Cali Kid Corals

Any experience with new DC pumps?

rygh

rygh

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There are some fairly new variable speed DC pumps out there now.
Diablo DC-5500 and Speedwave DC-5000 in particular.
Does anyone have them? Good? Bad? I want to reduce power on my scrubber pump.
 
I have a speedwave dc10000, neat little pump, at a fraction of a cost of other dc pumps, and actually reasonably priced compared to a lot of AC pumps (obviously not the cheapest AC pumps like Rio pumps). Quiet, controllable, what's not to like? :D
 
Well my Diablo dc10500 had a faulty power supply but I was sent a new one from coralvue

Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk 2
 
is there any advantage of having a return pump that's controllable if: 1. you've already figured out the water height of your display tank? and/or 2. using a gate/ball valve on the return?
 
Good feedback. The main reason I am interested is:
1: Lower power usage.
They seem to be a lot more efficient than most mag-drives.
Plus I have a really big very high quality 24V supply for my lights.
2: Lower maintenance.
If I do not clean and vinegar-soak my current pumps regularly, they jamb up
And having pumps fail is a very big deal
 
neuro said:
is there any advantage of having a return pump that's controllable if: 1. you've already figured out the water height of your display tank? and/or 2. using a gate/ball valve on the return?
Click to expand...

Good point.
One issue is that all pumps have a bit different head/flow curves, so it is hard to know if you are getting the exact correct one.
Another is that while a ball valve works for flow of course and and even reduces power a little bit, you definitely lose efficiency.
 
neuro said:
is there any advantage of having a return pump that's controllable if: 1. you've already figured out the water height of your display tank? and/or 2. using a gate/ball valve on the return?
Click to expand...

There probably isn't any big reason to have a controllable pump as a return. Only time I turn off my pump is when I'm doing a water change, and the gradual start-up is the only reason I could see having it as useful. However these pumps are more efficient than any other AC pump out there as far as gallons per watt, and you're not really paying a premium to have the controllable aspect.
 
Very interesting thread. I never thought of using feedback from the overflow height to control the pump.
Fun stuff!!
Interestingly, you could extend that and do the previously impossible : use a pump for the drain. Which means sump
could be anywhere.

Yes, interested in the DC6000. Assuming it is the new design. I will PM you.
 
Quick review:

I bought a Jebao DC-6000.
Not new. Roberto had a spare, with no controller, so was a good deal.

First impressions : Seems good.
Super quiet, lots of flow!
At least with no head. Not hooked up yet.
I have not measured the flow exactly either.

It has a slow start feature. It takes 30 seconds to turn on fully, slowly ramping up.
Not sure if that is good or bad yet.

It has a nice analog control input. 0-5V = 0-100% pump.
Normally the supplied speed controller goes there, but probably use my Arduino.

CONCERN: The manual says "Fresh water only".
Hopefully that is leftover from the original pond pumps. The manual is rather poor,
and has some grammar issues.
They do call the pump "Marine"
It is mostly plastic, with a few stainless parts. But a slight worry they used poor quality stainless.

ISSUE: Pipe fittings.
The pipe fittings are 1.25 inch. But they are not standard NPT.
Instead, they are NPSM.
Meaning, the threads are straight, and not tapered.
You can put a normal female pipe fitting on, but it needs lots of silicon, or may leak.
Clearly the intent is really for hose fittings, which are supplied.

Power supply is mediocre.
It is a GVE, which is namebrand for china. About 80% efficient.
 
Update to review:

Still running. I turned it down quite a ways, since it was too powerful.
I put a watt meter on it : Only 9 Watts!!!!
Surprisingly low.

It is replacing a Q1-4000 which was not enough flow, and burns about 50 Watts.
 
newhobby said:
So, even at 80% efficiency you only consume 9W?
Pretty cool
Click to expand...
Hard to say without the specs, but could be even better than that.
Most power supplies drop in efficiency at low loads.

My long term goal: Run almost everything off of a giant efficient 24VDC supply.
My main LED lights already run on that.
I will probably switch this pump over, since it is the same voltage.
Then perhaps more DC pumps for returns.
And I am still thinking about your DC powerheads.
 
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