Jebao DCP 20000 info needed

[me & my baby]

Ok well my reeflo hammer head went bad last night . So I went online and picked up a Jebao DCP 20000 . Can this pump run reliably external.

 

[mcarroll]

Ok well my reeflo hammer head went bad last night . So I went online and picked up a Jebao DCP 20000 . Can this pump run reliably external.

It's supposed to be able to, but they have no reputation for being used that way (almost no reputation at all, I guess)....asking post-purchase is maybe a bit too clever though! ;)

Why not replace with another reeflo or dolphin, etc?

Having a second return pump on hand is good practice anyway.,,,makes more sense (for parts) if the 2nd is a duplicate of the first.

 

[vandy]

I have a dcp20000 and the O rings leak when running externally. No matter the replacing or lubing them up fixed it for me. YMMV

 

[me & my baby]

Ok well my reeflo hammer head went bad last night . So I went online and picked up a Jebao DCP 20000 . Can this pump run reliably external.

It's supposed to be able to, but they have no reputation for being used that way (almost no reputation at all, I guess)....asking post-purchase is maybe a bit too clever though! ;)

Why not replace with another reeflo or dolphin, etc?

Having a second return pump on hand is good practice anyway.,,,makes more sense (for parts) if the 2nd is a duplicate of the first.

Honestly I didn’t want another reelflo pump when my 300 was in the garage I needed the extra and didn’t want a iwaki , or pan world . I have used reeflo pumps for over 20years and I am just tired of always having to replace the seals . Also I wanted to try a DC pump and not pay 60.00 a month just in running my pump . I have plenty of room in my sump to put the pump just wondered how they did external and if I like the pump I can but 2 more and still would be cheaper then one hammer head . Plus if it works good I will change out both my darts on my mixing station . If I can do that that would save me almost 120.00 a month just not running reeflo pumps.

 

[me & my baby]

I have a dcp20000 and the O rings leak when running externally. No matter the replacing or lubing them up fixed it for me. YMMV

Thank you for your response. I guess I will just put it in my sump

 

[mcarroll]

I

Honestly I didn’t want another reelflo pump when my 300 was in the garage I needed the extra and didn’t want a iwaki , or pan world . I have used reeflo pumps for over 20years and I am just tired of always having to replace the seals . Also I wanted to try a DC pump and not pay 60.00 a month just in running my pump . I have plenty of room in my sump to put the pump just wondered how they did external and if I like the pump I can but 2 more and still would be cheaper then one hammer head . Plus if it works good I will change out both my darts on my mixing station . If I can do that that would save me almost 120.00 a month just not running reeflo pumps.

If you'll report back I'll be interested to see how it does for you. If possible, I'd love to see it on a killawatt meter.

My hypothesis (well, my adopted hypothesis) is that the AC/DC power brick on DC pumps probably eats most/all of the difference in efficiency.

The main efficiency of pumps like your Reeflo are that your CAN replace just the seal every so often and the rest of the pump soldiers on into the future "forever".

You'll be ****-canning the whole pump – windings, power adapter, and all – when this gives up the ghost.

Disposable vs maintainable.

(Not throwing shade, I've never used anything but disposable pumps.....but that's the main difference here.)

 

[me & my baby]

I

Honestly I didn’t want another reelflo pump when my 300 was in the garage I needed the extra and didn’t want a iwaki , or pan world . I have used reeflo pumps for over 20years and I am just tired of always having to replace the seals . Also I wanted to try a DC pump and not pay 60.00 a month just in running my pump . I have plenty of room in my sump to put the pump just wondered how they did external and if I like the pump I can but 2 more and still would be cheaper then one hammer head . Plus if it works good I will change out both my darts on my mixing station . If I can do that that would save me almost 120.00 a month just not running reeflo pumps.

If you'll report back I'll be interested to see how it does for you. If possible, I'd love to see it on a killawatt meter.

My hypothesis (well, my adopted hypothesis) is that the AC/DC power brick on DC pumps probably eats most/all of the difference in efficiency.

The main efficiency of pumps like your Reeflo are that your CAN replace just the seal every so often and the rest of the pump soldiers on into the future "forever".

You'll be ****-canning the whole pump – windings, power adapter, and all – when this gives up the ghost.

Disposable vs maintainable.

(Not throwing shade, I've never used anything but disposable pumps.....but that's the main difference here.)

I didn’t get a notification that you replied . Well there will be no trying to run the pump external . I got the pump into and was testing it out and the impeller housing leaks pretty good . So I guess in the sump it goes. If I had a kilowatt meter I would let you know. I get what you’re saying about the reeflo . The two I have one is 18 years old and the other is 16 . One of the reason I am tired of them is when the seal goes out . Even with a leak detection module on the apex I have had the seal go completely out all at once and flood things several times over the years . And when that happens and I am not home I have lost a lot of coral and fish . So maybe it’s best that I will be using this pump in the sump . This weekend will tell me what I need when I plumb it in a see what kind of flow it has going upstairs .

 

[mcarroll]

I didn’t get a notification that you replied . Well there will be no trying to run the pump external . I got the pump into and was testing it out and the impeller housing leaks pretty good . So I guess in the sump it goes.

That's a small bummer...but now your heaters won't have to work quite as hard!

If I had a kilowatt meter I would let you know.

I mean this: Kill A Watt Power Meter

They don't cost much, at least for the base model, and even Harbor Freight seems to stock them, so they're somewhat around even locally. Looks like about $35 on Amazon. Peanuts in the long run. :)

I get what you’re saying about the reeflo . The two I have one is 18 years old and the other is 16 . One of the reason I am tired of them is when the seal goes out . Even with a leak detection module on the apex I have had the seal go completely out all at once and flood things several times over the years . And when that happens and I am not home I have lost a lot of coral and fish . So maybe it’s best that I will be using this pump in the sump .

You've certainly gotten your mileage out of them in that case! $300/(17*365)=$0.05 per day. I've never really computer a pumps value like that (and it's def. oversimplified), but if we compare pumps I bet that number is hard to beat.

This weekend will tell me what I need when I plumb it in a see what kind of flow it has going upstairs .

The will also be interesting....to see if it gets the flow it claims, etc.

I'm very curious about actual power consumption too.....I hope you decide on a KillAwatt or I'll have to get one of these pumps to test myself! (someday)

 

[me & my baby]

I didn’t get a notification that you replied . Well there will be no trying to run the pump external . I got the pump into and was testing it out and the impeller housing leaks pretty good . So I guess in the sump it goes.

That's a small bummer...but now your heaters won't have to work quite as hard!

If I had a kilowatt meter I would let you know.

I mean this: Kill A Watt Power Meter

They don't cost much, at least for the base model, and even Harbor Freight seems to stock them, so they're somewhat around even locally. Looks like about $35 on Amazon. Peanuts in the long run. :)

I get what you’re saying about the reeflo . The two I have one is 18 years old and the other is 16 . One of the reason I am tired of them is when the seal goes out . Even with a leak detection module on the apex I have had the seal go completely out all at once and flood things several times over the years . And when that happens and I am not home I have lost a lot of coral and fish . So maybe it’s best that I will be using this pump in the sump .

You've certainly gotten your mileage out of them in that case! $300/(17*365)=$0.05 per day. I've never really computer a pumps value like that (and it's def. oversimplified), but if we compare pumps I bet that number is hard to beat.

This weekend will tell me what I need when I plumb it in a see what kind of flow it has going upstairs .

The will also be interesting....to see if it gets the flow it claims, etc.

I'm very curious about actual power consumption too.....I hope you decide on a KillAwatt or I'll have to get one of these pumps to test myself! (someday)

Oh I definitely got my money worth out of them but also lost more then the pumps where worth when the sealed gave out at once . Now the pump go between 500-699.99 and ,1000-1400 is a hard pill to swallow knowing what I now about the seals .Dont get me wrong reeflo pumps are very good at what they do . But I can get two of these pumps for less then one of the reeflo .
I ordered a kill a watt meter it says it will be here on the 29th

 

[mcarroll]

Now the pump go between 500-699.99 and ,1000-1400 is a hard pill to swallow knowing what I now about the seals .

Yeah, I see prices around $500 on a quick search, by no means "cheap" per se.

For comparison, I think getting 5 years out of the DCP will be doing pretty good. $225/(5*365)=$0.12 a day. So in the long run, my prediction is that they may actually cost double....plus they're fairly worse for the environment disposal-wise since the whole pump likely becomes waste with each cycle.

Oh I definitely got my money worth out of them but also lost more then the pumps where worth when the sealed gave out at once . Now the pump go between 500-699.99 and ,1000-1400 is a hard pill to swallow knowing what I now about the seals .Dont get me wrong reeflo pumps are very good at what they do . But I can get two of these pumps for less then one of the reeflo .
I ordered a kill a watt meter it says it will be here on the 29th

You definitely have to account for that. Maybe it could be prevented in the future somehow though....maybe altering the installation a bit or whatever since detection alone didn't seem to prevent the damage.

Circumstances can result in a cracked pump housing, which can lead to electricity and corrosion getting into the tank, which is something that can't happen with an external pump. While probably unlikely, it's worth pointing out that I'm not just being theoretical, I'm referring to threads on here – it does happen. (Failure modes vary and it might be little better these days than in the past, but swelling and cracking have always been an issue with cheaper/off brand submersible pumps in the hobby.)

Certainly one advantage of a submersible pump is that a pump breakdown will never (automatically) amount to a flood – and worrying about floods might be the main reason I use submersibles, if I'm honest. ;)

Since I'm still in decision mode on this for a system in planning, BTW, why not an Iwaki/Panworld/Little Giant style pump? Seems like that design might be the best of both worlds – no seals to give out + mag drive reliability + external pump rebuild-ability.

P.S. Also curious how you characterize the noise levels of both pumps once you have the new one in place.

 

[Reefering1]

Yeah, I see prices around $500 on a quick search, by no means "cheap" per se.

For comparison, I think getting 5 years out of the DCP will be doing pretty good. $225/(5*365)=$0.12 a day. So in the long run, my prediction is that they may actually cost double....plus they're fairly worse for the environment disposal-wise since the whole pump likely becomes waste with each cycle.


You definitely have to account for that. Maybe it could be prevented in the future somehow though....maybe altering the installation a bit or whatever since detection alone didn't seem to prevent the damage.

Circumstances can result in a cracked pump housing, which can lead to electricity and corrosion getting into the tank, which is something that can't happen with an external pump. While probably unlikely, it's worth pointing out that I'm not just being theoretical, I'm referring to threads on here – it does happen. (Failure modes vary and it might be little better these days than in the past, but swelling and cracking have always been an issue with cheaper/off brand submersible pumps in the hobby.)

Certainly one advantage of a submersible pump is that a pump breakdown will never (automatically) amount to a flood – and worrying about floods might be the main reason I use submersibles, if I'm honest. ;)

Since I'm still in decision mode on this for a system in planning, BTW, why not an Iwaki/Panworld/Little Giant style pump? Seems like that design might be the best of both worlds – no seals to give out + mag drive reliability + external pump rebuild-ability.

P.S. Also curious how you characterize the noise levels of both pumps once you have the new one in place.

The dcp20000 goes for about 225 on amzon. Mind has been going strong 8 years non stop. (Many similar reports) 5 years is unrealisticaly short expectation, on these bigger pumps, but makes the math suit your opposition. Iirc, it pulls 130 something watts from the wall, according to the apc ups its plugged into. They definitely don't handle head height as well though.

 

[me & my baby]

Now the pump go between 500-699.99 and ,1000-1400 is a hard pill to swallow knowing what I now about the seals .

Yeah, I see prices around $500 on a quick search, by no means "cheap" per se.

For comparison, I think getting 5 years out of the DCP will be doing pretty good. $225/(5*365)=$0.12 a day. So in the long run, my prediction is that they may actually cost double....plus they're fairly worse for the environment disposal-wise since the whole pump likely becomes waste with each cycle.

Oh I definitely got my money worth out of them but also lost more then the pumps where worth when the sealed gave out at once . Now the pump go between 500-699.99 and ,1000-1400 is a hard pill to swallow knowing what I now about the seals .Dont get me wrong reeflo pumps are very good at what they do . But I can get two of these pumps for less then one of the reeflo .
I ordered a kill a watt meter it says it will be here on the 29th

You definitely have to account for that. Maybe it could be prevented in the future somehow though....maybe altering the installation a bit or whatever since detection alone didn't seem to prevent the damage.

Circumstances can result in a cracked pump housing, which can lead to electricity and corrosion getting into the tank, which is something that can't happen with an external pump. While probably unlikely, it's worth pointing out that I'm not just being theoretical, I'm referring to threads on here – it does happen. (Failure modes vary and it might be little better these days than in the past, but swelling and cracking have always been an issue with cheaper/off brand submersible pumps in the hobby.)

Certainly one advantage of a submersible pump is that a pump breakdown will never (automatically) amount to a flood – and worrying about floods might be the main reason I use submersibles, if I'm honest. ;)

Since I'm still in decision mode on this for a system in planning, BTW, why not an Iwaki/Panworld/Little Giant style pump? Seems like that design might be the best of both worlds – no seals to give out + mag drive reliability + external pump rebuild-ability.

P.S. Also curious how you characterize the noise levels of both pumps once you have the new one in place.

No there is nothing that with the install that could help . It is a straight shot from the sump to the pump and a straight shot up through the floor to the tank . No 90s no 45s . Also the pump sits in a vibration pad . The problem with these pump is once you notice the signs of the seals leaking the seal is gone . Ok so look at other pump . Echotech , Apex , Sicce and Mag drives all have there share of failures. Are there people that have those pumps I listed not have problems yes do you have people that have problems with them yes . Same with the jebao pumps I have read of complete failures as well as people have great success with them . I am not biased to any brand . No there are some brands I refuse to buy and that is from my own experience with that company . As far as recycling, there are places I send my old pumps And power heads to that recycle 100% of the unit . It’s no different recycling any of the pumps you listed . I don’t know why you seem to have a distaste for Jebao pumps or knock off but I am open to try different things .

 

[me & my baby]

Yeah, I see prices around $500 on a quick search, by no means "cheap" per se.

For comparison, I think getting 5 years out of the DCP will be doing pretty good. $225/(5*365)=$0.12 a day. So in the long run, my prediction is that they may actually cost double....plus they're fairly worse for the environment disposal-wise since the whole pump likely becomes waste with each cycle.


You definitely have to account for that. Maybe it could be prevented in the future somehow though....maybe altering the installation a bit or whatever since detection alone didn't seem to prevent the damage.

Circumstances can result in a cracked pump housing, which can lead to electricity and corrosion getting into the tank, which is something that can't happen with an external pump. While probably unlikely, it's worth pointing out that I'm not just being theoretical, I'm referring to threads on here – it does happen. (Failure modes vary and it might be little better these days than in the past, but swelling and cracking have always been an issue with cheaper/off brand submersible pumps in the hobby.)

Certainly one advantage of a submersible pump is that a pump breakdown will never (automatically) amount to a flood – and worrying about floods might be the main reason I use submersibles, if I'm honest. ;)

Since I'm still in decision mode on this for a system in planning, BTW, why not an Iwaki/Panworld/Little Giant style pump? Seems like that design might be the best of both worlds – no seals to give out + mag drive reliability + external pump rebuild-ability.

P.S. Also curious how you characterize the noise levels of both pumps once you have the new one in place.

The dcp20000 goes for about 225 on amzon. Mind has been going strong 8 years non stop. (Many similar reports) 5 years is unrealisticaly short expectation, on these bigger pumps, but makes the math suit your opposition. Iirc, it pulls 130 something watts from the wall, according to the apc ups its plugged into. They definitely don't handle head height as well though.

What kinda of head height are you running your . Mine will be running about 14ft . 4 foot over then 10ft up . As long as I can end up with 750 to 1000 and hours that gives me my 5 times a hour turn over .

 

[Reefering1]

What kinda of head height are you running your . Mine will be running about 14ft . 4 foot over then 10ft up . As long as I can end up with 750 to 1000 and hours that gives me my 5 times a hour turn over .

So that's about 180g display with sump 14' below, and over some?

 

[me & my baby]

It’s about 4ft over from the sump then straight up 10ft to the top of my tank . The tank isn’t 150 with a 125 gallon sump with about 75 gallons of water in it .

 

[me & my baby]

What kinda of head height are you running your . Mine will be running about 14ft . 4 foot over then 10ft up . As long as I can end up with 750 to 1000 and hours that gives me my 5 times a hour turn over .

So that's about 180g display with sump 14' below, and over some?

Yes

 

[Reefering1]

Yes

I never calculated my actual turnover, but at about 5' head(through a manifold), mine almost fills (2) 1" pipes(full siphon] clean. Looks like a white capped river in 55g sump. And it slows as the years go by without cleaning.
Then I started a 300g and threw a 20$(700gph) pump in as temp return. Works just fine, have another dcp20000 sitting in box for it- still haven't felt the need to install it..
Point is-i don't think turnover is as important and commonly thought. I think it will work just fine. But if you need that specific rate(for uv or something)- you might be pushing it for the Jebao pump at 14' head height.
If you really need the head pressure, I might try to find a way to mount the a/c pump over the sump- so there's less consequential damage next time a $5 seal fails.

 

[me & my baby]

Yes

I never calculated my actual turnover, but at about 5' head(through a manifold), mine almost fills (2) 1" pipes(full siphon] clean. Looks like a white capped river in 55g sump. And it slows as the years go by without cleaning.
Then I started a 300g and threw a 20$(700gph) pump in as temp return. Works just fine, have another dcp20000 sitting in box for it- still haven't felt the need to install it..
Point is-i don't think turnover is as important and commonly thought. I think it will work just fine. But if you need that specific rate(for uv or something)- you might be pushing it for the Jebao pump at 14' head height.
If you really need the head pressure, I might try to find a way to mount the a/c pump over the sump- so there's less consequential damage next time a $5 seal fails.

I will see what it does and I wish the seals were $5 . They are 36.00 plus shipping from reeflo and 46 and up at other retailers.

 

[mcarroll]

No there is nothing that with the install that could help . It is a straight shot from the sump to the pump and a straight shot up through the floor to the tank . No 90s no 45s . Also the pump sits in a vibration pad . The problem with these pump is once you notice the signs of the seals leaking the seal is gone

I've read of lots of different failure modes for Reeflo's (which you can only do with a pump that has a track record), most thankfully don't seem to be catastrophic like that, but there's a fair share of that are.

Ok so look at other pump . Echotech , Apex , Sicce and Mag drives all have there share of failures. Are there people that have those pumps I listed not have problems yes do you have people that have problems with them yes . Same with the jebao pumps I have read of complete failures as well as people have great success with them .

Actually there's a big difference to a brand/product with a track record and a no-name band with a new untested product. If you've been in the hobby this long, but using external pumps, maybe you've been sheltered from what cheap pumps are like....it isn't the same as Mag, Sicce, Ehiem or even Quiet One....not by a wide margin.

I wonder if EcoTech places themselves in the same category with Jebao? I doubt it.

The DCP-20000 has been on the market for at most a few years....so there just isn't much track record to go by.

I am not biased to any brand . No there are some brands I refuse to buy and that is from my own experience with that company . As far as recycling, there are places I send my old pumps And power heads to that recycle 100% of the unit . It’s no different recycling any of the pumps you listed . I don’t know why you seem to have a distaste for Jebao pumps or knock off but I am open to try different things .

I'm not either...I think I said what my main bias was a post or two back.....I'm biased toward submersibles in general.

I also enjoy having cheap asian pumps available. But have developed a distaste for them as return pumps. I only use them for non-mission critical applications...water changes, reactor feed, etc.

Adding a DC control to cheap asian pumps did not sway my opinion on that since controls like that tend to make a pump less reliable, not more. Reliability is my #1 criteria for a return pump, not feed timers, speed controls, etc.

Lastly, I do like to keep a clear head about what a "DC pump" really is. Whatever else they are, it's also a lot of hype.

So that's why I have a lot of questions.....and you're someone making an unusual switch from a big external pump, so I'm hoping you're willing to share data. That's all really.

Well, that and I have a big project in planning that might get a Hammerhead or comparable pump.....was really looking at larger Little Giants for the flow rate I need (~40 gpm), so that's whay made me wonder why you had ruled out these types of pump? (ie. mag drive, external motor, no seals.)

 

[mcarroll]

The dcp20000 goes for about 225 on amzon. Mind has been going strong 8 years non stop. (Many similar reports) 5 years is unrealisticaly short expectation, on these bigger pumps, but makes the math suit your opposition. Iirc, it pulls 130 something watts from the wall, according to the apc ups its plugged into. They definitely don't handle head height as well though.

Your experience ≠ an average. That is a bad assumption.

I was estimating an average, and if you look again it was explicitly stated as a simplistic guess. I made a similarly simplistic guess about the Reeflo pumps a few posts earlier.

BTW, I'm glad your pump isn't dead and hope it lives long and prospers.

Have you measured your system's actual flow rate? (eg. bucket at the main drain)

Knowing the actual flow being delivered and your system's head height would help to put the 130 watts in perspective.