Noisy Iwaki pump

[Anonymous]

Just replaced my dying quiet one pump with a much anticipated Iwaki 30rxlt. This pump sounds like a jet taking off even with my cabinet doors closed! Also, it is throwing many tiny bubbles into my tank. Is the pump cavitating? I have plenty of water in the sump and I would not like to add anymore. I've tried throttling back the pump with a ball valve, but it makes no difference. My only thought is that I have a 3/4 inch intake from the sump instead of the 1 inch on the pump. Could this be it?

Help!!

Mitch

 

[esmithiii]

If it is spewing bubbles into the tank, then it must be sucking in air somewhere, either from the intake or there is a leak somewhere. I would suggest calling the retailer or the manufacturer.

E

 

[ReefStar]

It has been suggested to use flex tubing on the input and output of the pump rather than PVC. It supposedly reduces vibration noise. I was not sure from your note if you are running PVC, but it might be the problem. Also, I put my pump on a piece of foam rather than directly on the wood inside my tank stand. That also helped reduce noise.

 

[chris1]

Mitchell,

I just did the same thing. 3 years ago I went from my Quiet One to a Little Giant 3mdqxsc. I wanted to replace the pump and get something quieter. The Iwaki 30rlxt was recommended to me. Well, I switched to the Iwaki last week. Although the actual water sound from the Iwaki is quieter, the hum from the pump itself is MUCH louder. It is vibrating everything. I have flex tubing running to it too. I put a towel under it and it helped, but it is still loud. BTW, I have 3/4" input running to it as well.

Also, the bubbles will go away in a day or two as the impeller gets a slime coating on it.

Im pretty disappointed in getneral with the switch. You will never get another pump as quiet as the Quiet One, but the Quiet One adds some heat to the water.

c

 

[yznhmr]

Get a GEN-x Mak4, for the $$ I love it, even with a 8' head, it performs great.., dont think its that noisy either, any one else?>

 

[jamesw]

Iwakis are some of the coolest quietest best built pumps on the market. If yours is really running that loud, then something is the matter.

I second some of the suggestions. Also, check to see that it didn't suck anything into the impellor, isolate the pump on a mousepad, soft plumb at least a few inches of tubing to the in and out to reduce vibration, etc.

I can't even hear my iwaki w/ my cabinet door closed, and it's a 40rlt.

HTH
James

 

[Al Z]

I had exactly the same problem. There are a couple of things you can do. First, don't restrict the input to any pump. That means no 3/4" line to a 1" input. It's in the directions, and for good reason - it's causing the pump to work harder than it should. Second, you have to stop the vibration the pump is transferring to the cabinet - it's causing the cabinet to act like a loudspeaker. Build a platform out of a sound absorbing material (like homosote and plywood), glue it to the cabinet, then attach the pump to the platform. It will make a big difference.
I'd like to find a really quiet pump myself, but it seems the ones that are (SilentSea, Quiet One), also add heat to the water. If anyone knows of a pump that is quiet AND runs cool, please let me know.

[ September 17, 2001: Message edited by: Al Z ]

 

[Steve R]

I too recently replaced my old sump with an Iwaki pump,40rlt.Initialy it was louder than I expected. I spoke with a matainace tech at my job,and he recomended placing the pump on four light wieght springs attached thru the mounting holes in the bracket.I went to Lowes and got four springs,1/8 inch bolts(about an inch) and rubber washers.I then mounted the pump to a second piece of 1 inch plywood.I set the pump and stand on the floor with a piece of 1 inch styrofoam block between it and the floor,I used hose links as has been sugested.I know this is fairly complicated but it has worked very well for me.Good luck,Steve

 

[Anonymous]

Thank you all for the great suggestions. Glad to hear others are going through the same thing. The pump seems a little quieter today, but it is still sucking air from somewhere. I suspect it is from the intake from the sump as I can see bubbles in the hose connecting them. How do I enlarge the bulkhead from my sump from a 3/4 to a full 1 inch?? I am surprised that such a short distance of only 1/4 inch diameter difference would cause any problems.
Also, have people noticed that the motor portion of the pump is hot to the touch. My tank is running 2 degrees cooler since I switched from my Quiet one!!

mitch

 

[reefhound]

hello all and the fix for the bubbles is quick! get a 90 degree fitting for the intake
and trim it just a little on the down side.
sucking throught the 3/4 fitting will suck small amounts of air from the swirl around the intake but with the 90 inside the sump it will stop it.
i did it on one i setup at work.
also put a 1\2 to 3\4 inch styofoam under the pump to ground the hump.
happy reefing and good luck.

[ September 18, 2001: Message edited by: reefhound ]

 

[Anonymous]

reefhound, what do you mean by "trim it just a little on the down side?"

 

[reefhound]

sorry about that
get a fitting the fits the bulkhead and turn it to the bottom of the sump, you can trim the end that points to the bottom about a half of a inch or so to help the flow.
it worked for me and i hope it will work for you.good luck

 

[Anonymous]

How do I enlarge the bulkhead from my sump from a 3/4 to a full 1 inch?? I am surprised that such a short distance of only 1/4 inch diameter difference would cause any problems.
Also, have people noticed that the motor portion of the pump is hot to the touch. Everyone else notice this? My tank is running 2 degrees cooler since I switched from my Quiet one!!

Mitch