Looking for help with a Sicce Synchra 5 pump

[AZBigJohn]

I have 5 month old Sicce Synchra 5 pump that the impeller broke.

Two questions; anyone know who might possibly carry a new impeller? (open on Sunday would be a bonus)

Also, I am not having much luck getting the back half of the impeller out... You can see it below. Any ideas? (sorry about the HUGE pic... that's the smallest Photobucket would make it...

 

[AZBigJohn]

Well, I managed to get it out by putting some towels on the floor and banging it repeatedly. Any metal tool wouldn't work because of the magnet.

I don't think anyone impeller cracking is a warranty item, what do you think?

 

[kjonulak]

Well, I managed to get it out by putting some towels on the floor and banging it repeatedly. Any metal tool wouldn't work because of the magnet.

I don't think anyone impeller cracking is a warranty item, what do you think?

I would would contact Sicce. I had purchased a couple of their nano pumps when they first came out. I started having issues with the prop and shaft walking out into the cage. Apparently they new of the issue and sent me a couple of upgrade kits straight from Italy to fix them.

Odd that the impeller would fail that early.

 

[azjohnny]

I had a Sicce 5 that I had problems with, it would have problems restarting after a WC, I would try cleaning it in vinegar. I finally got fed up with the pump and replaced it with a Laguna 1350 which has been trouble free for 2 yrs. After replacing the Sicce 5 I would mix salt with it and after about 6 more months gave out completely and replaced the salt mixing with a Mag 12

 

[AZBigJohn]

I would would contact Sicce. I had purchased a couple of their nano pumps when they first came out. I started having issues with the prop and shaft walking out into the cage. Apparently they new of the issue and sent me a couple of upgrade kits straight from Italy to fix them.

Odd that the impeller would fail that early.

I am holding out hope that Sicce will do the stand up thing, and do something similar. When I dug out the box for the warranty process, I found two things. I bought the pump on July 4th, so it is less than two months old, and the warranty specifically excludes the impeller.

Time will tell. I am worried about the tank, as it only has the wavemakers for water movement right now. I have kept the lights off and the fans on to keep the temperature in range, and am watching the water level to keep the salinity level.

No one carries the impeller locally, and if I have to order one, it is a 48-72 hour delivery, so I am return-pump-less for the next 3 days either way.

 

[m-six hundred]

Sounds like you should buy my DC 5500

 

[AZBigJohn]

Sounds like you should buy my DC 5500

You have no idea how tempting that is...

This month has been a weird one for me. I changed employers, so with a vacation thrown in there, I have 5 weeks between paychecks, so the "extra" money I usually have in my pocket is no where to be found right now, or I would already have it.

If it is still around after next week (which is payday) I probably will pick it up for an emergency pump if nothing else.

On a side note, I was sorry to hear you are getting totally out. You were the first person on the forum I met up with and bought anything from, and then I kept running in to you (at even at Spectrapure) and always enjoyed your insight and advice. The fact you are leaving for a happy reason (and that is one of the best, life changing reasons there is) does make me happy though.

 

[82ndengineer]

The impeller can be gotten locally but it is not on the shelf item. Ask whichever store you regularly use to pick one up and they can usually get it same day or next.

 

[AZBigJohn]

The impeller can be gotten locally but it is not on the shelf item. Ask whichever store you regularly use to pick one up and they can usually get it same day or next.

'That's odd, the two stores I talked to both said it wasn't available local. I first tried Ocean Floor (Only store that had one local the day I needed it) and they said it would take 72 hours. I went to my main LFS (Tropical Treasures) and they said they could order it Monday, but it would be 48 hours after that....

 

[82ndengineer]

They may just not be going to the local wholesale( in stock there) in the next few days.

 

[David1025]

If you need a pump in the time until you get a new one you can use one of mine

 

[Nibrown9]

John I have a mag 9 you can borrow if you like..I'm not too far from you 101 and olive

 

[AZBigJohn]

John I have a mag 9 you can borrow if you like..I'm not too far from you 101 and olive

Nibrown, I just sent you a PM. I work in Glendale, so that would be awesome!


On the positive side, Sicce just emailed me and told me they are going to warranty the impeller, so that is also Awesome news!

 

[AZBigJohn]

Big shout out to NiBrown and David1025 fir their generous offer!!!

Nick it was great to meet you and scope out your beautiful tank! I appreciate the tour, and especially appreciate the loaner pump! My fish also send their thanks!!!

 

[mrbigshot]

It might be worth bringing the shaft to a hobby store and me sure the diameter. You can get carbon fiber rod for cheap and it's nearly indistructable as a skimmer shaft. The sicce 2500s were notorious for the shaft breaking and we all used .125 carbon fiber rods as replacments. 7 bucks gets nearly 4 foot worth.

 

[mrbigshot]

At least find a backup you can own. The first shaft lasted 2 months, the second I'm betting won't last 6. Ceramic can't take high torque loads on startup. Best to leave the pump running all the time and make sure not to stop it for things like feedings.

 

[David1025]

Thanks for the shout out I really enjoy this local community and it pays to help local reefers out

 

[AZBigJohn]

It might be worth bringing the shaft to a hobby store and me sure the diameter. You can get carbon fiber rod for cheap and it's nearly indistructable as a skimmer shaft. The sicce 2500s were notorious for the shaft breaking and we all used .125 carbon fiber rods as replacments. 7 bucks gets nearly 4 foot worth.

I'm confused a little bit about this. If the shaft moves magnetically (from the magnet embedded in the ceramic) do you replace the entire ceramic piece with the carbon fiber rod, or are you talking about the small shaft? Do you drill the existing shaft out of the ceramic?

I'm open to upgrading/improving/improvising anything, but I don't understand this one...

 

[johanasu]

He's talking about replacing this ceramic piece with the carbon fiber one

c=2

 

[AZBigJohn]

He's talking about replacing this ceramic piece with the carbon fiber one

c=2

And that is what is confusing me. The impeller is a plastic shaft embedded into a ceramic larger core that has magnets inside of it to make the shaft spin. (see the picture above of it stuck in the pump). If you remove the ceramic core, what makes the shaft spin?

I don't know if I am just super-tired or being super dense today, but I can't picture how that is done.