do all Mag Drive pumps leak?

[stnmasn]

I am very frustrated, set up cal. reactor last night. New Mag Drive pump leaks....urrrr....return to it this morning and I try another brand new Mag Drive I have as a back up for emergencys and that leaks in almost the same spot. Take apart both and can't stop leaking. I am now using both o-rings on one pump to try and halt the leak, it has slowed but still leaks, am going to continue tweaking something that should just WORK out of the box.

Has anyone else had this experience with Mag Drive? What was your remedy?

Was going to try aquarium silicone but my tube dried out.

Sunday morning uuurrrrrrrrrrrsss..........

 

[Yaktop]

I used mags 9.5, 12, and 18's and never had one leak. maybe you can order a new gasket, you sure theres no pitting of the housing or that the seal isnt sitting right? I know they are a pain sometimes since they seem to shrink and you have to be careful when stretching them out.

 

[JohnK]

Also be careful with the screws on the impeller housing, it's easy to overtighten and crack the plastic.

 

[Rays]

I've been using two 7's and a 9.5 for years trouble free.

 

[stnmasn]

These are mag drive 2 and 5
I cant seem to find any pitting of the housing.
I have also tried reseating the o ring several times.
The leak is slower but still there.
I didn't want to spend hours of my sunday on this. Have many other chores to do today.

Any suggestions for a better quality pump that will perform the same function?

It seems to me that the mag drives have a very poor sealing system, they couldn't come up with something tighter, stronger that wasn't so cheap?

Sorry to complain this morning, I am just frustrated starting from last night. Please bear with me. Thanks, Devon

 

[APISTOBORELLI]

Did you rub the gasket with Vaseline? That worked for me.

 

[stnmasn]

I wish I had the luck that everyone else seems to have with my mag drives....I have 2 brand new that LEAK..whats the chances of that?

Glad I didn't wait for an emergency to find out about my emergency pump.

I am tempted to put it in the sump, but the hose wont reach from sump to chamber 1. maybe I will have to get another length on monday...

 

[stnmasn]

Did you rub the gasket with Vaseline? That worked for me.

Good idea, am going to try that now,,,thanks.

 

[stnmasn]

no vaseline....how about BAG BALM?

 

[stnmasn]

or super glue?

 

[APISTOBORELLI]

I wouldn't use the bag balm. If you glue it, what happens if it still leaks? You'll have to chuck it at that point.

 

[stnmasn]

I wouldn't use the bag balm. If you glue it, what happens if it still leaks? You'll have to chuck it at that point.

Good point, I guess I am at a loss right now for what to do on a sunday. I live in the middle of nowhere in Vermont. No good stores are close or open today....thanks everyone for the input, any more suggestions I am very open.

 

[JohnK]

I'd just shut down the reactor until you get the leak fixed. That way you get your sunday back

For the leak, I'd do as follows;
-disassemble and carefully clean the housing and o-ring while inspecting for cracks, coat the o-ring with vaseline, reassemble and test. Pay a lot of attention to the screw tension, too tight and the housing might bend a little (or break if you really over do it). Too loose, well that's obvious..

-If it still leaks after that, open it again and silicone the O-ring and where it seats, reassemble and let dry 2 days.

Also, on a side note, is there any chance that there was a whole bunch of pressure in the reactor? (testing, full of water but not flowing, just full but with the effluent shut off, Co2 and or input turned on - or something along those lines?)

 

[BIG SEY 93]

I have used mag 7's for years without any problems ever. If you are not happy with the mag drive pump go out and get a ehiem hobby pump. The ehiem pumps work real well in calc reactors. I believe that AG has them in stock.

 

[stnmasn]

I am going to put this down for today after trying one more thing. I will get some vaseline tomorrow as well as some silicone. I have teflon tape and am going to try and be clever with that but I doubt it will help.

Jimmyj7090 thanks for the input, I will be taking your advice and leaving this for tomorrow as well as trying your tips.

Big Sey I think I will try an eheim as well.....thanks

 

[JohnK]

I agree, ehiem's are IMO about 300x's better pumps than Mag's.

Just be warned, if the pump is hard plumbed to the reactor, it can be a little tricky making the connections - the Ehiem's use metric threads I beleive. I know on my 1250, the intake side will work with 1/2" mpt as long as you use a whole bunch of teflon tape. The output is some strange size that's more like 3/8" and requires some DIY work to make an adapter.

If the reactor is connected with hoses, it's no trouble at all.


Don't lose anymore of your sunday fiddling with the teflon tape, It won't help with a leaky o-ring seal. Good luck.

 

[stnmasn]

I agree, ehiem's are IMO about 300x's better pumps than Mag's.

Just be warned, if the pump is hard plumbed to the reactor, it can be a little tricky making the connections - the Ehiem's use metric threads I beleive. I know on my 1250, the intake side will work with 1/2" mpt as long as you use a whole bunch of teflon tape. The output is some strange size that's more like 3/8" and requires some DIY work to make an adapter.

If the reactor is connected with hoses, it's no trouble at all.


Don't lose anymore of your sunday fiddling with the teflon tape, It won't help with a leaky o-ring seal. Good luck.

Thanks again J, your input is much apreciated.....

GO RED SOX!!!!!!

 

[stnmasn]

Time to go work in the garden

 

[wrassefan]

did you use plenty of teflon tape or is it leaking somewhere else?

 

[JayM]

My solution to mag pump leaks is to use them submerged so you can't tell

Seriously, I have 2 mag5's and a mag9. They're all almost 2 years old, and none leak. I think you have had a run of bad luck, or you're missing something really minor on your assembly......