Noisy Pump: fixed!
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Forum Name: General Discussion
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URL: http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=3763
Printed Date: February 27 2026 at 5:22pm
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Topic: Noisy Pump: fixed!
Posted By: Weimers
Subject: Noisy Pump: fixed!
Date Posted: September 25 2004 at 8:02pm
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I thought I was being paranoid, but my Iwaki pump is definitely making more noise than it used to. People that saw my tank before were like, "What's up with that?" So... do I need to clean it? Troubleshooting help, please? Renee ------------- Renee and Damon Weimer Tankless in Hawaii |
Replies:
Posted By: ewaldsreef
Date Posted: September 25 2004 at 8:41pm
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It is possible that some sort of debris got stuck on your impeller. It wouldnt hurt to start with cleaning the pump out. Also dumb question but the pump isnt sitting against something is it? ------------- Contact me for professional aquarium maintenance and localy grown coral frags. [URL=http://www.aquatitranquility.com][/URL] |
Posted By: Weimers
Date Posted: September 25 2004 at 8:57pm
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No, that's not a dumb question at all. I started with looking for stuff impeding its action. Nothing blocking the fan or anything. The pump has caulked connections. Some of them have that purple prep stuff with the clear goop to seal it. Do I just rip them apart? Renee ------------- Renee and Damon Weimer Tankless in Hawaii |
Posted By: ewaldsreef
Date Posted: September 25 2004 at 9:05pm
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Most of the Iwaki pumps I have seen have a threaded part on the housing. I wouldnt just start ripping the plumbing apart. If you can get the pump out there should just be a few screws holding the housing on. ------------- Contact me for professional aquarium maintenance and localy grown coral frags. [URL=http://www.aquatitranquility.com][/URL] |
Posted By: Weimers
Date Posted: September 26 2004 at 12:59pm
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I can't get the pump out without removing it from the lines. But when I look at the pump there's a big square area with two screws. Is that the housing? I could post a picture if you'd like. ------------- Renee and Damon Weimer Tankless in Hawaii |
Posted By: Weimers
Date Posted: October 05 2004 at 5:41pm
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Should I mess with the square block on the pump? Will that give me access to clean it without shocking me and/or flooding the floor?
------------- Renee and Damon Weimer Tankless in Hawaii |
Posted By: SSpargur
Date Posted: October 05 2004 at 5:55pm
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On the face side of the pump where the intake is located, there should be about 6 bolts holding the housing on. If you take those out, the black housing should just slide right off. The impeller is right inside there. ------------- Sean Spargur West Valley, UT |
Posted By: jglover
Date Posted: October 06 2004 at 12:19pm
| I think the square block is the motor but I'm not sure, anyway Don't touch the motor! just the impeller. I usually have very small snails caught in mine making the racket. Pics would be helpful. |
Posted By: Carl
Date Posted: October 06 2004 at 3:08pm
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Renee, I sent you a PM. I can stop by and take a look at it for you. Just let me know. ------------- In Syracuse "I believe that forgiving them is God's function. Our job is simply to arrange the meeting." - Gen. H. Norman Schwarzkopf |
Posted By: Adam Blundell
Date Posted: October 06 2004 at 3:42pm
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Once again Carl is there to take care of "all of your needs". Adam ------------- Come to a meeting, they�re fun! |
Posted By: Weimers
Date Posted: October 06 2004 at 5:17pm
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Adam, mon chere... you make me laugh! Honestly, anyone who is willing to put up with my aquatic problems is welcome to my adoration. Renee |
Posted By: Carl
Date Posted: October 07 2004 at 10:05am
 ------------- In Syracuse "I believe that forgiving them is God's function. Our job is simply to arrange the meeting." - Gen. H. Norman Schwarzkopf |
Adam Blundell wrote:Posted By: Weimers
Date Posted: October 07 2004 at 3:04pm
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So I think my impeller is toast. It's about 10 months old. |
Posted By: Weimers
Date Posted: October 26 2004 at 3:59pm
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If I get a new pump, what is the new recommended gallons per hour? I have various kinds of coral, and all are pretty happy. I don't want to blow them out of the water, but at the time when I bought the Iwaki, I was told it would last practically forever (the paperwork says 10 years is normal) and that it was well above my needs at 1200gph for a 250g system. Now it seems like that might be insufficient - compared to what other people posting here have got. What do y'all think? How many gallons per hour? ------------- Renee and Damon Weimer Tankless in Hawaii |
Posted By: Crazy Tarzan
Date Posted: October 26 2004 at 4:06pm
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Renee the 'norm' for a reef tank seems to equal tank size (gals)
x 10-15, from what I've read and figured out. SO your tank would
be about 2500 to 3750 gph. You can always divide up this flow to
different parts of the tank and maybe find a device that can help
create random current (talk to PCPondbuilder). But this is not
necessarily fact, just what I've come to find as the normal suggestion.
------------- Was that in there yesterday? Casper--WY windier than ? Down to a 20, soon to double or nothing |
Posted By: tileman
Date Posted: October 26 2004 at 4:15pm
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Renee, Just for a referece point http://www.MSMAquatics.com - www.MSMAquatics.com has a tank calculator which would give you an idea on how much circulation you should have. Just put in the dimensions of your tank and it will show you. ------------- 335G Reef TOTM. http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2015/2/aquarium ReefKeepers TOTM Feb. 2012 http://reefkeeping.com/joomla/index....k-of-the-month & |
Posted By: faviasteve
Date Posted: October 26 2004 at 7:34pm
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Renee, What model of Iwaki is it? Replacement impellers are available and would fix the problem if it's just the impeller that's toast. If the motor or the magnetic coupler behind the impeller is damaged, you'll probably need a new pump. I've got a couple GRI 518s (1200 gph external pumps similar to Iwaki 40RLXT) I'm trying to sell. Steve ------------- Steve Burton Logan, Utah |
Posted By: Shane H
Date Posted: October 27 2004 at 3:31pm
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Steve,
What are you asking for your GRI 518s? Got anything a wee bit bigger? |
Posted By: Weimers
Date Posted: October 27 2004 at 4:38pm
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Their calculator says 1826 gph. I remeasured from the interior of the acrylic to the interior of the opposing acrylic side. MSM sold me this Iwaki 40RLXT, which also has a sticker for FASCO on it. In order to fix the impeller, I'm going to need another pump to run the tank anyway. I figured I would try to reach Iwaki and see what they say. ------------- Renee and Damon Weimer Tankless in Hawaii |
Posted By: faviasteve
Date Posted: October 27 2004 at 11:29pm
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Shane, $140 each for the GRI 518s. They are both new. I have a used GRI 520 but I want to keep it... sorry. Renee, A replacement impeller for the 40RLXT is $68. Tell Iwaki your old impeller was defective and maybe you'll get a new one free. It's just a magnet with some plastic fins molded around it- what horrible price gouging. Steve ------------- Steve Burton Logan, Utah |
Posted By: Weimers
Date Posted: November 20 2004 at 11:40am
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Well, cockledoodledoo! I have a fantastic new pump. It's 3600gph, and pretty much silent! Now I need to reach Iwaki, and see if they can fix the old one for me. It's always good to have a back-up, right? Or I could sell it. It wasn't a bad pump - I just think something got stuck in the impeller. I'm so happy!! Ryan at Aquatic Dreams was a great help. ------------- Renee and Damon Weimer Tankless in Hawaii |
Posted By: reptoreef
Date Posted: November 20 2004 at 5:44pm
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Ryan told me about the new pump and your "listen to this..." phone call. He said you sounded pretty stoked!!! Congrats... 3600 gph's pretty high. Glad everything's a little quieter. ------------- www.captivereefing.com |
Posted By: Weimers
Date Posted: November 20 2004 at 7:18pm
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Can I call you on the phone & let you NOT listen to my pump? ------------- Renee and Damon Weimer Tankless in Hawaii |
Posted By: SSpargur
Date Posted: November 20 2004 at 7:30pm
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I just finished swapping out my Iwaki 100 for a Dolphin Amp Master 3600 and I can definitely relate - It's so quiet in my frag room that it seems like it's not even running. Renee - I can call you and not listen to your pump while you don't listen to mine! ------------- Sean Spargur West Valley, UT |
Posted By: Weimers
Date Posted: November 20 2004 at 7:41pm
  Okay!
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Posted By: reptoreef
Date Posted: November 20 2004 at 9:57pm
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Uh sure, but it might cost ya a frag or 2... we'll call it my consultation fee... attourneys do it all the time. ------------- www.captivereefing.com |
Posted By: Weimers
Date Posted: November 21 2004 at 8:26am
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------------- Renee and Damon Weimer Tankless in Hawaii |