return pump vibration

[aftershock]

hey guys,

my return pump is currently sitting on the bottom of the sump tank and vibrating pretty loudly. you any of you guys place your return pump on top of something to prevent this? i was thinking of some sort of rubber mat or maybe a small container filled with gravel or something to dampen the noise.

thanks,

nick

 

[redfishbluefish]

What pump do you have?

When’s the last time you soaked the impeller in vinegar?


What happens over time is that the magnet (which should spin freely on the shaft), calcifies to the shaft. This causes for the pump to run a little “rough.” I’d first clean the pump well and see if that helps. Second, I would try to dampen the vibration by either suspending the pump (using the plumbing) or putting a dampening material under the pump.

Every once in a while I get a little noise coming off my MAG 9 and if I just slightly reposition it, the noise goes away.

 

[kevin]

I cut a piece of a rubber floor mat & have it underneath my return pump.
Recently I put a GFO reactor in & purchased:
http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/store/sound-dampening-pads.html
to go underneath that pump


I also purchased something along the lines of:
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Gold-s-Gym-6-Piece-High-Impact-Flooring/11089966

for when I move my tank, I will be putting that underneath the sump

 

[aftershock]

thanks guys.

my pump is brand new so it isn't that it is getting dirt redfish.

in terms of a dampening mat underneath, do you have that rubber floor mat inside your sump, kevin? that was what i was planning to do, but was hesitant to submerge something like that in the tank under the pump.

 

[downbeach]

Where are you located Nick? I have a pad you can have, from a Mag 18, that's never been used.

 

[kevin]

thanks guys.

my pump is brand new so it isn't that it is getting dirt redfish.

in terms of a dampening mat underneath, do you have that rubber floor mat inside your sump, kevin? that was what i was planning to do, but was hesitant to submerge something like that in the tank under the pump.

If you're talking about this mat:
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Gold-s-Gym-6-Piece-High-Impact-Flooring/11089966
I will be putting it underneath on the outside of the sump. I will be doing this when I move my tank next month. So I can't attest to how well it works. I've heard of other people doing this & they say it works well.
I wouldn't put that (exact) product inside the sump.
It reads:
This product contains one or more chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm
I got one similar from home depot. I haven't read if it's harmful or anything because it will be going underneath.

 

[aftershock]

thanks kev. guess i cant just swing over to walmart...

hey downbeach. im from milltown, nj. 08850. its near new brunswick. unfortunately, mount laurel is a little out of the way

 

[Sunny]

Get a styrofoam sheet and put it under your pump. I am in Monroe, NJ - 20 min from miltowm and I have plenty of flat sytrofoam pieces if you want to try ..

Sunny

 

[kevin]

thanks kev. guess i cant just swing over to walmart...

hey downbeach. im from milltown, nj. 08850. its near new brunswick. unfortunately, mount laurel is a little out of the way

If you want to try the mat I have for Underneath on the outside of the sump I will give you a sheet. My mother lives in east brunswick & i'm only in franklin park.

 

[Brizjuan]

You could always shoot over to the milltown Petco and get filter sponge... I had the same problem a couple of weeks ago and i put filter sponge underneath the pump and put two thick peices on the sides in between the glass and the first baffle... It will keep it from vibrating up against the sides as well as the bottom.... Havent heard a sound since... and there like 4.99 for a box of 3... They even catch some debris so you can switch them out from time to time to remove big particles...

 

[aftershock]

brizjuan, thanks for the great idea. i'm definitely going tomorrow to pick that up.

kevin, thanks for the generosity, but my sump is under the tank and running with equipment and everything, and emptying it to lift and place a mat underneath would be a huge hassle.

sunny, thanks too. foam would probably work too, i'm just hesitant to submerge something like that in the tank.

overall, thanks to everybody for all the ideas you gave as well as how much everyone was pitching in to help me get the materials i need for a solution.

 

[Brizjuan]

Hey howd ya make out with the pump... I forgot to tell u the filter foam that I got came in 3 thick blocks so I had to cut them thinner with a razor... Obviously you probably figured that out by now.. But curious as to how it worked for ya