[kimberfish]

I have a question for someone more familiar with pumps than me. I bought a used dolphin from someone local , it was sold to me as a dolphin 350. I had a friend over and he looked at it and thinks its more like a 750.
I went to dolphinpumps.com and can't find this model #, so I'm still not sure.
My friend was saying the power draw from this pump was = to 2 MH fixtures and is going to run my electric bill way up. According to dolphins website FAQ's if I turn the ball valve and restrict the flow it will pull less amps, someone else is telling me it will kill the pump faster to keep it as restricted as I am having to so as not to overflow my tank. Here's a pic of the info panel on the pump. If I should replace it what would be the best, quietest and hopefully set at the same hole we drilled in the sump with no problem??
Input is appreciated!

[scubadude]

Hi Kimberfish

You need to email Renee @ Dolphin her email is
bestpump@bellsouth.net

She will send you a spec list of your pump...attach the picture you posted too so she will know what you have.

as far as restriction of the pump, as long as you do it on the output side of the pump you should be ok, and most pumps will be relative to their flow rates to the effeciency of the pump, however the most optimum effeciency is wide open....but I wouldnt let that concern you too much. If you want you can put an amp meter on it when you have restriction versus no restriction to see the difference.

[kimberfish]

thanks I just send the email - hopefully she can help.

[Ninong]

Originally Posted by kimberfish

I have a question for someone more familiar with pumps than me. I bought a used dolphin from someone local , it was sold to me as a dolphin 350. I had a friend over and he looked at it and thinks its more like a 750.
I went to dolphinpumps.com and can't find this model #, so I'm still not sure.
My friend was saying the power draw from this pump was = to 2 MH fixtures and is going to run my electric bill way up.

Your friend is correct. That pump is rated at 7.5 amps x 115v = 863 watts! My Dolphin Amp-Master 3000 was rated at only 1 amp (although it probably drew 1.5 amps). That must be an older pump. There are a lot of more efficient pumps available today. You may be better off buying a brand new pump that is more efficient.

According to dolphins website FAQ's if I turn the ball valve and restrict the flow it will pull less amps, someone else is telling me it will kill the pump faster to keep it as restricted as I am having to so as not to overflow my tank.

I doubt that you would do any harm at all if you dialed it back as much as 50% on the outflow. Just don't restrict the intake in any way. Again, I think you need to consider buying a brand new, more efficient pump. I don't know what you're paying for electricity but down here, after adding in the fuel cost surcharge, that pump -- running 24 hrs/day -- would cost about $75/month ($900/yr) to run.

[kimberfish]

I'm thinking the same thing - question is what to buy and will it meet up with the bulkhead I installed for this pump and how to handle it if I can't get one that lines up the same level.

Any suggestions are great!

[Ninong]

Originally Posted by kimberfish

I'm thinking the same thing - question is what to buy and will it meet up with the bulkhead I installed for this pump and how to handle it if I can't get one that lines up the same level.

Any suggestions are great!

Are you talking about the bulkhead lining up with the center line of the new pump? As long as it's close and as long as there is a reasonable amount of distance between the bulkhead and the pump's intake, you will be OK using flexible tubing or flex-PVC between the bulkhead and the pump's intake.

If the new pump's center line is below the bulkhead, just raise the pump by placing something beneath it as required. In other words, if you have to raise it 1/2", just cut a small piece of plywood to size and then put a mouse pad or piece of padded placemat between the plywood and the pump's base.

That will work even if the pump's intake is very close to the bulkhead. It just won't work if the new pump's center line is higher than the bulkhead, which I doubt. In that case you would have to place the plywood under the sump, which is a lot more work.

[Ninong]

What's the intake on your present pump, 1-1/2" or 2"???

[kimberfish]

1.5"

[Ninong]

Originally Posted by kimberfish

1.5"

OK, that gives you lots of choices. The Dolphin AmpMasters are 1.5" intake.

How much distance is there going to be between the intake of your pump and the bulkhead?

[Ninong]

Check out the Dolphin AmpMaster Dual Performance 4000/3000 pump. That one draws only 1.2 amps.

[kimberfish]

Originally Posted by Ninong

How much distance is there going to be between the intake of your pump and the bulkhead?

almost none because my skimmer section creates a 90 angle, therefore creating a boxed in area, it was very tight getting this pump in so hopefully the pump you recommended is a tad smaller. We thought for a few minutes we weren't going to have room to get the union in between the pump and the bulkhead as it was

[Ninong]

That pump that I recommended is probably fairly large. You'll have to check the website for exact dimensions.

It's certainly better to be able to include unions both before the pump's intake and at the pump's outflow so that you can easily remove the pump for cleaning. I had a problem with space and I wasn't able to fit anything between the pump and the bulkhead, so what I had to do was insert a rubber stopper inside the sump into the bulkhead to block the flow of water out of the sump so that I could remove the pump for cleaning.

P.S. -- I believe the pump I recommended has unions both on the intake and the outflow. You would still need ball valves to close off the water flow.