few have cracked here and there. ... i would like to get a hammerhead to compare noise with my pro series though.
anyway.. back to dolphin... just about everybody i know with one or seen their specs online has them wrapped in a towel/rag because they salt creep/leak so bad
of course there are exceptions... just like everything else in life.
solonfairy
Member
are you gonna be able to locate these pumps remotely? (IE in a closet, basement, sumproom behind the tank... and NOT under your stand)
if so, sequence handsdown.
if so, sequence handsdown.
tony detroit
Active Member
Based on all I've seen, read and done.
I'd buy a Seaquence well before a Dolphin.
JMO
I'd buy a Seaquence well before a Dolphin.
JMO
solonfairy
Member
the sequence hammerhead is a good choice... just be careful with that molded pvc wet-end.... i went with the cast poly wet end just because i was scared i would crack the pvc end threading fittings into it... i think the electric end is the same on both... not sure though
bigtyguyy
Member
Originally posted by acrylic51
Anyone have any info pros or cons of these pumps and actually use of the pumps... Any info would be greatly appreciated
Hey Acrylic51 how many gallons are you looking to pump because i know over a good place to buy them, i live in canada and its a pond place but the high end pumps are extremelyu effiecent. clarkekoi dot com try it out see what you think
ripped off
Member
Almost all of the used ones for sale have new seals that should tell you enough buy a dart
ripped off
Member
yes thats what i mean any sequence pump Baracuda,hammerhead,dart you just have to determine the mdl that you need
golfish
Active Member
My AM3K is 4-5 years old and going strong as ever. I did have to replace the seal after about a year because the pump had a hard time restarting when the power was cut. I just moved it from the closed loop to sump return and added a Sequence Barracuda to the CL..Its MUCH louder then the AM3K but then its 1/4 hp compared to 1/15 hp..
Knowing what I know now I would have gone with the poly cast pump housing over the clear PVC on the Sequence. I'm pretty sure I cracked mine when I hand tightened the fitting...Its nothing a hose clamp can't fix:yes:
FWIW, I used to rebuild wet ends on pumps like these for a living (part of my job) No matter what, your going to have to replace the seals if you have the pump long enough.
Knowing what I know now I would have gone with the poly cast pump housing over the clear PVC on the Sequence. I'm pretty sure I cracked mine when I hand tightened the fitting...Its nothing a hose clamp can't fix:yes:
FWIW, I used to rebuild wet ends on pumps like these for a living (part of my job) No matter what, your going to have to replace the seals if you have the pump long enough.
golfish
Active Member
Originally posted by acrylic51
Hey Golfish I understand what your saying about eventually replacing the seals, but don't you think after a year is a little premature???
Dolphin sent me a new seal for free, they admited the mistake and made it right, in my case..
They have pretty much come out and said the seals are going bad because of the sand we use in our tanks going though the wet end. I think this is an excuss on their part for using the wrong seals in the first place. I'm shocked this company is still functioning considering all the bad luck they have had.
If these pump were so bad you wouldn't see em for sale anymore.
squidd
Active Member
I was coming across as a standpoint of business irony ..:thinking:
If they are as bad as people "say" they are you "would" think they'd be out of business...
Same as Rio pumps or Oceanic Salt or Seaclone Skimmers..
With as bad a rep as we hear on the boards you'd think they'd quit long time ago....
But they sell a ton of them (pumps, salt, skimmers) IE: "someone" must like them, so they can't all be as bad as we hear sometimes...
Kind of opposite of the business phrase I'm sure we've all seen,,
"If you have a problem with our product...Please tell Us...
If you Like our product..Please tell your Friends..."
If they are as bad as people "say" they are you "would" think they'd be out of business...
Same as Rio pumps or Oceanic Salt or Seaclone Skimmers..
With as bad a rep as we hear on the boards you'd think they'd quit long time ago....
But they sell a ton of them (pumps, salt, skimmers) IE: "someone" must like them, so they can't all be as bad as we hear sometimes...
Kind of opposite of the business phrase I'm sure we've all seen,,
"If you have a problem with our product...Please tell Us...
If you Like our product..Please tell your Friends..."
golfish
Active Member
Originally posted by Squidd
But they sell a ton of them (pumps, salt, skimmers) IE: "someone" must like them, so they can't all be as bad as we hear sometimes...
I think people tend to post more about the bad then the good...I used Rio pumps for years and never postedwrotetalked about em (mostly before these forums were around) Once my 2500 burned up and polluted the tank and house I wrote about it.. Same with my salt mix problems..
This leads to more bad post because rather then post about their own experiences some post about what they read.