AAARGHAAAARAHRHAAA!!!!!!!!!

Amphiprion

Amphiprion

Contain the Excitement...
Feb 14, 2007
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Mobile, Alabama
Real Name
Andrew
Well, my return pump decided to completely poop out on me today. I was at a movie for a couple of hours, only to find this on my arrival back home. Naturally, all available stores have closed and nobody local has any to spare. Not the end of the world, but that's another $130 down the drain for another mag 12 (most of which runs the scrubber). So, yeah, I'm ticked. /rant
 
That is real crap :swear:, excuse my expression in this, I am however sorry that your corals may have to suffer a little until you can get yourself another return pump, and im sure as well that if it was I in that situation, I wouldn't feed my tank this same night. I always also figure that when one has so much soaked into their hobby as this, it be always wise to have the same type of extra pump on hand and well as any other type of equipment one is using.

So don't feed and when you get the new pump, you do yourself a large water change as well and then you should be back in business again where you were before your pump died on you.

Buddy
 
Expensive lesson to learn the value of back-up pumps. It doesn't even need to be the same size if you can afford to run out the next day and replace it. If not, having a backup of the same size is critical. I run 800gph through my system and my backup does 600 as well as having 2-3 more that can be added in if needed.

Unexpected costs always busts you in the chops when you least expect it or can least afford it.
 
That sucks... But, at least it's not a complete disaster.

I'm not sure exactly how your system is designed, but I've been surprised by how well a MJ can perform as a back-up return pump in an emergency. Of course, if you're dividing up the output to do more than just move water from the sump to the display, it won't do much good.
 
excuzzzeme said:
Expensive lesson to learn the value of back-up pumps. It doesn't even need to be the same size if you can afford to run out the next day and replace it. If not, having a backup of the same size is critical. I run 800gph through my system and my backup does 600 as well as having 2-3 more that can be added in if needed.

Unexpected costs always busts you in the chops when you least expect it or can least afford it.
Click to expand...

I didn't lose anything--the tank has gone over a week without the return before and did just fine (hurricane). The only thing I lost is the pump itself, which is expensive. The sump is also fine, since the skimmer is still running and is fed from a pump, keeping everything from stagnating. The thing that did come in handy was the spare heater, which kept the tank from dipping too low. The display still has ~9800 gph of flow from powerheads, so that's not an issue, either. My main aggravation is that I lost the pump (expensive) and part of the turf scrubber will die off (even though it is soaking in the sump, it doesn't have the flow or light it had). A small setback, but a setback nonetheless.

I wish I had a backup just for convenience, but it has to be the same size as the return, due to the fact that I have several things that run from it. It just costs too much for me at the moment to buy two more pumps, so one will have to suffice. Fortunately, I've been through enough long term power outages with this and my old tank in both hot and cold weather to know what to do to make sure I don't lose anything. I'll probably get extra algae from it and the corals might stunt, but that's about all I expect out of this, fortunately. I didn't feed anything, so that should help preserve water quality until the scrubber is back up and the skimmer receives tank water.
 
Any chance you can repair the dead pump and keep it for a backup? Surprisingly, many pumps can be repaired, IF you can get parts for it.
 
If it failed due to manufacturer defect then I think you can send it back for replacement?
 
excuzzzeme said:
Any chance you can repair the dead pump and keep it for a backup? Surprisingly, many pumps can be repaired, IF you can get parts for it.
Click to expand...

Well, even without an impeller, it trips the GFCI. Something fried, but it's epoxy sealed, so I don't think I can repair it. It is also well outside of the manufacturer's warranty, so no go there, either. I'm going to have to bite the bullet to buy a new one today, but I just can't get two right now.
 
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