mag pumps

[attempt]

hey all you guys thanks for your previous input on the simple sump
i bought a 10 gal tank, a mag 7 and a u-tube overflow
works perfect
now my question. tonight i noticed my flowrate was rather slow
i also noticed that the sponge filter on the mag pump was all sucked up tight
i took it off and the flowrate increased almost causing a flood till the overflow caught up
anyways is that foam filter really needed on that pump or can i run it without it?
i really dont want to have to clean it every few days
thanks again

 

[GSchiemer]

You can certainly run it without the foam filter; just leave the screen in place.

Greg

 

[attempt]

screen? the plastic piece that the foam filter fits over?

 

[GSchiemer]

screen? the plastic piece that the foam filter fits over?

Yes. You only want to be sure nothing large, such as a snail, gets into the impeller housing.

 

[SnoopDog]

Yes remove the sponge and never put it back on. Just leave the plastic strainer in place. Just letting you know that on all mag pumps the impeller housing wears out. I dont know why they do but I have one in my pond, my mothers pond and on my skimmer. I have not had one last over 12 months without the impeller housing falling apart. Its not a big deal really just a $6 part but I am not sure why they use such brittle plastic. I even lost one pump from replacing the housing and the screw hole shattered. I did not overtighten it, it just shattered. Anyway I have mag 5's, 7's and 12's, they all suffer the same fate.

 

[attempt]

where do you order the part from?

 

[StirCrazy]

It should be inside your sponge.. just pull it out.

Steve

 

[smokin reefer]

Snoopdog, I have 2 different size mag pumps in my reef for over 2 years and both are working fine with no broken parts.

 

[Will C1]

you must just have bad luck snoopy i've had 2 a mag 5 and a mag 7 for over 5 years in my reef no problems.

 

[Anonymous]

I too have run Mag's in all my systems. I run them all without the sponge as well. I have a Mag7 in our 20g, a Mag12 in our 72g, and a Mag1800 in our 135g. The Mag12 and Mag18 have been running perfectly for almost 3 years now without fail.

 

[LA-Lawman]

Ditto on Aragorn....

The key to owning any pump is maintaining it. You need to periodicly check for calcium deposits, impeller wear, and any sort of flow decrease.. I still have an ORIGINAL MAG7 and it runs perfectly.....

I am ordering my AquaC EV 180 with a Mag7.. I know i am going to get a reliable pump. it is kind of comforting....

hth

 

[SnoopDog]

Maybe so, I only open mine up when they slow down and stop up. I admit that I dont clean mine often but the LFS guy I go to said the same thing since he does maintenance he agreed on the fail rate of them. I am not saying they are horrible and by no means is there another pump that cost less that works better except your larger external pumps. I am just telling everyone what I have experienced. It very well could be grit from rock or calcium buildup but it seems to me that some of the plastics could be made better around that housing. Here is a link for the parts guys http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_Display.cfm?siteid=7&pCatId=5207

 

[sam1]

hey since we have this thread started i would like to ask i have a 65 gal tank im am useing a mag 7 in the sump my lfs sold me the mag 7 saying thats what i needed a year ago i have replaced the inpeller once -but i dont like the flow rate seems like i dont have enough water movement in the tank what pump do you guys think i should have in there --i have instaled a rio 200 in the tank to move some water around

 

[Riotfishdude]

i have a mag12 for my Aerofoamer624,doesnt the metal screws (and the fact that the whole unit looks like some sort of metal) worry anyone?....Riot...

 

[Anonymous]

hey since we have this thread started i would like to ask i have a 65 gal tank im am useing a mag 7 in the sump my lfs sold me the mag 7 saying thats what i needed a year ago i have replaced the inpeller once -but i dont like the flow rate seems like i dont have enough water movement in the tank what pump do you guys think i should have in there --i have instaled a rio 200 in the tank to move some water around

A Mag7 is woefully underpowered for a tank that size IMO. My 72g utlizes a Mag12 w/ 2 SeaSwirls for return. Depending upon how your tank is stocked, I personally wouldn't go with anything less than a Mag9.

 

[Riotfishdude]

no thoughts on all that metal in a SW tank?....