Mak 5 pump

[Osama]

I appreciate your opinion:
last night I had a scare . My main pump started making noise like a stone got into it. I had to shut my system off & disconnect the pump to my 180g reef tank. A piece of broken plastic came out of the pump and the pump worked fine after reinstalling it. My two questions:
1) Have you experienced such failure ( most likely a piece of the housing broke) and will the pump be reliable for a good while
2) Do you guys with the bigger tanks keep a spare pump on hand ? an expensive undertaking or what ?
Your thoughts are always appreciated

 

[liquid]

Did you open the impellor housing? You might have sheared off a fin from your impellor. Replacing the impellor isn't rough at all and I generally recommend a person has a spare impellor sitting around in case this happens. It's also nice to have a backup pump sitting around just in case, but that can be expensive (not like anything in this hobby is expensive...).

Shane

 

[Len]

Shane sounds like he's on the right track. I'm guessing a broken blade also (but can only guess why, as these blades are generally very rigid and sturdy). I would replace it as well.

I don't have any spare pumps, but use two return pumps for the purpose of redundancy. Pump failure over night can mean death (it has happened to me once before).

 

[Reefguide]

Yup sound like an impellor blade to me. Happened to me much the same.... Never really figured out what caused the blade to break off but thats what it was....

 

[Osama]

First thanks to all
Second the pump is working without any noise or vibration for 24 hrs
Third the piece that broke when compared to the spare impeller I have for a mak4 (used for my skimmer) does not look anything like the blades on the impeller.
I was afraid to open the housing since it was getting late on a worknight. So I put the pump back together hoping it will work and it did. NOW I NEED TO DO THE RIGHT THING WHILE THINGS ARE WORKING.
I plan on buying a spare impeller or 2 for a mak5 . Does anyone know for sure who carries them. I get my supplies from Jasom mostly at premium aquatics and he told me when he got me the impeller for the mak4 that he could not get an impeller for a mak5???
I plan on opening the housing after I get my spare impeller as long as things are running for now.
THANKS

 

[liquid]

I believe Marine Depot carries the Mak 5's. I'd check w/ them...

Shane