Return pump vibration- what have you done to solve this?

N

Newreeflady

New member
My return pump has an echoing vibration in the sump. I have it sitting on a piece of silicone potholder, and the return connection is buffered by a short length of flex pvc. Still, the vibration is rather horrible and the pump is generally quiet (Eheim 1262.)

So, please, if you have ideas, shoot them over... thx! -A
 
Did this just start? Maybe something is caught in there or maybe the pump is cavitating possibly. Or needs cleaning as chris said
 
Well, tank is pretty new, and there are chambers before the return and no snails, so there should be nothing in the pump. I'll check the impeller- I know one of my two Eheims has one of the propellers missing, but didn't think that'd cause such an issue- thanks for the heads up. I will order another (they are expensive:/)

:)
-A
 
I'm sure breaking of the other impeller would greatly reduce flow, but would probably put it back in balance. Worked on a PC fan when I broke one of the blades.
 
Well, with 5/6 blades it's more flow than I need anyhow for now so maybe I'll try it. Hell, worst case scenario it doesn't work and has reduced flow while I wait for a new impeller to arrive. I'll post back when I execute the break and see if the vibration stops. Really, though, i don't even know if this is the pump I have the off-balance impeller in so gotta check that first... if it isn't, then there is something else wrong.

Thx,
Angela
 
I put one of those mess pump sponges that come with mags under the pump,works awesome..

Bad part is you have to pull it of a few times a month to clean it..
 
If it isnt a broken propeller and its loud with a sof hose and a pad under the pump id get a new pump to replace it or at least for back up so u dont come home to a broken pump and a dead tank.

Pumps are scary i alwaye have a back up for all of my tanks.


Good luck
 
This one has all of its blades, I just checked. Problem is the impeller shaft is stuck. It has chipping on both ends due to difficulty removing it last time (had to bang it loose back and forth to get it out). Currently, well, I can't get it out. Completely stuck. Can't even bang it out.

Yeah, this sucks.
 
There are grooves in the magnet (probably from off-axis turning owing to stuck shaft, or??) Is this going to be a problem? ... the inner body of the pump feels fine.

The impeller is soaking in HCl/water right now.

Thanks,
Angela
 
Might have picked up some sand and did some damage. With the magnet torn up you might not be able to make it quiet anymore. You can try to replace the magnet, but if the body is also chewed up it is just going to ruin the new magnet.
 
Yeah, hard to tell if the body has suffered any damage- I could just be missing it.

I think I'm going to try to remove the shaft, if I free it, I'll reassemble the pump and hope it isn't too bad then I'll just keep an eye out for a used one. Sux because in this case it didn't last me two years, I don't think. In any system with sand I guess this could happen. Just wish aquarium products were more robust. :/

-A
 
I think if the pumps are and have been giving you all these problems which this most recent problem is not the only problem you mentioned at the meet I would really consider buying new ones Angela thats JMO. Jackson had a mag 9.5 and 7 for sale on the STRS swap tread not sure if he sold them or not.
 
Hi Dave,

No, the ones I was talking about at the meet were Ocean Runner pumps that I had restart problems with, not the Eheims.

I'm trying to get the impeller shaft out and then I'll see if I can find a suitable material to replace it with and just toss the chipped ceramic shaft.

The pump still functions, so yeah, I don't really want to buy another one. I've heard Mags are loud and run hot relative to the Eheims, but that they are more robust... still, last thing I need are hot pumps along with the halide lamp.

-A
 
Yeah, won't come out. Impeller is junk. Tried hammering it out, still wouldn't budge. Eventually decided to bust off one end and try to dremel it out... no avail. Ah, well, won't buy another of these, just can't bring myself to do it. I'll pull my CL Eheim out soon and hope that that shaft is removable and if so, it won't be going back in--> I'll put in a carbon fiber or titanium rod in its place.

As to a return pump, I'm open to suggestions. Right now I've cut sump flow and am just running the Magnum 350 and CL on the tank. I might just pull the CL and run only the return. Still require a second pump in the long haul... need something quiet, hopefully more rubust than the Eheim. ///, submersible not required.

:(
-A
 
Well, I took down the CL Eheim 1262. The impeller shaft is fine, not stuck. So, while I search for a more robust impeller shaft, I've decided to leave the working impeller in place and run the return in lieu of the CL. Lo and behold: still some humming in the sump. It isn't a loud hum, just annoying enough to bug me. :/ I wonder if it's just placement in the sump, or the plumbing. ??

-A
 
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