Return pump dead?

Reefrookie733

Active Member
View Badges
Joined
Mar 28, 2020
Messages
471
Reaction score
432
Location
Mars Hill
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
How do I tell if my return pump is working or not. I bought it from a guy getting out few years back and now I’m about ready to install it. What should it sound like when I turn it on? It’s a reef lo pump!
Thanks

8EC04264-AEB8-4D2B-B095-AFAF955D85C9.jpeg
 

Phil D.

Valuable Member
View Badges
Joined
Jan 4, 2019
Messages
1,355
Reaction score
1,440
Location
Gilbert, AZ
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I would test it in a bucket before installing it, you will see the water flowing better that way.
 

35ppt

Large Member
View Badges
Joined
Jun 19, 2019
Messages
1,413
Reaction score
2,006
Location
Los Angeles
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I'm not familiar with this specific pump but have lots of experience with the Little Giant external pumps. You should take it apart and clean it before powering it on, make sure the impeller is freely moving. If it has any oil holes drop a couple drops of 3 in 1 in and manually rotate the motor. You can power it up dry for like one second to see it works before installing it but if you can run it wet that's obviously preferred.
 

35ppt

Large Member
View Badges
Joined
Jun 19, 2019
Messages
1,413
Reaction score
2,006
Location
Los Angeles
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
So I could fill up one of my 55G containers and pump the water from it to another 55G container?

63953C3C-F67F-42FF-BD24-A1E4E46F7191.jpeg C13B7953-FA94-46E7-8447-805A5CC2BCB8.jpeg
I would fill the tube with water and see if the pump blows the water out the other end. lol But before that I would disassemble the pump and clean it.
 
OP
OP
Reefrookie733

Reefrookie733

Active Member
View Badges
Joined
Mar 28, 2020
Messages
471
Reaction score
432
Location
Mars Hill
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I would fill the tube with water and see if the pump blows the water out the other end. lol But before that I would disassemble the pump and clean it.

lol...well lets pretend that i actually have no idea which end pumps the water and which end returns it on this model. Its an older model and i cant find any literature on it. Maybe this hobby isnt for me after all.

I tried filling both ends of the pipe up with water but nothing happens
 

Ultra Aquatics

Well-Known Member
View Badges
Joined
Apr 13, 2012
Messages
796
Reaction score
853
Location
New York
Rating - 100%
1   0   0
On the back of that pump is a flathead screw that turns the impeller, try to spin it, that will at least tell you if the impeller is bound up. Really not be able to tell unless you hook it up though. Reeflos are notorius for leaking seals so I would check that too.
 

35ppt

Large Member
View Badges
Joined
Jun 19, 2019
Messages
1,413
Reaction score
2,006
Location
Los Angeles
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
lol...well lets pretend that i actually have no idea which end pumps the water and which end returns it on this model. Its an older model and i cant find any literature on it. Maybe this hobby isnt for me after all.

I tried filling both ends of the pipe up with water but nothing happens
Did you take it apart and clean it? did you look for oil holes and oil them then manually rotate the motor? An old motor that was not cleaned before storage can sometimes not want to start. The outlet is vertical and the inlet is horizontal.
 

35ppt

Large Member
View Badges
Joined
Jun 19, 2019
Messages
1,413
Reaction score
2,006
Location
Los Angeles
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
On the back of that pump is a flathead screw that turns the impeller, try to spin it, that will at least tell you if the impeller is bound up. Really not be able to tell unless you hook it up though. Reeflos are notorius for leaking seals so I would check that too.
Do these pumps have oil holes like the Little Giants? Or am I telling him to look for something that's not there?
 

Ultra Aquatics

Well-Known Member
View Badges
Joined
Apr 13, 2012
Messages
796
Reaction score
853
Location
New York
Rating - 100%
1   0   0
OP
OP
Reefrookie733

Reefrookie733

Active Member
View Badges
Joined
Mar 28, 2020
Messages
471
Reaction score
432
Location
Mars Hill
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Ok well it has life! I still need to take it apart and clean it but it seems to be running pretty well. I can only test it with the water hose flow. There was a small gasket that appear to come off while i was cleaning the impeller with some silicone wd40. I am assuming i need to replace this? Attached pics

20200330_155107.jpg 20200330_155335.jpg 20200330_155509.jpg 20200330_155858.jpg
 

A worm with high fashion and practical utility: Have you ever kept feather dusters in your reef aquarium?

  • I currently have feather dusters in my tank.

    Votes: 73 37.8%
  • Not currently, but I have had feather dusters in my tank in the past.

    Votes: 66 34.2%
  • I have not had feather dusters, but I hope to in the future.

    Votes: 25 13.0%
  • I have no plans to have feather dusters in my tank.

    Votes: 28 14.5%
  • Other.

    Votes: 1 0.5%
Back
Top