Reeflo Blowhole pumps who uses them?

tinctorus · Oct 25, 2012

Hey I am interested to know who uses reeflo pumps, specifically the reeflo Blowhole series

I am looking for a pump to run my tank when I get my sump built and to save room inside the sump to use a larger skimmer I want to use a external pump to run my tank, I am looking at the BH850 and the BH100 specifically

The pumps are VERY unique in that they use a pass through design and have a very small footprint "6x6" they also have 3 settings for 3 different GPH settings that is very unique and no other pump on the market offers that, you simply turn a switch and you can select between low/med/high to select what GPH is appropriate for your tank

The BH850 puts out 850 GPH on the high setting and 380 GPH on the low setting
The BH100 puts out 1100 GPH on the high setting and 625 GPH on the low setting

Both pumps also have a max head of 26' for the BH850 and 30' for the BH1100 so you could technically run your plumbing to the closet and have the pump in there and have it pump all the way back to the tank from up to 30' away which is a nice option if space in the cabinet is limited "which is is in a RSM130 cabinet with as large a sump as possible"

So if anyone is using ore has used these pumps I would really appreciate your input on how you like the pumps as well as how quite they really are "they claim they are silent but so does every manufacture"

I know this is the 1450 but its essentially the same pump as the 850 and 1100

cymaster007 · Oct 25, 2012

I saw these on display at reef a palooza they are really strong and super quiet. One of the vendors was using one at the sunlight supply booth and I was impressed by how much water it was moving in the tank for the pump size.

Sent from my SPH-D700 using Tapatalk 2

Poseidon · Oct 25, 2012

I use the 850 to power my system, from the basement. Yes, it is SILENT, as in I have to touch it to make sure it is on. Yes, it moves a very large amount of water for each watt consumed. I run mine into a penductor and that and an MP40 are the only flow devices in my tank.

As for the footprint, yes it is 6x6, but that doesn't include the plumbing. Make sure you have the room for a feed and exit, I would say at least 3" on each side, maybe closer to 4" depending on your plans with 90's and such.

eklapp · Oct 25, 2012

I have the 1450. I'm very impressed with it. My sump is in my basement so it's running 14' vertical and 24' horizontal so it's working hard but barely warm to the touch. You literally have to put your ear to it to hear if it's running. I'm a fan

Thatgrimguy · Oct 25, 2012

There is a 2700 coming out too.

Plan your work, then work your plan.

tinctorus · Oct 25, 2012

Yeah I may end up plumbing this in the closet that is next to my tank just to save room in the cabinet since space it at a premium in the RSM130 stand as it is and since I will be putting in the largest possible sump that fits I think plumbing it farther away may be the best option

I was originally looking at the Mag Drive pumps or the Iwaki pumps but I really like these alot better, plus I like that I can control the amount of output flow via a switch instead of having to put a ball valve on the output and restricting the pump and causing extra heat/work for it

I think I will definitely be ordering this when the time comes, I may as well just order the 1100 and be done with it, I can always run it at the lowest setting

Poseidon · Oct 25, 2012

I think this series is a HUGE upgrade over the other two pumps you mention. I've had all three, this is by far the best.

tinctorus · Oct 28, 2012

Poseidon said:
I think this series is a HUGE upgrade over the other two pumps you mention. I've had all three, this is by far the best.

Yeah I know the Reeflo series pumps are way better than the magfail's and Iwaki's, I run an Iwaki 70 on my 65 gallon tank and I feel like I need TRIPLE the amount of flow that thing puts out

I REALLU like that O can plump this pump in my closet next to the tank so make more room in the sump

cdrewferd · Oct 29, 2012

These pumps look really nice.

Not to derail the thread, but do you think the 1450 would be able to run the following:

Dual 3/4 returns with about 5' of height
Manifold for reactors
Fuge, fed off manifold
ETSS skimmer that wants 1000gph

The price is a lot better than the internal ones I was looking at. I would be willing to sacrifice some room in the stand for this pump.

cdrewferd · Oct 29, 2012

eklapp said:
I have the 1450. I'm very impressed with it. My sump is in my basement so it's running 14' vertical and 24' horizontal so it's working hard but barely warm to the touch. You literally have to put your ear to it to hear if it's running. I'm a fan

What size tank is this on, and how much water movement is there from the return?

nonstopfish · Oct 29, 2012

cdrewferd said:
What size tank is this on, and how much water movement is there from the return?

Not a lot.

I am now running one on a 75 gallon that is about 13 feet vertical and a couple feet horizontal using all flex hose and I am getting maybe 400 gph from it.

With that said it definitely still moves a good amount of water silently and cost efficiently in both price and wattage consumption.

Poseidon · Oct 29, 2012

cdrewferd said:
These pumps look really nice.

Not to derail the thread, but do you think the 1450 would be able to run the following:

Dual 3/4 returns with about 5' of height
Manifold for reactors
Fuge, fed off manifold
ETSS skimmer that wants 1000gph

The price is a lot better than the internal ones I was looking at. I would be willing to sacrifice some room in the stand for this pump.

No.

It would do all but the skimmer with ease. The skimmer you mention REQUIRES a pressure rated pump for best performance, when you add anything else to the skimmer feed pump, you lose that "pressure" ability.

cdrewferd · Oct 30, 2012

So is there any pump that I could run that would run it all?

I emailed Reeflo and they agreed that the 1450 wouldn't be enough, but said they are getting ready to release the BH2700 and it'll do 2750gph on high. Would that be enough?

Poseidon · Nov 9, 2013

Was digging for some info on the blowhole pumps, mine has failed on 3 separate occasions now, where it just seizes up. When I take it apart for cleaning, it is full of rust. Reeflo has been excellent in replacing the pumps, it is certainly a mechanical or material failure. This time around they are sending me the new trident version, which is much larger, and hopefully less prone to corrosion.

Ddavis · Mar 4, 2014

Like many of you I started to use the Blowhole as well. I have to say that I love the form factor, the silent design and the head pressure a new pump can handle is awesome. I had heard rumors though that the pumps had issues. I only bought mine after assurances were given to my LFS owner at the 2013 MACNA that the blowhole issues had been addressed and they expected that the issues were eliminated. On my 125 DT I installed a blowhole and in 4 months you could cook an egg on top of it and it would not make the head pressure to go to the DT.

At that point in time I went back and forth with support and wound up paying more than retail cost for a Gold HH/BC with Reeflow giving me essentially what I payed for the blowhole 2700 back in credit.

Fast forward a couple of months and now I am adding a separate system for Seahorses and I decide again to give Reeflow a try and purchase the Trident III. I put the Trident III on my 60 gallon cube connected to a 40B Sump.

I noticed during water changes that occasionally in the II position the pump was slow to turn on at times. This past weekend in position II the pump is unreliable and may not restart after a power bump. I was forced to leave it in the highest setting which produces a lot of flow for seahorses.

I contacted Chris in support and have been emailing back and forth with him about the fact that I am EXTREMELY dissatisfied about this pump, the continued misconception that the problems with the pump have been fixed and I am feeling a bit ripped off.

I have asked for the plan and at this point they are pushing sending me another Trident III in replacement of the current pump I have that failed in just over two months of use.

It seems as if it would cost the company less to discontinue this disaster and focus on their more successful pumps. I am not sure what Reeflow will do to correct my current situation and I travel quite a bit so my fear is that in the meantime I may come home to an aquarium filled with dead animals because the main pump fails.

Poseidon · Mar 4, 2014

Good luck, I have the Trident in my storage unit, it failed. I have not sent it back, as I don't want to continue the cycle any longer, I went with an OLD Velocity T5 pump that I had in the basement for an emergency back up, it has been running flawlessly for a couple months now.

I am saddened by what CRAP these pumps are, Reeflo was always my go to brand, not anymore.

robby2782 · Mar 4, 2014

Poseidon said:
Good luck, I have the Trident in my storage unit, it failed. I have not sent it back, as I don't want to continue the cycle any longer, I went with an OLD Velocity T5 pump that I had in the basement for an emergency back up, it has been running flawlessly for a couple months now.

I am saddened by what CRAP these pumps are, Reeflo was always my go to brand, not anymore.

I know this is an old thread, but I chose Iwaki over reeflo. I think Iwaki from all my reading is by far better quality.