Oh Crap, something's wrong....

[compulou]

We as Reef Keepers inevitably spend countless amounts of hours staring at our fish tanks. I mean its part of the love we have for this Hobby. And I’m positive many if not all of you at one point or another have been looking at your tank and noticed right away “Oh Crap, something’s wrong”, and felt your heart drop. Well that exact feeling hit me last night around 08:00pm. I noticed right away that the current being moved in my tank wasn’t right and right away I noticed my return pump wasn’t doing anything. And it wasn’t so easily noticed as my CL was running at that moment. I immediately powered on my Fuge light and went straight for my Mag 7 return pump and placed two fingers on it and almost had a finger cook out as that was how hot my pump was. I unplugged it and removed it from next to my sump. The damned impeller inside the pump froze causing the outer housing of the Mag to begin to melt!!! Luckily I had a spare pump. No pics as I just threw it away but WOW what a scare!!! Let this be a lesson for any of you Mag pump users out there using these pumps externally.

Good luck….

 

[esc.nuk3r]

can i cook my eggs on your mag pump ? lol

 

[compulou]

Hey Jus, you are not to bring your eggs anywhere near my pump!!! hehe

 

[bawla47]

lol. sorry to hear that. ive def felt that feeling quite a few times!

 

[lifesworksataol]

better to burn up outside your tank then boil your water inside?

 

[compulou]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10145887#post10145887 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by lifesworksataol
better to burn up outside your tank then boil your water inside?

Thats what I thought, until I also thought I'd rather have my tank boil that a fire hazard in my home!

 

[pedromatic]

Although Mags can be plumbed externally it is not recommended by the manufacturer.

 

[gregbot9000]

same thing happend to my mag7, luckily it was during my water test b4 i set up my tank though.

 

[compulou]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10147558#post10147558 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by pedromatic
Although Mags can be plumbed externally it is not recommended by the manufacturer.

Yeah now you tell me this. Where were you in March of last year when I was putting this thing together?


Actually this is my first real Reef Tank as I've taken care of my ex-bosses FOWLR for many years, several years ago. And I had a 12gal nano for another year before I setup my current 65gal. When I ordered the Mag I was told by Fosters that it will run externally with no problems. But after everything was all setup I read in a Marine Depot mag that the Mag pump is "not recommended" for external use. "DAMN"! Also I can't just re-do the plumbing and put another pump there. My Sump and return pump were designed to fit perfectly in my stand and I can't fit the Mag in the return section of my sump as I had always intented to run the Mag externally. Hind sight is always 20/20 and wish I would of gone another route. Oh well gonna have to think of something to get another type of pump there.

 

[ReefWreak]

Since FosterSmith told you (if you've still got documentation saying that) that you could run it externally, you shoulda raised a stink with them (depending on how old it was) and see if they could replace it or cut you a deal on something else.. O well, glad that your tank was okaay!!!