SCWD problems

[captexas]

I got two SCWDs a long time ago and never used them much. Yesterday I set up a temporary holding tank for my live rock and hooked one of them up, but it wouldn't work. It worked in the past when the temp tank was used but for some reason water only comes out one side now. I took it off this morning and replaces it with the other one and it did the same thing. I did notice that the first one has stuff rattling around in side it now. I'm only running a GenX 40 pump rated at 1190gph. Do SCWDS break easily? I'm wondering if the parts inside just dried up and got so brittle that the pump pressure broke it.

Any ideas?

[JimD]

Have you tried soaking them in a warm water/vinegar solution for a few hours? If theyve been sitting dry for a while, chances are theyre just stuck.

[NaCl_H2O]

I agree w/Jim, these things don't tollerate much crud buildup. Need to soak/clean mine about every 60 days.

... But I use Muratic Acid :P

[Ed]

Another thing that might help, after you soak them blow them out with compressed air. That should get it switching again.

[JimD]

Im using one on a Mag 18, Mag 12 and have used them om a Mag 24 in the past, no problems. Theyre rated for 1400 gph, I think thats very conservative.
Good suggestion there Ed! Whered ya get that idea from?

[captexas]

Well, I looked inside the first one with a flashlight and found a gear of somesorts boucing around loose inside. So that one is landfill material. As the other one is running on the pump, it will have to wait for diagnosis until I find a regular barbed tee to put on the return lines.

[Tim Marvin]

I have a couple running and have been since set-up... I never even clean them and they seem to work fine. Maybe I should clean them...

[Ed]

Good suggestion there Ed! Whered ya get that idea from?

Got it from you Jim! ;)


Worked for a while, but I think something inside is busted. Couldn't keep it switching, so I took it off. :(

[JimD]

Huh? The Mag 24 pushed so much water, I had to install a ball valve to regulate the output. The 18 is working very nicely on the 45. The only problem with the Mags is the priming...