Reefflo Hammer head DC repalcement

zach_discus · Apr 17, 2018

Hello need to replace a Reefflo Hammerhead if possible due to space limitations. Would like to go with a DC pump. Problem is head height and distance. We have a split level home and the sump is in the garage and sets 11ft lower than the display tank (400gallons) and run through 40ft or so of plumbing with 15 elbows and a ocean motion 4-way. I'm not a huge believer of massive flow between the sum and the display. 3-4x display volume a hour has always worked well for me in the past.
Any suggestions on a DC Pump that would work well as a return for this set-up?

LatinKing · Apr 17, 2018

zach_discus said:
Hello need to replace a Reefflo Hammerhead if possible due to space limitations. Would like to go with a DC pump. Problem is head height and distance. We have a split level home and the sump is in the garage and sets 11ft lower than the display tank (400gallons) and run through 40ft or so of plumbing with 15 elbows and a ocean motion 4-way. I'm not a huge believer of massive flow between the sum and the display. 3-4x display volume a hour has always worked well for me in the past.
Any suggestions on a DC Pump that would work well as a return for this set-up?

What is the max ?GPH max head it? Ft
You need.

zach_discus · Apr 17, 2018

Would like to get a actual 1600GPH to the display with 11ft of head and 40 linear feet of plumbing..

JoshH · Apr 17, 2018

There aren't a whole lot of DC options out there to compete with that kind of head height and flow requirements... Abyzz(maybe) or Red dragon are the only ones that come to my mind. Any reason why you don't want to stick with AC?

Lillken · Apr 17, 2018

I have two red dragon 230 on my 500 and I also use a four way and love them I think you can’t go wrong with either one thay say the abyzz is great but cost twice as much

Lillken · Apr 17, 2018

Lillken · Apr 17, 2018

I had two hammers and they are not as strong as the dragons just my Experience

LatinKing · Apr 17, 2018

zach_discus said:
Would like to get a actual 1600GPH to the display with 11ft of head and 40 linear feet of plumbing..

1600GPH & 11FT of head is doable with almost any brand DC pumps, what kills you is the 40ft plumbing.

zach_discus · Apr 17, 2018

JoshH said:
There aren't a whole lot of DC options out there to compete with that kind of head height and flow requirements... Abyzz(maybe) or Red dragon are the only ones that come to my mind. Any reason why you don't want to stick with AC?

Space is the main reason. You would think a 10x10 fishroom would be plenty big, but spacing is becoming hard to find. My own fault for miss measuring the plumbing from the sump to the pump.

mcarroll · Apr 17, 2018

Are you specifically looking to reduce your GPH in the process?

What space are you looking to save? Are you trying to move the pump into the sump (i.e. submersible) to get your floorspace in the garage back? Or would a smaller external pump be acceptable?

My gut says you're gonna need something like the Hammerhead or an Ampmaster to run your oceans-motion how you're used to it. Plus I really like the confidence you get from going with a proven solution with a really nice warranty.

That said, 11ft isn't that high...let's run some numbers.

50ft of 2" Sch40 PVC plumbing with 15 elbows would generate +1.3ft of friction-based head pressure. 1.5" plumbing would change that to +4ft.

I'll assume you're running 2", so we have a total of 13' (almost 4 meters) of head pressure.

Reeflo says your Hammerhead should presently be delivering about 4000-4200 GPH against that pressure.

You say you're fine with 1600 GPH (which I agree should be adequate) but that's drastically less.

Are you sure about this much of a drop?

If 1600GPH is cool, here are some options I'd consider....

Mag 36 – seems to be a bit over $200.
Don't see a flow curve for it, but Danner's PDF claims it's still cranking 2400GPH at 9 ft with a 24ft shutoff height, so 1600 shouldn't be a problem at 11 ft.
Sicce's Multi 14000e or 16000e...but don't see any For Sale links.
Dolphin's Ampmaster 6250 (another external, so maybe no good on space saving) will push >4000 GPH under your load.

If you could put your sump on a 3' table, cutting the head down to 10', then you could consider...

Dolphin's smaller 4750 or Reeflo's "little" Swordtail pump or a Dart (still external, I know)
QuietOne's 9000
Danner's Mag 24

You can save power and space with most of those options.....

If you really need a DC pump, try Tunze or Sicce among the others mentioned earlier in the thread....but (in case it matters) for a return I don't see an advantage to the features you get and the reliability is still an open question. A plain (bulletproof) AC pump is really pretty darned perfect for that role.

zach_discus · Apr 17, 2018

Lillken said:
I have two red dragon 230 on my 500 and I also use a four way and love them I think you can’t go wrong with either one thay say the abyzz is great but cost twice as much

Who is the retailer for the Red Dragon pumps. The Abyzz are just to much $$$ right now.

zach_discus · Apr 17, 2018

mcarroll said:
Are you specifically looking to reduce your GPH in the process?

What space are you looking to save? Are you trying to move the pump into the sump (i.e. submersible) to get your floorspace in the garage back? Or would a smaller external pump be acceptable?

My gut says you're gonna need something like the Hammerhead or an Ampmaster to run your oceans-motion how you're used to it. Plus I really like the confidence you get from going with a proven solution with a really nice warranty.

That said, 11ft isn't that high...let's run some numbers.

50ft of 2" Sch40 PVC plumbing with 15 elbows would generate +1.3ft of friction-based head pressure. 1.5" plumbing would change that to +4ft.

I'll assume you're running 2", so we have a total of 13' (almost 4 meters) of head pressure.

Reeflo says your Hammerhead should presently be delivering about 4000-4200 GPH against that pressure.

You say you're fine with 1600 GPH (which I agree should be adequate) but that's drastically less.

Are you sure about this much of a drop?

If 1600GPH is cool, here are some options I'd consider....

Mag 36 – seems to be a bit over $200.
Don't see a flow curve for it, but Danner's PDF claims it's still cranking 2400GPH at 9 ft with a 24ft shutoff height, so 1600 shouldn't be a problem at 11 ft.

Sicce's Multi 14000e or 16000e...but don't see any For Sale links.

Dolphin's Ampmaster 6250 (another external, so maybe no good on space saving) will push >4000 GPH under your load.

If you could put your sump on a 3' table, cutting the head down to 10', then you could consider...

Dolphin's smaller 4750 or Reeflo's "little" Swordtail pump or a Dart (still external, I know)

QuietOne's 9000

Danner's Mag 24

You can save power and space with most of those options.....

If you really need a DC pump, try Tunze or Sicce among the others mentioned earlier in the thread....but (in case it matters) for a return I don't see an advantage to the features you get and the reliability is still an open question. A plain (bulletproof) AC pump is really pretty darned perfect for that role.

Great info, plumbing will be 1.5", also feeding the frag tank, refugium, calcium reactor, and skimmer. If I can not make the hammerhead work I will have to use a second in sump pump to feed the fishroom. I will get a pic when I get home to help explain the situation a bit better. Preferred solution keep the Hammerhead (I have 3 already).

JoshH · Apr 17, 2018

LatinKing said:
1600GPH & 11FT of head is doable with almost any brand DC pumps, what kills you is the 40ft plumbing.

I'm curious as to which other DC pumps can manage 1600GPH flow at 11ft other than abyzz or red dragon.

JoshH · Apr 17, 2018

zach_discus said:
Who is the retailer for the Red Dragon pumps. The Abyzz are just to much $$$ right now.

And red dragons are roughly the same price as abyzz

zach_discus · Apr 17, 2018

I do have a buddy that's running a Jebao DCP1800o with about the same length of pipe but only 8ft of head. Its doing a admirable job of it. But doing my best to go with equipment for the long term. Nothing against Jebao, Ive owned tons of there product with no failures on my end.

zach_discus · Apr 17, 2018

JoshH said:
And red dragons are roughly the same price as abyzz

About a $700 less from what I have found. $1500 vs $2200

mcarroll · Apr 17, 2018

Hm....

1.5" stacks on a significant amount of additional head pressure vs 2".

That changes my assumptions a bit (which assumed 2").....Hammerhead and the others will all put out less than the numbers I stated.

I think that also rules out any of the smaller or submersible options I mentioned.

Post some good photos and let's see if we can save the Hammerhead.

(Any chance of raising the sump?)