Pump Problems - Aquaponic Gardening2024-03-28T23:52:58Zhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/forum/topics/pump-problems?commentId=4778851%3AComment%3A142408&feed=yes&xn_auth=noeven little mag drive pumps w…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2011-08-12:4778851:Comment:1786242011-08-12T12:10:06.090ZTCLynxhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/TCLynx
<p>even little mag drive pumps without a bearing can heat up to the point of melting/deforming plastic if you allow them to totally clog up.</p>
<p>Little sponge filters generally need cleaning a couple times a day once an aquaponic system gets cycled up. I don't recommend those little sponges. Expanding the surface area of screen for the pump's intake definitely helps. Keeping leaves and other large debris out of the tank with the pump also helps.</p>
<p>even little mag drive pumps without a bearing can heat up to the point of melting/deforming plastic if you allow them to totally clog up.</p>
<p>Little sponge filters generally need cleaning a couple times a day once an aquaponic system gets cycled up. I don't recommend those little sponges. Expanding the surface area of screen for the pump's intake definitely helps. Keeping leaves and other large debris out of the tank with the pump also helps.</p> When you have submersible pum…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2011-08-12:4778851:Comment:1778002011-08-12T04:00:07.224ZDavid Waitehttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/DavidWaite
When you have submersible pumps alot of people are under the impression that they cant get hot because they are water cooled. If you let the pump get fouled at the screen and the pump cant move the water over the impeller at full flow the main bearing behind the impeller gets hot. This is the main cause of failure in submersible pumps. The motor will be fine but the bearing seized due to lack of water flow over the impeller causing the main bearing to fail. This is why I dont use small filters…
When you have submersible pumps alot of people are under the impression that they cant get hot because they are water cooled. If you let the pump get fouled at the screen and the pump cant move the water over the impeller at full flow the main bearing behind the impeller gets hot. This is the main cause of failure in submersible pumps. The motor will be fine but the bearing seized due to lack of water flow over the impeller causing the main bearing to fail. This is why I dont use small filters around my pumps. I always increase the size of the screen by using a larger surface I.E. 5 gal bucket . You can check out mine If it helps. I clean once every 6 months. On jet pumps or pump that sit outside the tank the water flow is very critical as well as air flow. Lack of water will heat the shaft and cause bearing failure premature and lack of air flow will cause motor failure or rear bearing failure.If you are using large pumps wiring size is critical as well but that is another topic on amp load sizing. Buy a Supreme pump, they are…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2011-08-11:4778851:Comment:1782022011-08-11T18:46:05.380ZRoland Cameronhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/RolandCameron
Buy a Supreme pump, they are high volume and low pressure, cheap to run and a 5 year warranty. The complete impeller system is replaceable easily. Any size from 250 gph to 2400 gph. It is imperative to use the correct size tubing to get the full volume of water, and they can be in pond or in line.<br></br><br></br><cite>clay hartwig said:</cite>
<blockquote><div>seems i hear a LOT about pumps running good for a month then burning out. 1 if you insulate for sound, did you just cut the airflow that…</div>
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Buy a Supreme pump, they are high volume and low pressure, cheap to run and a 5 year warranty. The complete impeller system is replaceable easily. Any size from 250 gph to 2400 gph. It is imperative to use the correct size tubing to get the full volume of water, and they can be in pond or in line.<br/><br/><cite>clay hartwig said:</cite>
<blockquote><div>seems i hear a LOT about pumps running good for a month then burning out. 1 if you insulate for sound, did you just cut the airflow that cools the pump. 2 No flow, the motor now runs at a speed compairable to runing dry. result, burnout. i have seen these complaints mosty on consumer reports like amason regarding diferent pumps. read the specs. output/ watts/ volume........ everyone says they sell the best..compared to what? </div>
</blockquote> seems i hear a LOT about pump…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2011-07-04:4778851:Comment:1443772011-07-04T03:22:01.352Zchuckhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/clayhartwig
seems i hear a LOT about pumps running good for a month then burning out. 1 if you insulate for sound, did you just cut the airflow that cools the pump. 2 No flow, the motor now runs at a speed compairable to runing dry. result, burnout. i have seen these complaints mosty on consumer reports like amason regarding diferent pumps. read the specs. output/ watts/ volume........ everyone says they sell the best..compared to what?
seems i hear a LOT about pumps running good for a month then burning out. 1 if you insulate for sound, did you just cut the airflow that cools the pump. 2 No flow, the motor now runs at a speed compairable to runing dry. result, burnout. i have seen these complaints mosty on consumer reports like amason regarding diferent pumps. read the specs. output/ watts/ volume........ everyone says they sell the best..compared to what? TOO Truetag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2011-06-30:4778851:Comment:1422172011-06-30T20:00:15.571ZTCLynxhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/TCLynx
TOO True<a style="cursor: pointer;"><img src="http://www.bkserv.net/images/Grin.gif"/></a>
TOO True<a style="cursor: pointer;"><img src="http://www.bkserv.net/images/Grin.gif"/></a> so true. the funny thing is,…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2011-06-30:4778851:Comment:1426042011-06-30T19:57:18.811ZAveranhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/AveranGale
so true. the funny thing is, the faster more powerful pump i'm getting actually uses <em>less</em> energy! not all pumps are made equal.
so true. the funny thing is, the faster more powerful pump i'm getting actually uses <em>less</em> energy! not all pumps are made equal. yea, especially in a system w…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2011-06-30:4778851:Comment:1424092011-06-30T19:47:21.052ZTCLynxhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/TCLynx
yea, especially in a system where wattage used is a critical factor.
yea, especially in a system where wattage used is a critical factor. good points....cheaper to ups…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2011-06-30:4778851:Comment:1422122011-06-30T19:45:43.944ZAveranhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/AveranGale
<p>good points....cheaper to upsize plumbing than the pump!</p>
<p>good points....cheaper to upsize plumbing than the pump!</p> Yeah, I would Agree with the…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2011-06-30:4778851:Comment:1424082011-06-30T18:10:08.815ZEdward Pozekhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/EdwardPozek
<p>Yeah, I would Agree with the above. I use 3/4" pvc for my 350goh pump and I haven't had any flow problems inside the pipe. I would try that.</p>
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<p>Yeah, I would Agree with the above. I use 3/4" pvc for my 350goh pump and I haven't had any flow problems inside the pipe. I would try that.</p>
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<p> </p> There is also the option of O…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2011-06-30:4778851:Comment:1424072011-06-30T18:07:29.613ZTCLynxhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/TCLynx
<p>There is also the option of Oversizing the plumbing that may be more appropriate in some situations. My little 256 gph pump from harbor freight doesn't move much water when hooked up with 1/2" irrigation tubing but when I upsized to 1" thinwall pvc pipe, I haven't had to clean that little pump in the aquarium in over a year, I just shut the pump off for a moment every few months to let it backflush and otherwise I haven't put my hands into that aquarium in over a year.</p>
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<p>1/2"…</p>
<p>There is also the option of Oversizing the plumbing that may be more appropriate in some situations. My little 256 gph pump from harbor freight doesn't move much water when hooked up with 1/2" irrigation tubing but when I upsized to 1" thinwall pvc pipe, I haven't had to clean that little pump in the aquarium in over a year, I just shut the pump off for a moment every few months to let it backflush and otherwise I haven't put my hands into that aquarium in over a year.</p>
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<p>1/2" pipe and tubing is really restrictive and bio-slime can really slow the flow in such small tubing even when a somewhat more powerful pump is working it. </p>