Who has had to replace the pump seal on their AM3K

newmariner- the iwakis will cost significantly more for me to run(in electricity costs) than having to replace the seals every year.........

and youre right i am biased because i havent had a problem-just as anyone who has had a problem is biased and if my ampmaster fails i wont lose my livestock-i was smart enough to have multiple pumps for circulation
 
My problem is not a leaky seal, my problem is the pump not starting up when the power is cut. I like the AM3k's and would probably buy another except for the pump not restarting. The leak I can deal with but the restarting issue is what I don't like. I only use the AM3K on a closed loop so its not an issue of a dead tank is it fails.

I replace the seal about 2 months ago and so far so good. It starts up evey time.
 
I like mine regardless of the seal problems. If anybody is thinking of dumping theirs for another solution please send me a PM and I will be glad to help you recoup some of your investment.
 
Organic,

Remember I am in Canada. $500 takes into account exchange and taxes. The LFS here took Premium Aquatics price, multiplied it by the exchange rate at the time of purchase and that was it. They ate the cost of shipping it from Florida to Canada.

If you still feel it is a rip off so be it I may have gotten it cheaper than most when you consider I didn't pay for any shipping at all.

im not gonna try and talk anyone out of/into anything -but i love my ampmaster and more than anything just wanted to post my positive experience.
Click to expand...

As I am posting my experience. I still think it is a great pump. But it needs work. Seals failing after a year isn't a good thing in my books. Let alone 1.5 months...

It seems to me you are getting bit defensive. And I don't understand that. We are all here sharing experiences. Yet when other share a negative experience you have to belittle? I don't understand that.

you spent 500 bucks on youre ampmaster?-you got ripped off
Click to expand...

is the ampmaster youre only circulation?-system design flaw
Click to expand...

i was smart enough to have multiple pumps for circulation
Click to expand...

Why take the jabs at me? That I don't understand. :confused:I have my ideas and views. I have my experiences. As you have yours. I have expressed mine and you take pot shots? I am not going to answer to you for my reasonings to why I designed my system as it is after this. I have them, as you have yours for making your tank as you have. Everyone here has ideas and thoughts on what is an optimal system or equipment. If anything I would look at yours and say it is a great system. Each setup is unique in its own way and the user has ideas that I may not have thought about. I love to look for new ideas and designs. You criticise? Why? DId you ask my reasons for doing things like I did before hand? Did you ask why the price was $500 and not the same as you paid? I would have willingly shared them and maybe even shared some ideas and thoughts I have with regards to my design for my setup and care of the livestock I have.

Now I am wondering what I did to offend you to the point you prefer attacks to conversation. I am a very easy person to talk to. But some words go further than others.

sigh. Your choice I guess. I won't repsond anymore as it seems to upset rather than inform.

My seal failed after less than 1 and a half months. Its as easy as that. I am not slamming dolphin as I have said from the start it is a great pump. I just want piece of mind.
 
dj -dont take anything i posted to heart-im not "taking jabs" at anyone -simply adding my experience and opinions to the thread.
youre the one who seems a bit defensive.didnt take into account that youre in canada and only one pump for circulation really is a design flaw imo-any pump can fail...
my responses are just to the point and i think ive made mine and wont be posting further-

im sure there are others out there who have had no problems??
 
I was/am considering an ampmaster 2100 for my closed loop setup - i hope the seal thing and restart problem are addressed by Dolphin; there's no other pumps that come close to being that energy efficient with those flow rates.

Scott

p.s. - friends of mine are running 2 AM3k's and have had the first one for well over a year and never had any seal problems...weird...
 
Well, here is the conclusion of my AM2700, Tom had sent me a loaner (which was brand new) after my pump was not restarting after 3-4 mons of operation. I figured I would send him the pump to fix it: A) Because I'm lazy and B) If his employees have to spend time fixing pumps left and right, it provides more incentive to fix the design. I sent him my pump with a note that since my pump was fairly new, maybe we could just trade pumps and save ourselves shipping - the other day he called and agreed to this. So, while I am not thrilled with the flaw in AM pumps, I have to give Tom and Dolphin a AAA rating in handling my problem.

Bottom line on AM vs other pumps is this: If you have to have a quiet, high-capacity pump, you need an Ampmaster even with its current problems. My AM2700 just runs my skimmer, so if it fails, no biggie I will just be a few days without skimming. I have Iwaki's that came with the used setup I purchased for my return and closed loop pumps. They are definately louder, put more heat in the water and are more expensive to run. While they may last forever with minimal maintance, you will pay through the added electrical bill to run them and the chiller a bit more than what otherwise may be the case.

Lets hope Tom et al can fix the problem and all this becomes a memory.
 
Wow you guys freaked me out I have a few of the AM3K's and havent looked at them in about 6 months. Well after reading this post I did the 40 yard dash and inspected them. Clean as a whistle ont a drop of water or salt creep. Mine are about 8 months old. Glad to know I finally avoided a manufacturing flaw. Useually I am the first to get boyint by it.


So question here if you have a unit say such as mine are the seals still going to fail or because mine seems to be the new improved model am I ok for the life of the unit.


just tell me the latter.....Please.


Mike
 
Oh yea Darren if I were u I would expect Dolphin to refund your money on the pump through (J&L I assume) to only get a month and a half out of a pump after paying that much is a joke.

IMHO


Mike
 
Mike,
Mine never leaked nor did I ever see salt creep. Mine was a restarting problem. When the pump was about a year old it wouldn't restart when the power was cut.
 
Wow - I am researching experiences with Ampmaster pumps for my new tank and see this thread. I was really leaning towards the 3000, but am now a little spooked. I don't want to buy a pump that I will have to replace seals on every month, six months, or even every year or two...especially one that expensive!! There are enough things that will break or need maintenance without knowingly buying a pump that I know has a design flaw and will have downtime and maintenance. On my existing tank, I have been using MAG drive pumps for about 1-1/2 years and haven't had any problems whatsoever. Maybe 4 of these would be a much better choice than one large AM3000 anyway. Darn - I was settling in on the AM3000 and even had the larger 1-1/2" bulkheads put in my new tank.

The scary thing is that the "new and improved" seals seem to be a problem even with people that have very recently purchased their pumps.

I guess now I have to rethink my design and consider either multiple cheap MAG drives or maybe get 1 or 2 IWAKI's.
 
Its been a few weeks since I read this thread, but IIRC, it sounded like some of the people who purchased new pumps may have, in fact, purchased a pump that had been on a dealer's shelf for many months. These are expensive items, and I've seen many skimmers on LFS shelves with the sticker "New for 2000!".

I'm spooked also, but I think I'll take the chance. I haven't heard of anyone having to replace a seal more than once, but only time will tell.
 
I have been watching this thread for some time and I must admit that I have been more sensitive to noise that I think may be occasionally hear coming from my filtration systems.

Yet, I have not had a single problem with any of my Dolphins and I have many. My pumps include 3000's, 3600's, 4500's and 5200's. Some are new and others have been in operation for several years.

I had a 4500 in operation for 3-4 years when the seal went and I sent it down to Dolphin, they replaced (actually converted it to a 3600 because the wet end is the same, but uses less power) and it went back into operation.

I also know too many people that have these pumps who have had no problems. But its like anything else that has moving parts, it will eventually need service so you have to anticipate and keep spares.

Maybe something tangible that would help argue your case to Dolphin would be a survey rather that multiple posts from a few. Just a thought and trying to be helpful. Not meant as sarcasm.
 
I have A iwaki 70 RLT for 7 years and is still going and going and going I never clean it or any thing..:dance:
 
Zoom said:
I have A iwaki 70 RLT for 7 years and is still going and going and going I never clean it or any thing..:dance:
Click to expand...

oh,you mean that pump that has 1/2 the flow , uses 3x the electricity and sounds like a fan(i guess the fan exp[lains that :p)..............

i know ,i used to own one -and a 100.
great pumps,but i upgraded ;) to an ampmaster.


still going strong





ok golfish still waiting for you to pm me youre address:D
 
Darren,
Did they send you new seals? If so did you get them installed OK? PM me if you have any questions or I can help in any way.

Regards,
Kevin
 
Quick Question for you all.

I think I read somewhere in this thread that you are supposed to replace these seals without touching them. Is this true? And secondly, how do you do that??

As you can see, I still haven't tried this yet.

Joyce
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Brian60077
Be patient, wait, and do not rush to add things ???
Replies
11
Views
425
Brian60077
Brian60077
C
DIY Stand for Flatback Hexagon Tank
Replies
2
Views
642
Drummer98
Drummer98
Z
Zeeter's Dream Tank
2
Replies
28
Views
2K
zeeter
Z
o2manyfish
o2manyfish - Status Update on 750g tank upgrade.
Replies
3
Views
820
acesq
acesq
V
DIY alternative to AZNO3?
Replies
5
Views
2K
vahegan
V
Back
Top