Pumps - Ocean Runner, Dolphin, CAP...anyone?

[ErikS]

I did a search & didn't find much information. I'm wondering if anyone has had any experience with these pumps.

I'm looking at using either the Dolphin DP-800 or the Ocean Runner 3500 as a return on a 75g. I'm going to use it submerged on my current system & then switch it to inline on the new (75) tank.

I'm also wondering about CAP pumps, I'm thinking of using one on a Kent Nautilus skimmer. The 800gph is pretty cheap & should run a skimmer just fine. The price bothers me, are these like RIO's - i.e. crap?

I've had/have a mag 7 pump & I'm not all that nuts about them (I'd rate them as "okay"). I sure wouldn't want to run one external, seems like a sure-fire leak.

Any input would be appreciated.

 

[ChrisRD]

Hi Erik:

I just started running two dolphin pumps for closed-loop circulation so I can't say too much, but so far, I really like them. They aren't the quietest pump in the world running externally (probably about the same as a Mag), but they seem to work well. Not running real hot, vibrating excessively or leaking in any way so far.

I use an Oceanrunner for a return pump on the same system. I think the Oceanrunner 3500 would be a great choice for a return on your 75. So far, Oceanrunner is my favorite submersible circulation pump (I've used many of the popular brands over the years including, Rio, Mag, etc.). It's very quiet, energy efficient and doesn't seem to heat the system water up much if at all. The only downside to the Oceanrunner is that it uses metric threads so finding pvc plumbing parts if you want to do any hard plumbing with it in the future will be more difficult. The dolphins use standard American pipe thread sizes. This is the reason I ended up trying the Dolphins for the loops. BTW, Coral Reef Aquarium, one of our sponsors, has Oceanrunners on sale right now.

I don't have any personal experience with CAPs, but I've heard mixed things about them. I've heard from some reliable sources that they're basically in the same class as the Rios. You might look at some Sens/Sedras as another option to run your skimmer.

Just my $0.02...

 

[ErikS]

Thanks for the information, much appreciated! That tid-bit about the OR pumps being metric is especially good, even Aqua Medic lists the I/O as US (3/4" & 1") - lol. I figured that CAP pumps weren't too good, the price is just too low. The way I'm thinking now is DP 800 for the return & an OR2500 for the skimmer.

Thanks again

 

[ChrisRD]

That tid-bit about the OR pumps being metric is especially good, even Aqua Medic lists the I/O as US (3/4" & 1") - lol.

They're probably talking about hose barb sizes. They come with hose barb adapters. If you wanted to go with hard pvc fittings, however, the threads in the pump inlet/outlet are metric.

I think your choice in pumps will work just fine.

 

[SPC]

Wolf, if one were to buy the OR pump, where would you find metric fittings?
Steve

 

[JeremyR]

THe last batch of OR pumps I recieved accepted US threaded fittings, I've probably had more pond people buy them than reefers (this summer anyways) and they are always hard piping stuff. I know the older ones were metric, so when I tried them I was surprised, but I"ve been able to pipe all the sizes recently. I should ask aquamedic if they changed the fittings or if the metric ones from before were a screwup.

 

[ErikS]

Thanks Jeremy, I gather that means the ones you have on clearence are US threads?

Also, have you ever had any complaints about leaks when the pump is run in-line?

 

[JeremyR]

I've not seen any leaks, the are used external on the larger turbo skimmers as well. Yes, the ones we have now do accept us pvc pipe fittings as I have opened and piped several for people.

 

[ChrisRD]

Wolf, if one were to buy the OR pump, where would you find metric fittings?
Steve

I wish I knew Steve - LOL. Sounds like it's no longer an issue though - thanks for the info Jeremy.

 

[oimate84]

Speaking about CAP, I had one catch fire inside my tank. So stay away from those....You get what you pay for

 

[ChrisRD]

Hey Erik:

Just FYI - those small Dolphin pumps I was running externally were getting louder by the day and seemed to be vibrating last night and this morning. They really started getting noisy.

I pulled them off this morning and I'm going to get one large external pump to run both loops with. I've heard nothing but good things about the little Dolphins running submerged, but I wouldn't try running them externally again. Anyone else have a similar experience with them?

 

[ErikS]

Thanks for the update wolfman. Also thanks for the heads up on the Ocean Runner sale. I bought a 3500 for less than the DP800! I'll be using that as the return & maybe a DP800 for the skimmer (submerged).

 

[Anonymous]

Speaking about CAP, I had one catch fire inside my tank. So stay away from those....You get what you pay for

I think CAPs are of much higher quality than other pumps in that price class, especially RIOs. I have not used a RIO that has not failed spectacularly (ie. releasing toxic oils and fumes into the tank), yet I have run over a dozen CAPs with no problems. I talked to a buddy of mine in the lfs business and he mentioned something about CAPs' impellor system being designed differently than RIOs', which usually makes them more reliable.

I think for a return-line or something like that, I would go with a heavier duty pump like a mag-drive or something, but for circulation pumps I use CAPs and Maxi-Jets exclusively.

-John

 

[ErikS]

I recieved my OR3500 yesterday & IMHO the build quality is so much better than MAG as to make the MAG look laughable. I've only had the pump a day or so but I can tell you it blows the MAG out of the water. What I really dislike about MAG pumps are that they are rated pumping through a 1" pipe - it's not until you get to a MAG24 that it actually HAS a 1" outlet - !@#$%^!@#$%^ I have a MAG7 now & it's supposed to pump 700gph @ 0' - my guess is more like 500 (maybe). For example, I could run the MAG full open on my 38, the OR3500 I have to throttle back MORE than 50% - hmmmm......doesn't sound like a mere 200gph difference to me.

Thanks Coral Reef Aquarium - a nice pump @ a great price!

 

[ChrisRD]

Knowing that the ORs are now coming through with American pipe thread, I doubt I'd buy anything else for a large submersible pump. I really like mine.

Erik, I know you mentioned that you were going to be doing the return pump submerged, but I was wondering - did you try out that 3500 running external by chance? If so, is it quiet?

Sometime when I have mine out for cleaning I'm going to run it external to see how it sounds. Running submerged I can't really hear it - just the gurgle of water from the return pipe.

Just interested as to how the ORs would work externally...

 

[ErikS]

did you try out that 3500 running external by chance? If so, is it quiet?

Not yet, I'll be doing that on the next tank, probably about 2 mos from now. Currently it's 1/2 submerged (it's really WAY too big for my current tank :lol. I had to put an elbow on the intake otherwise it would be sucking air. As you said the only way I could tell it's running is by watching the water level in the sump - it doesn't make a sound.

The funniest part is that my wife thinks I'm lying about the price of the pump. She saw the MAG7 & the OR3500 - "Pfffft, no way those pumps cost the same" :lol: