Secondnature whisper water pump not sucking
- Thread starter Gearmouse
- Start date
Is the water level in the tank higher than the impeller? Also did you put water in the back of the filter to prime it?
A hang on power filter cannot suck against the flow of gravity. The water level in the aquarium needs to be higher than the level of the top of the impeller. That way the impeller can evacuate the air from the intake tube and create the siphon.
Andy
A hang on power filter cannot suck against the flow of gravity. The water level in the aquarium needs to be higher than the level of the top of the impeller. That way the impeller can evacuate the air from the intake tube and create the siphon.
Andy
The fact that the Whispers can is why I started using them 20 years ago in my turtle tank. There are 2 possible problems. The tube is sucking air somewhere or the impeller is bad. Usual place to suck air would be the o-ring at the top where you adjust flow.
It may not have been your experience but the original SN filters were advertised as being able to pull from a lowered water level. Why would it defy the laws of physics? Shallow well pumps (above ground, no injector) can do it.Pool pumps can do it. Old school car fuel pumps can do it. Certain versions of the MetaFrame Dynaflow filters were able to do it. In fact I still have some of them. Haven't used it in years but I would imagine it still works.
In fact if you think about it it is because if physics that it will work. If the pump sucks the air out of a sealed tube air pressure will force water up that tube. Pure, simple physics. So long as the pump/filter has a prime.
In fact if you think about it it is because if physics that it will work. If the pump sucks the air out of a sealed tube air pressure will force water up that tube. Pure, simple physics. So long as the pump/filter has a prime.
You have a good grasp of power filters but you missed the most important aspect, maintaining prime.
Physics dictates that water flows from higher water level to lower water level through a siphon until equilibrium is reached. If the power goes out, the water inside the filter box (higher level) will siphon back into the aquarium (lower level). Without any water in the filter box there is no way the impeller can suck the air out of the intake tube and create a prime. It will just spin in the air until it overheats. That is the reason why you need to fill the back of the filter box with water before plugging it in. The Whisper may be able to draw the air out of the filter tube (priming) at a lower water level but you have to be there to manually fill it up and prime it each time.
Also keep in mind that the lower the water level the more head pressure the pump has to fight against. This cuts the flow rate down dramatically on low torque HOB pumps.
Andy
Physics dictates that water flows from higher water level to lower water level through a siphon until equilibrium is reached. If the power goes out, the water inside the filter box (higher level) will siphon back into the aquarium (lower level). Without any water in the filter box there is no way the impeller can suck the air out of the intake tube and create a prime. It will just spin in the air until it overheats. That is the reason why you need to fill the back of the filter box with water before plugging it in. The Whisper may be able to draw the air out of the filter tube (priming) at a lower water level but you have to be there to manually fill it up and prime it each time.
Also keep in mind that the lower the water level the more head pressure the pump has to fight against. This cuts the flow rate down dramatically on low torque HOB pumps.
Andy
You said in your post:
I'm saying it does work. I'm saying it DOESN'T defy the laws of physics. (At least not the laws of physics that I studied. Maybe they changed in the last 30 years) I'm saying it has worked for me. What I am not saying its you don't have to prime it again if power goes out. I've had power go out. I've never had the filter overheat though.
Not all of the HOBs have an impeller that will pull from a lower water level. I know however that the original SN filter will.
Also keep in mind that although the flow rate is cut so is the amount of water in the tank itself.
Another point, you could put a small hole in the tube just above the impeller. This will break siphon when the level reaches it. If small enough the impeller may be strong enough to start flow again. If not then there still would be water in the "sump" to help avoid overheating.
You could also put this on a UPS then the problem is no problem. Well at least until the battery died.
Here in Florida with Tampa being the lightning capital of the world (so it is said anyway) and short duration power outages being the norm rather than the exception during our rainy season I never really had a problem with the filter on my turtle tank. That turtle died a year or two ago so that tank is now an actual aquarium. With the same filter. (Yeah, I cleaned it first)
As an aside, they use to make a one way valve for the tube that during a power failure the water wouldn't siphon out. It acted like a foot valve in a well pipe. Doubt it's still made since they have internal filters now but it negated the loss of prime problem. I may even still have a couple in a box somewhere.
Yeah, I do have a fairly good grasp on HOBs. at least I hope I do after 32 years of tanks.
I even still have my original Supreme Aquamaster, Aquakings and Dynaflows. And they all still work.
It seems the only ones interested in this thread are you and me so we can just let it die now. No point in continuing this discussion until feelings are hurt.
P.S. I also have 30 years experience with aquariums and have spent the last 25 in the aquarium industry and the last 6 years testing and developing filters and other equipment for a major manufacturer so I do know what I am talking about. You do have me on the vintage aquarium filters though. I got rid of all my old aquarium filters and junk 6 years ago and have built up a collection of all new stuff.
Take care,
Andy
P.S. I also have 30 years experience with aquariums and have spent the last 25 in the aquarium industry and the last 6 years testing and developing filters and other equipment for a major manufacturer so I do know what I am talking about. You do have me on the vintage aquarium filters though. I got rid of all my old aquarium filters and junk 6 years ago and have built up a collection of all new stuff.
Take care,
Andy
Agreed. Seems the OP only has one post. This thread.
I too got rid of the "junk" a while ago. But I do like those old HOBs for fry. If they get sucked up the siphon tube they're the best fed of the bunch!
I love a good discussion/argument/fight/whatever. So long as we all realize it just for trading info and ideas. Some of my best friends are those whose views are 180 from mine. What good is a discussion with people who agree with you all the time?
We part this thread as friends. At least on my end.
Ciao,
George
I too got rid of the "junk" a while ago. But I do like those old HOBs for fry. If they get sucked up the siphon tube they're the best fed of the bunch!
I love a good discussion/argument/fight/whatever. So long as we all realize it just for trading info and ideas. Some of my best friends are those whose views are 180 from mine. What good is a discussion with people who agree with you all the time?
We part this thread as friends. At least on my end.
Ciao,
George