Will leaving an external pump mostly OFF ruin it?

[zeebies]

I plan to push saltwater up one floor from the basement using an Iwaki (55RLT) external pump. Is there any problem with the pump being ON for only a few minutes every couple of weeks and then OFF the rest of the time?

I was told that leaving the pump off with SW sitting in it for a couple of weeks would ruin the pump very quickly and to prevent this I should rinse it with freshwater after every water change. This seems overkill to me but I don't want to ruin a good pump.

The SW mixing container is only 13 gallons and I have a small Lifeguard pump circulating water all the time. I don't want to leave the Iwaki on all the time because I only need it to do its job a couple times a month.

Will I ruin my pump if it remains mostly off, full of saltwater?

 

[mcgyvr]

Its totally fine..
It will not ruin it very quickly at all and could potentially last longer than full time operation..
Like any pump it may require routine cleaning (like every few years)

 

[JWClark]

The only pumps I have seen ruined like this are the Danner Mag Drive pumps. Seems to make the magnets swell/stick. I've lost a Mag 9 from not rinsing after mixing salt water but letting it sit dry. Replaced the magnetic shaft and it was good as new. I just take apart and clean now when not in use but have mostly switched to other brand pumps.

 

[zeebies]

Thank you both for your help. Someone in the business of selling these pumps advised me to not let it sit idle so I wasn't sure.