Pump emergency?

[Mydoghasfleas]

So I may have gotten over zealous cleaning my sump. The pump ripped a chunk off of a mr clean magic ereaser pad. The pump seems ok. Sump pump is an Iwaki. It would be a LOT of work to get the pump out for inspection. It looks like it shredded it up. Should I take it all apart for close inspection? Will the scrub pad dissolve into anything bad? I added a pic of the pad, next to a fully intact one to show the size ripped off. A calming day cleaning gone wrong smh

 

[BlennyTime]

I’d be concerned that if it’s not jammed now, that something could happen that causes it to break apart and triggers a jam in the future. It’s probably not a bad idea to take the pump out and clean it anyway, if it’s been more than a year or so.

 

[Mydoghasfleas]

So the pump appears to be operating fine. No change in flow, and nothing else out of normal operating condition. There is floating particulates in the water. Would the pump shred this type of foam up? Should I do an emergent water change? And should I still take it all apart? Taking it apart would really be a rough day.

 

[Mydoghasfleas]

I’d be concerned that if it’s not jammed now, that something could happen that causes it to break apart and triggers a jam in the future. It’s probably not a bad idea to take the pump out and clean it anyway, if it’s been more than a year or so.

It isn’t due for any cleaning, this was supposed to be an easy and relaxing day doing some simple maintenance. Would a pump simply tear the foam to little bits?

 

[BlennyTime]

So the pump appears to be operating fine. No change in flow, and nothing else out of normal operating condition. There is floating particulates in the water. Would the pump shred this type of foam up? Should I do an emergent water change? And should I still take it all apart? Taking it apart would really be a rough day.

If you aren’t able to take it apart and are seeing particles, you could put in a filter sock to try to catch them. It’s possible the pump just tore it up, yep.

 

[Reef Box]

I personally would take it apart and make sure everything is clear. It may be a little more work now to save a something bad happening later

 

[Mydoghasfleas]

Alright, I guess time to take it apart

 

[Mydoghasfleas]

@Reef Box @BlennyTime thank you both for the quick and sound advice. The sponge was in fact intact, and has been retrieved! Just gone use this as a learning experience, and chance to clean the pump early.

 

[Mydoghasfleas]

 

[Reef Box]

@Reef Box @BlennyTime thank you both for the quick and sound advice. The sponge was in fact intact, and has been retrieved! Just gone use this as a learning experience, and chance to clean the pump early.

Glad it was a quick fix for you. I can say with quite a bit of certainty that most of us have had similar if not the same experiences at some point.

 

[DCR]

Iwaki's are great long lasting pumps, but you really need to have a strainer over the inlet to protect the pump. Harder materials like snail shells will break the impeller.