Impeller pump lube
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Printed Date: January 08 2026 at 3:31am
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Topic: Impeller pump lube
Posted By: 1skindog
Subject: Impeller pump lube
Date Posted: December 18 2015 at 6:29pm
| Does anyone use lube on the in water return pump empeller? I cleaned my pump and it's noisy? I've heard of vasaline, and also silicone grease. Any direction would be appreciated. . |
Replies:
Posted By: Krazie4Acans
Date Posted: December 18 2015 at 6:34pm
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I wouldn't use either one of those. They are both petroleum based products and are not helpful to the life we have in our tanks. All of the pumps that I have recommend putting nothing on it after cleaning and just to get it back in use so that the metal shaft doesn't have a chance to rust. ------------- My ocean. 90g (yup, won it!), 40g, 28g, & 10g Systems PADI Advanced Open Water http://utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=63568&title=krazies-nano-paradise" rel="nofollow - Tank Thread: |
Posted By: Fatman
Date Posted: December 18 2015 at 9:07pm
| I'd agree. The only thing I'd use as a lubricant would be the silicone lube used in scuba regulators. |
Posted By: 1skindog
Date Posted: December 18 2015 at 10:24pm
| Thanks, I appecaite the help. I assume over the next week or so it will build up slime and quiet down. |
Posted By: Krazie4Acans
Date Posted: December 18 2015 at 10:35pm
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If it's a maxi jet there are ways to help make it more quiet. ------------- My ocean. 90g (yup, won it!), 40g, 28g, & 10g Systems PADI Advanced Open Water http://utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=63568&title=krazies-nano-paradise" rel="nofollow - Tank Thread: |
Posted By: Reefer4Ever
Date Posted: December 19 2015 at 7:21am
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Super glue the impeller to the shaft. If it's restricted at all it causes the impeller to bounce back and forth making noise. This is my experience with impellers and pumps. ------------- 90 gal reef w/refugium 24 gal softie tank 11 gal nano anemone tank 5 gal fresh water |
Posted By: ReefdUp
Date Posted: December 19 2015 at 10:20am
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It depends on the pump as to what I do. Gluing the impeller to the shaft sometimes works with some models, but in other models it's not possible. The only parts I lube are the o-rings with a silicon lube. ------------- www.reefdup.com Diving since 2009, reefkeeping since 2007, & fishkeeping since 1987 200g, 75g, & 15g Systems PADI Advanced Open Water |
Posted By: Mark Peterson
Date Posted: December 20 2015 at 8:27am
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Most impellers are supposed to spin freely on the ceramic/stainless steel shaft. ~90% of pump problems are related to bad impellers. Replacing the impeller is the solution. Impellers get out of balance due to wear and swelling. Yes, the magnet swells causing the impeller to expand out of it's correct shape. The magnet can swell in three ways. It can swell on the outside, in extreme cases causing it to rub on the housing while it turns, it can swell at the end putting the blades/needles out of line with the magnet and it can swell inside causing friction/binding on the shaft. 1. Hold the impeller up to the light and sight along the length on all sides of the impeller to see if is a perfect cylinder or not. 2. Then hold the axle post between 2 fingers and spin the impeller to see if it spins freely/smoothly or not. 3. With the impeller spinning between your fingers, check carefully for the ever so slight wobbling that indicates misalignment of the magnet and blade/needle head. 4. With a finger, check inside surfaces of the housing for wear and scoring. It should be completely smooth and straight. Sometimes the housing swells. Aloha, Mark  ------------- Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks: www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member 
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