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reeflo hammerhead pump (1 Viewer)

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brwnwatersurfer

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Anyone here have a reeflo hammerhead up and running? Filled up the 300g and plugged in the pump for the closed loop and at first threw out bubbles then water flow then tons of bubbles and suction noise like a hot tub lol let me know what I'm doing wrong plumbing has 2 intake and 4 discharge
 
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txfatcat

if you have the ability. Most of the time pumps draw air from the intake fitting.

Mine did the same on my iwaki and after tightening up the return or outack fitting on the pump, micro bubbles subsided.

Picture of your setup may help. Also what type of glue did you use on you pvc fittings? I have learned when using the blue wet/dry glue that I had some fittings that didnt seal correctly as opposed to using purple cleaner and clear standard pvc glue. They sealed as to not leak but were not as solid/seal tight as the normal cement and purple cleaner.
 
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brwnwatersurfer

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Unfortunetly I did use the blue glue instead of the clear. There's no leaks though ill try to tighten down on the intake tomorow and also take some pics do you think I should have used a bigger pipe coming out from the tank (intake)
 
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txfatcat

rule of thumb is to use one size or two sizes larger than your bulkhead. You may, like me have some pin hole leaks in your fittings.

I have thought of a way to over come this by taking some dow silicone and running a bead around where the fitting couples with the pipe to see if I could reduce any possible leaks in the plumbling. If they were sucking air, then a small bead would work and just pull the silicon in and seal it.

mine has been ok since tightening the fitting down.
 
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MarkieB

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A few bubbles here and there would indicate a leak, unless it is really large and water would be dripping from the pipe most likely.
When you have that noise, and constant bubbles that is called cavitation.

The pump is not getting enough water.
I do not know the gph on a hammer but 1- 1/2 is not near enough pipe to supply that pump. Check out there guideline here. You probably need 2 1/2 and 3" would even be better.


http://www.reeflopumps.com/images/tips.pdf
 
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brwnwatersurfer

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Pump is rated for 5800gph by the looks of it I might have used too small of pipe for the intake I guess I know what ill be doing this weekend :?
 
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Actually you would be better off having multiple intakes flowing into that pipe.

Is this for a closed loop?

How far down into the water is the opening for the intake? You could be getting suction from the surface if you are within 5-6" of the surface.

You only need a 1-1/2" inlet for that pump as long as it is being fed under pressure from the tank.

You can also call reeflo - they have always been really helpful when I've called them.
 
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brwnwatersurfer

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I do have multiple intakes 2 1in pipes going into a 1 1\2 into the pump and the bulkheads are about 5 inch from the top of the tank you think it could be thatand can still add about 2 or three inches of water in there prob try that today
 
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txfatcat

Also if possible try to use 45's on your turns instead of 90s. This will help the flow drastically but isnt always possible in tight places. If you have 2-1" bukheads(drains) then plumb them with 1 1/4-1 1/2" pipes and the you can run those into a "y" fitting at the pump. Just want to make the plumbing flow as smooth as possible.

Also what type of screens do you have on the drains/bulk heads some screens are very restrictive and will reduce flow substantially.

Something else I was thinking and made a mistake on my pump/plumbing was that I should have used a rubber hose connecter close to the pump. Just a 3-4" piece. This helps isolate any vibration or noise in you system caused by the pump. They carry that stuff and different sizes with hose clamps in the plumbing section.
 
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brwnwatersurfer

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Yea I'm leaning forward to changing the whole intake part of the plumbing and use flex pvc going into a Y at the pump. The rubber hose near the pump sounds like a good idea thanks Chris also I'm using cone shape strainers in which I took out as I was testing the pump to see if there was a difference on the intake. And yea the pump is for a closed loop forgot to answer that earlier
 
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txfatcat

Basically its just a rubber hose coupling at the pump to isolate it. Spa flex sounds like a good idea. Make sure its the spa flex. I have seen some use of washing machine drain hose and that stuff isnt pressure rated. I have always wanted to plumb with spa flex but have no experience with it.

The "black" cone strainers are super restrictive. I am not sure what options there are for this. I took mine off and used a piece of the overflow plumping pipe thats looks like screen. Mine comes up on the bottom so I was able to hide it with rocks.

There have got to be more options out there. Maybe another member can speak on this.
 
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