Magdrive Pumps.
 

I love the magdrive pumps but laitly I have been rethinking there use and debating weather or not to keep them..

the problem is they get bunged up with calcium so bad they stop working. I have this problem about every 2 or 3 months.

anyone else having these problems? and is it because I am usign a reactor to keep my Ca at 450 or higher?

if this is the case will a external pump (like a MAK or ampmaster) be better with high Ca levels?

Steve

I just took my MAG 18 apart after about a year to clean, and there was no Ca build up at all. It was a bit slimey, but that's it.

I've set up alot of tanks for people using Mag Drive pumps and never had a problem with any of them.

One tank I look after has had a Mag 18 running on it for almost 3 years and I have never taken it apart to clean it.

I've never had a problem with calcium build up on any make of pump I have ever used.

Maybe I have just been lucky. :biggrin:

well while I had the stuff out I decided to do my skimmer mag12 while I was at it.. good thing as it was starting to bind up as well.

here is a pic of the housing in which you can see the calcium coating.
http://members.shaw.ca/stircrazy/pump_housing.jpg

this pic is the impeller assembly taken apart for a super viniger cleaning.
the return pump took about a hour soak befor I could pull the shaft out of the magnet as the magnet was bonded to the shaft with Ca, this pum was a little easyer to remove but the magnet would not spin freely on the shaft like it was suposed to.

http://members.shaw.ca/stircrazy/guts.jpg

Steve[/list]

Steve, Whats your alk at? Also what makes you think you wouldn't have the same problem with another brand pump?

Hey Jamie, my Alk is usaly about 13.

I know there will be the same sort of problem with other pumps (I get it with my Maxijets also but they are less critical than the return and skimmer pumps) but other types of pumps, like direct drive pumps, will not be effected like a magnetic drive pump. it isn;t the magnet that gets stuck in the housing but rather the Ca seizes the magnet to the ceramic rod and prevents if from spinning. so with say a amp master the only place that would be affected is the pump seals but because the motor is a lot more powerfull and directly coupled to the pump impeller it will not be stopped as easy as any of the magnetic drive type pumps.

One thing that might have contributed is I did make a booboo and cause a percipitation event about a month ago.. took the tank about 4 hours to clear after that LOL. So the event might have caused a adnormal amount of Ca build up in a short time.

I was just looking to see if I was the only one that has had this problem and if not how I can fix it.

Steve

Steve. I used to have this problem with my pumps(priticualaraly my MJ's) when I was dripping kalk. Since going to just the reactor my alk is about 3.4meq/l and I have no problems like your having or like I used to have.

I see what what your saying Steve. I have heard of others having issues with calcium precipation causing issues with mag pumps.

Mag18- shaft swelled up within 1 year 1 month( expensive to replace), placed pump in dead pump receptical can

Mag12 ("12" I think)- 10 months and triggered GFI, replaced by pump manufacturer

Kari

Darn do you still have it in the can? if so send it on the bus to me COD. I will pay the 24 bucks for a new impeller.

Steve