Sea Swirl on a closed-loop...

[bowfront]

You can get silicon grease at most hardware stores or any scuba store. It's used among other things as a plumbing sealant. For the vasoline crowd that's fine if it works for you. The main thing is don't use axle grease :lol:. Mags can be leakers around that o-ring when run externally.

BTW, I've run them external and submerged and there doesn't seem to be that much difference in noise. Try rubber grometts inbetween the Mag and the canopy. These are very cheap and work great for muffling vibration noise. Any well stocked hardware store will carry various sizes.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks guys!

 

[GSchiemer]

It is flooded- both inlets are below water and I removed the air by sucking it out with an airline tube. It runs fine, and even starts up after being off for an hour or two. Beyond that though, it looses the prime- just not sure where from...

I guess I am asking it to lift somewhat- but in this configuration I don't think it should be a problem.

It is NOT flooded or you wouldn't have to suck air to prime the pump. It was designed to be primed by "flooding" the inlet with water. "Flooding" means that the inlet is below water level. The Mag will never function properly with this setup.

Greg

 

[Anonymous]

If the inlet and outlet tubes went up over the back of the aquarium and down to the pump on the floor- would you consider the pump to be flooded? But, I would still have to suck air from the tube to prime it. Same net effect.(Actually I didn't suck it out anyway, I blew water in with a small powerhead)

Or, look at it this way- both ends of the loop are permanently submerged; the pump is blowing water out the outlet, and water is obligated to rise up the inlet tube, thus eliminating the need to draw.

I know this works because I have seen people with the same set-up (sans the sea swirl) running long term no problem....

 

[SPC]

Posted by Dan:

If the inlet and outlet tubes went up over the back of the aquarium and down to the pump on the floor- would you consider the pump to be flooded?

-Yes I would, and this is the point I was trying to get at with Seven. The force of the water in the above scenario is different than having the pump in the location you currently have it IMO. I still don't see anyway these two are equal.
Steve

 

[M.E.Milz]

Posted by Dan:

If the inlet and outlet tubes went up over the back of the aquarium and down to the pump on the floor- would you consider the pump to be flooded?

-Yes I would, and this is the point I was trying to get at with Seven. The force of the water in the above scenario is different than having the pump in the location you currently have it IMO. I still don't see anyway these two are equal.
Steve

Hmmm. I don't know about that. Let us say that the intake and the outtake to the pump were both connected to the pump with 3' of flexible tubing. The ends of both tubes are submerged, and all the water is removed from the inside of the tubing. Does it matter where you locate the pump? Is there any difference if the pump is located 3' below the waterline, 3' above the waterline, or right at the waterline? No. The pump should perform exactly the same because the effect of gravity is cancelled out and the resistance to flow through the tubing is the same irrespective of wher you locate the pump.

The only difference would be if you had a leak in the system. If so, then if the pump (or the leak) were below the waterline, then water would leak OUT of the set-up and onto the floor. But if the pump (or the leak) were above the waterline, then you air would leak INTO the set-up and break the prime. The later is apparently what is happening to Dan.

 

[pez]

I thought vaseline was a petroleum based product that would have delirious affects on rubber gaskets (and potentially the tank). :?:

 

[Anonymous]

Most avoid delerious gaskets!!!

:lol:

 

[pez]

:wink:

 

[GSchiemer]

If the inlet and outlet tubes went up over the back of the aquarium and down to the pump on the floor- would you consider the pump to be flooded? ....

Yes, because the pump inlet is BELOW water level. That's the key. Although this is not an ideal arrangement either, you are unlikely to have problems with air build-up and pump seizure.

Greg