I have a 180 gallon mixed reef tank that has been up and running now for about 18 months. All is good with the livestock and corals are doing well. The problem is the return pump.
I have just noticed yesterday that the pump does not start up immediately when powered up by the Apex at the end of a feed cycle like it is supposed to. When powered on at first it does nothing then after about 2 minutes it will start up. Once running the pump runs fine and maintains the correct flow. It is that is has become slow/hard to start. I have a new pump on order that will be here Friday. The exact model currently in use was not longer available so I had to go with one the generates about 30% more flow.
Here is the problem. I am scheduled to leave for vacation on Saturday for a week. I hate to swap out the pump right before leaving especially one with more flow.
It seems I have 3 options:
1. Leave the current pump in place and hope it restarts while gone. The issue could have been gong on for weeks or months even I just noticed it yesterday. My fear is it does not start and burns up starting a fire.
2. Replace the pump with the new one and hope to get the flow dialed in quickly for the dual drain lines. I use gate valves on the drains to control the flow. I do have 2 additional emergency drains that or normally dry so worst case the emergencies drip if the flow is off a bit. Neither of the emergencies have valves so they are full flow to the sump. The other issue is not being home if the new pump fittings leak. Additionally there is the concern that I am putting in a new untested piece of equipment and what if it dies immediately.
3. Change the Apex so that it does not turn off the existing pump and just let the automatic feeder feed the tank with the return running? I only have 2 clowns, two royal grammas and a gobie/pistol shrimp pair in the tank for livestock. The clowns and grammas do catch food if I drop some food in the tank with the pumps running. I am thinking if going this route instead of feeding them once a day I would feed twice a day since they would need to catch the food on the run.
I am now thinking option 3 is the best.
Thoughts? What would you do in this situation? Is there another option I am missing?
Thanks for any and all help/advice.
I have just noticed yesterday that the pump does not start up immediately when powered up by the Apex at the end of a feed cycle like it is supposed to. When powered on at first it does nothing then after about 2 minutes it will start up. Once running the pump runs fine and maintains the correct flow. It is that is has become slow/hard to start. I have a new pump on order that will be here Friday. The exact model currently in use was not longer available so I had to go with one the generates about 30% more flow.
Here is the problem. I am scheduled to leave for vacation on Saturday for a week. I hate to swap out the pump right before leaving especially one with more flow.
It seems I have 3 options:
1. Leave the current pump in place and hope it restarts while gone. The issue could have been gong on for weeks or months even I just noticed it yesterday. My fear is it does not start and burns up starting a fire.
2. Replace the pump with the new one and hope to get the flow dialed in quickly for the dual drain lines. I use gate valves on the drains to control the flow. I do have 2 additional emergency drains that or normally dry so worst case the emergencies drip if the flow is off a bit. Neither of the emergencies have valves so they are full flow to the sump. The other issue is not being home if the new pump fittings leak. Additionally there is the concern that I am putting in a new untested piece of equipment and what if it dies immediately.
3. Change the Apex so that it does not turn off the existing pump and just let the automatic feeder feed the tank with the return running? I only have 2 clowns, two royal grammas and a gobie/pistol shrimp pair in the tank for livestock. The clowns and grammas do catch food if I drop some food in the tank with the pumps running. I am thinking if going this route instead of feeding them once a day I would feed twice a day since they would need to catch the food on the run.
I am now thinking option 3 is the best.
Thoughts? What would you do in this situation? Is there another option I am missing?
Thanks for any and all help/advice.