How often do you clean your return pump?

[mfinn]

Yep, they heated the water like an internal pump. I ran two of them on a 75. One as a return and the other a closed loop. I had the blue and black version sold by Velocity. They were 140w each. So basically a 24/7 280w heater.

That is part of the reason that I migrated the return to a ReeFlo Dart.

I ended up with 6 total, made by Poseidon and Velocity. Finally pulled them and ended selling all to a guy in Canada.

 

[rossco]

The Eheim 1262 in my 210 display
and the Eheim 1260 right next to it running my skimmer are in their 15th year and have never needed or been cleaned.

 

[exnisstech]

Take a pic and post it, of what it looks like after SIX years of runing nonstop...lol

My DCP 3500 just had brown slime after 6 years. I didn't take pics but it's now cleaned and sitting on a shelf next to the new back up that was never needed in the 6 years. If I ever clean my DCP 5000 that I have running I'll get pics and tag you. Its only been running a bit over 3 years tho so it will probably be a couple more years before I clean it lol.

 

[Ryan - Serious Reefs]

People clean their return pumps?

It’s funny how we all know how brutal a saltwater sump really is on a pump, corrosive, covered in biofilms, mineral precipitation, detritus, and roaming crustaceans. However, unconsciously we all assume the gear in our tanks should last forever with near zero maintenance. There is logic and then there is real life :)

Outside of failures or warnings, the only way I can get myself to do this kind of thing is schedule general cleaning and maintenance every six months or so. Kinda like spring cleaning the garage, there is sense of satisfaction when it is all done.

 

[mfinn]

It’s funny how we all know how brutal a saltwater sump really is on a pump, corrosive, covered in biofilms, mineral precipitation, detritus, and roaming crustaceans. However, unconsciously we all assume the gear in our tanks should last forever with near zero maintenance. There is logic and then there is real life :)

Outside of failures or warnings, the only way I can get myself to do this kind of thing is schedule general cleaning and maintenance every six months or so. Kinda like spring cleaning the garage, there is sense of satisfaction when it is all done.

Another thing I'm concerned with ( maybe others), even though I have good valves and unions at the pumps, I worry about leaks after I pull a pump. Do I get it hooked back up correctly. Do any o-rings get pinched etc.
Or just, " I can't deal with that right now".

 

[Ryan - Serious Reefs]

Another thing I'm concerned with ( maybe others), even though I have good valves and unions at the pumps, I worry about leaks after I pull a pump. Do I get it hooked back up correctly. Do any o-rings get pinched etc.
Or just, " I can't deal with that right now".

Yeah, external pumps are a different beast. Often a wet mess as well.

Near zero chance I'd clean them more than once a year. If that is unappealing than at least a watt meter to add motivation when they materially slow down and are quietly saying "save me"

 

[BeanAnimal]

It’s funny how we all know how brutal a saltwater sump really is on a pump, corrosive, covered in biofilms, mineral precipitation, detritus, and roaming crustaceans. However, unconsciously we all assume the gear in our tanks should last forever with near zero maintenance. There is logic and then there is real life :)

Outside of failures or warnings, the only way I can get myself to do this kind of thing is schedule general cleaning and maintenance every six months or so. Kinda like spring cleaning the garage, there is sense of satisfaction when it is all done.

I started with Velocity T4 pumps. They calcified in weeks, but I typically ran them until they were almost seized. Mostly because cleaning them was such a pain.

I migrated to a ReeFlo dart for the return. It ran for maybe ~12 to 15 years (I lost track) without a seal replacement or cleaning. It began to hard start last year, so I replaced it with a Red Dragon 3. We will see how long that goes without cleaning. I was going to cleanup the Dart, but couldn't get the fan screw loose. I used a vice and gorilla strength and it wouldn't budge, so pitched the whole thing. In the old days I would have tossed it on a shelf for another day or parts. I don't keep things like that anymore, they just tend to pile up.

Yes, I should do scheduled maintenance. With most things in life I do. I just can't bring myself to do it with the aquarium. I would be telling a lie if I said that I spend more than 2 hours a month doing ANYTHING to the tank. I have a few spare RD3s, but am concerned about parts. I am debating moving to the Deltec E-Flow pumps.

 

[mfinn]

so I replaced it with a Red Dragon 3. We will see how long that goes without cleaning.

I had a RD3 150 watt running for 8 years with no cleaning.
When the controller went out and couldn't be fixed or replaced, I replaced it.
I asked Scott Leif if there was anything of value on what I had left and he said the pump body or the impeller might be of use to someone. So I took it apart and both the impeller and the inside of the pump body was so badly grooved they are garbage. I still have a pair of RD3 100 watt pump running. They are on a maintenance schedule. ( still looking for that elusive 150 watt pump)

 

[areefer01]

RD3's - I still am not sure what happened here. Parts supplier go under during Covid, trying to make a couple more bucks by offshoring it? Last I read on the web that they are now again made in German but never seem to get a clear answer on that.

Deltec E-Flow looks promising but some models are pushing close to Abyzz price points without the warranty.

 

[Naso180!]

You can clean them?? ;)

 

[mfinn]

RD3's - I still am not sure what happened here. Parts supplier go under during Covid, trying to make a couple more bucks by offshoring it? Last I read on the web that they are now again made in German but never seem to get a clear answer on that.

Deltec E-Flow looks promising but some models are pushing close to Abyzz price points without the warranty.

I spoke with Scott Leif of Royal Exclusiv USA and he said,

Controllers are assembled in Germany. Motor blocks are potted in Germany as well. I think they have the injection molding for the motor blocks done overseas. We CNC cut our own pump heads and rotors at the factory. The rare earth magnets are sourced by a company out of Germany as well..

The power supplies are sourced from overseas. I believe they are produced in Taiwan

 

[CLFishies]

Yeah, thats me!

Next week, next month, next year.

I dont have calcium buildup or anything of that nature so if anything ever grew on my pumps it's "peach fuzz" - never prevented the pump from running.

I personally would say, that not cleaning mechanical equipment is like never changing your sheets off of your bed. Yuck and that’s what’s in pumps and everything that’s mechanical.