Mag 36

[brieman]

I just bought a new mag 36 to run my skimmer. It is very noisy! I have used several mag drive pumps and never had this problem. Question is is this normal for a 36 or is it possibly defective. Or will it quieten down after time?
Thanks Brian

[hobogato]

dont know about the 36, but i have a mag 12, a mag 18, and a mag 24, and they all sound the same - pretty quiet.

[Wryknow]

Are you running it externally? That makes a huge difference in the noise level.

[brieman]

No it is internal in the sump, it is so loud you can hear it two rooms away.

[Thunderkat]

See, your pumps were not broken and you tried to fix 'em. The question I have is do you think the pump may be cavitating? If so you can try to raise the height of the return line to increase backpressure.

[GaryP]

If so you can try to raise the height of the return line to increase backpressure.
Huh? You got me on that one. How is he supposed to do that? Its attached to the skimmer. If he raises the return line, he's raising the skimmer too. Zero net sum gain.

The only way I know of to increase back pressure is to pich back on a valve on the discharge side of the pump. That defeats the purpose of having a monster pump like a Mag 36.

What I want to know is what kind of skimmer do you have that needs that much flow. Unless its huge, you are going to cut your retention time in the skimmer down to the point where stuff is just going to fly in and out so fast that you'll never have enough time to get a floc to form and rise.

[betiuminside]

I have a Mag24 that I am traying to sell... anyways... it is very loud even in the sump. I guess depends on the pump.

[alteredego]

I've got two of those mag 36, and both are loud. After speaking to GaryP last week I think I'm going to get one of those hammerhead pumps or two, then just branch ot out as needed. although the mag 36 is great for doing a 55g water change in a hury.

[brieman]

Its a large dual beckett skimmer for a 380 gallon tank, I have tried smaller pumps but then water trickles out of the air intake valves. As Alteredego says his are loud I will take it the larger mag drives are loud. Will maybe try a different pump or learn to live with it. Thanks for the responses.