IWAKI Pumps - Maintenance?

[supervdl]

I have an IWAKI 40 pump for my main circulation and it has been running without any problems for the last two years. Other pumps (Mags for skimmer etc) have failed me many times. I am concerned that the IWAKI will eventually break down and I have a 210 gal reef which I am not willing to put at risk.

Should I take the pump apart and clean it once in a while?

 

[Coralfreak]

Well, I would. I usually take external pumps down every 6 months for cleaning, its also a good idea to have a backup pump just in case.

Allen

 

[Jeremy B.]

Agreed, every 6 months for a strong external pump such as an Iwaki is just fine. Pull the front cover of the pump, then you can access the impeller. Just make sure everything is free of debris, etc, and reinstall.

As Allen mentioned as well, a backup return pump is worth it's weight in gold. It always seems that things go wrong late on Saturday or Sunday evenings when no one is open. Spending a couple hundred dollars on a spare return pump is pennies compared to the amount of money you actually have invested in livestock, etc.

Thanks,
Jeremy