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Pennies2Cents
Wed, 11th Aug 2010, 01:53 AM
Okay so we have this old return pump that actually came with the setup when we originally purchased it. The issue has always been that when we turn it off to clean the tank or for what ever reason it had to be hit a little on the side or water pushed back into it. Well tonight has been a different case. I turned it off, but now it wont turn back on, not even with the water being pushed in there with a pump, a little smacking with the hammer etc....

My worry is well of course the obvious.. Will my tank survive with only the 2 MP40's running? And if so how long?

We plan on taking it off and cleaning it on the inside to hopefully clear it of any ditrus tomorrow.

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StevenSeas
Wed, 11th Aug 2010, 02:14 AM
as long as you have surface disturbance you should be ok for the night.

as far as getting the pump to start up again i have run into a similar problem again and again, especially with older pumps. What I would try is remove the front cover to get to the impeller and while its plugged in tap the impeller (ideally with something like a screwdriver not your finger as that hurts) I am not sure why this occurs my guess is that it just gets locked up or seated to low or something. but this always seems to do the trick for me

BIGBIRD123
Wed, 11th Aug 2010, 02:28 AM
nevermind

roscozman
Wed, 11th Aug 2010, 09:18 AM
Still would no start up this morning. We dropped a back-up Mag18 inside the return section of our sump and ran some tubing we use for water changes for now. This is only temporary. The pump that went out is a ReeFlo Dart Pump.

Pennies2Cents
Wed, 11th Aug 2010, 09:30 AM
Time for a NEW ONE!

aquasport24
Wed, 11th Aug 2010, 09:41 AM
I am having the same problem with my Mag 18, i think it has alot to do with back presure. I ran with just 2 mp40s for 3 days when my return pump was down, with no issues.

Bill S
Wed, 11th Aug 2010, 10:05 AM
Eve/Ross. I have a QuietOne 9000 - 2300gph+, that is anything but quiet, just sitting in the garage. Let me know if you want to borrow. It's brand new - just been run a couple of hours in fresh water.

And, if you need our could use an external only, I have at least 1 1200gph sitting around.

roscozman
Wed, 11th Aug 2010, 10:21 AM
Thanks Bill. We might be giving you a call today or tomorrow...

chrisfowler99
Wed, 11th Aug 2010, 10:31 AM
Knew I read something like this the other day. Found it on the Reeflo site:

http://www.reeflopumps.com/images/troublshooting.gif

Not sure this is your case...but it's a possibility.

roscozman
Thu, 12th Aug 2010, 10:09 AM
Thanks for all the suggestions everyone. The pump did come back on last night.

We had a little issue with our back up pump. We got home yesterday and everything was great until we took our puppy outside to do her business. Some time in the 5 seconds we were gone, our two year old turned off the only switch on our light strip that controls the pump. This created a siphon and the sump over flowed a little and we had to clean up some water off the floor. I never put a hole in the top of the PVC pipe because we only used it for water changes. Also our door that covers the light strip has a child proof lock... But we forgot to close that door. Now there is a hole in the pipe and we have our two year old on puppy patrol.

cbianco
Thu, 12th Aug 2010, 10:40 AM
Thanks for all the suggestions everyone. The pump did come back on last night.

We had a little issue with our back up pump. We got home yesterday and everything was great until we took our puppy outside to do her business. Some time in the 5 seconds we were gone, our two year old turned off the only switch on our light strip that controls the pump. This created a siphon and the sump over flowed a little and we had to clean up some water off the floor. I never put a hole in the top of the PVC pipe because we only used it for water changes. Also our door that covers the light strip has a child proof lock... But we forgot to close that door. Now there is a hole in the pipe and we have our two year old on puppy patrol.

Still might be a good idea to clean/service the pump. Are you still considering a new pump?

Is your two year old's name Murphy by any chance. Glad to here it was only "some" water and not 25% of your tanks water.

Christopher

Pennies2Cents
Thu, 12th Aug 2010, 12:10 PM
Yes, still considering the new pump. :) Hopefully soon... I wanted to get a new one back when we ordered the tank but, it didnt work out. I take it as this being "our hint" to buy a new one. Its pretty old.

Our son's name is Mathew... :) It was enough water to add a full brute trash can of RO-DI water mixed with salt back into the tank...

Mr Cob
Thu, 12th Aug 2010, 12:17 PM
Murphy...lol

"Murphy's Law".

You were close though Christopher.

I think all of my son's names are Murphy....I use those DJ power control centers and they love to push the glowing buttons. lol

roscozman
Thu, 12th Aug 2010, 01:18 PM
That is exactly what we have. I should have put it high enough so only I can reach it. Should of...

jrsatx20
Thu, 12th Aug 2010, 02:35 PM
That is exactly what we have. I should have put it high enough so only I can reach it. Should of...


and what about eve. she would need a ladder then

Pennies2Cents
Thu, 12th Aug 2010, 03:35 PM
lol.. Thank you Ruben... :)