Continuously needing to increase pump speed

[aeceac6413]

Hi everyone

We've had our tank for almost 2 years. 60 gallon with 20 gallon sump. We have a sicce 6.0 return pump plumbed but every few months we've been needing to increase the speed to keep the overflow from gurgling. Since we started we've added a uv sterilizer and a skimmer. We use filter floss and pads for filtration. We have not done maintenance on the pump... and since we've had a baby our tank has gotten a bit dirty.
We are currently maxing out the speed of the return pump. We started 2 years ago at 50%. Is this a maintenance issue and we just need to clean the pump and such? Am I missing something? Thoughts?

 

[Uncle99]

Hi everyone

We've had our tank for almost 2 years. 60 gallon with 20 gallon sump. We have a sicce 6.0 return pump plumbed but every few months we've been needing to increase the speed to keep the overflow from gurgling. Since we started we've added a uv sterilizer and a skimmer. We use filter floss and pads for filtration. We have not done maintenance on the pump... and since we've had a baby our tank has gotten a bit dirty.
We are currently maxing out the speed of the return pump. We started 2 years ago at 50%. Is this a maintenance issue and we just need to clean the pump and such? Am I missing something? Thoughts?

Yup, you need to clean the pump.
Me, every 6 months.
I put in a pail with citric acid running for an hour, then I take it apart where possible, brush clean stuff, rinse and reassemble.

It’s slowing down slowly as it gets “plugged” reducing water flow and resulting in the gurgling.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

You haven't cleaned the pump in 2 years? wow, its a wonder it hasn't failed, sicce is the best! My sicce pump alerts me every 6 months, does yours not do the same (or you ignore the alerts lol)?

 

[tbrown]

You haven't cleaned the pump in 2 years? wow, its a wonder it hasn't failed, sicce is the best! My sicce pump alerts me every 6 months, does yours not do the same (or you ignore the alerts lol)?

If it's the Sicce Syncra, they don't have alerts. You're using the SDC?

 

[tbrown]

Hi everyone

We've had our tank for almost 2 years. 60 gallon with 20 gallon sump. We have a sicce 6.0 return pump plumbed but every few months we've been needing to increase the speed to keep the overflow from gurgling. Since we started we've added a uv sterilizer and a skimmer. We use filter floss and pads for filtration. We have not done maintenance on the pump... and since we've had a baby our tank has gotten a bit dirty.
We are currently maxing out the speed of the return pump. We started 2 years ago at 50%. Is this a maintenance issue and we just need to clean the pump and such? Am I missing something? Thoughts?

I agree, 2 years without a citric acid bath is likely the cause. When powerheads and pumps start slowing down, it's a good time to do a citric acid soak to help remove the buildup from the water. Calcium, alkalinity, etc. can cause deposits to form on the motor itself and on the impeller. That causes excess friction which causes the flow to decrease, but it also adds additional heat and wear and tear on the pump.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

If it's the Sicce Syncra, they don't have alerts. You're using the SDC?

oh, I see! Yes I use the sdc