Closed Loop Circulation system problem...AIR

[TheRock]

Hi gang,

About 3 weeks ago I started up my closed loop circulation system.
Basically like the one shown here...
http://www.melevsreef.com/closedloop.html

I'm using a Danner MFG Mag drive 9.5 and the SQWD as shown

Today the system started sucking air from some where on the system...no
leaks
and no holes inside the tank above the water line.

I've noticed a bit a salt creep around the impeller case on the pump
where it seals to the pump body. I can hear the air getting into the pump,
and hear
air blowing through out the lines and see it going into the tank.

How can I find the trouble area ???

Has anyone used this pump successfully external to the tank ?
What's up with the salt forming externally on the pump when there isn't any
leaks ?


Thanks,
Chris

[TheRock]

I didn't have any nylon tape on the prime...but it still pulling a bit of
air, .not as much.
Can it be the seal on the pump ?


"TheRock" > wrote in message
news:GbWAf.2033$qG3.1494@trndny04...
> Hi gang,
>
> About 3 weeks ago I started up my closed loop circulation system.
> Basically like the one shown here...
> http://www.melevsreef.com/closedloop.html
>
> I'm using a Danner MFG Mag drive 9.5 and the SQWD as shown
>
> Today the system started sucking air from some where on the system...no
> leaks
> and no holes inside the tank above the water line.
>
> I've noticed a bit a salt creep around the impeller case on the pump
> where it seals to the pump body. I can hear the air getting into the
> pump, and hear
> air blowing through out the lines and see it going into the tank.
>
> How can I find the trouble area ???
>
> Has anyone used this pump successfully external to the tank ?
> What's up with the salt forming externally on the pump when there isn't
> any leaks ?
>
>
> Thanks,
> Chris
>
>
>

[Mark Henry]

TheRock wrote:
>
> I've noticed a bit a salt creep around the impeller case on the pump
> where it seals to the pump body.
>

So, this is the intake side of the pump then? If it's under warranty
send it back and have it replaced. There should be a rubber gasket or
seal on the connection that holds the intake tube and impellar to the
main body - try lubricating that with aquarium safe silicon grease (your
LFS should have some, or know where to get it. DON'T use silicone from a
hardware store) after cleaning it all off with a lint free cloth.

>
> What's up with the salt forming externally on the pump when there isn't any
> leaks ?
>

There's a leak, it's just so small you can't see it. I used to see this
all the time on sal****er systems on ships - no matter how much you seal
the joints somehow a drop of two gets through and all you ever see is
what's left behind as the water evaporates.

mark h

[pfishc]

Try tightening the screws around the impeller housing. I had a mag that
leaked slightly there and those screwes were lose. You might be sucking
air there.

[adv_aqua]

Mag drives are notorious for leaking air thru the gasket when hooked up
externally - the manf claim they can run unsubmersed but in reality we at
Adv Aquarium have found otherwise.

I would recommend a high quality external magdrive pump like an Iwaki.

Pomacanthus




"TheRock" > wrote in message
news:GbWAf.2033$qG3.1494@trndny04...
> Hi gang,
>
> About 3 weeks ago I started up my closed loop circulation system.
> Basically like the one shown here...
> http://www.melevsreef.com/closedloop.html
>
> I'm using a Danner MFG Mag drive 9.5 and the SQWD as shown
>
> Today the system started sucking air from some where on the system...no
> leaks
> and no holes inside the tank above the water line.
>
> I've noticed a bit a salt creep around the impeller case on the pump
> where it seals to the pump body. I can hear the air getting into the
> pump, and hear
> air blowing through out the lines and see it going into the tank.
>
> How can I find the trouble area ???
>
> Has anyone used this pump successfully external to the tank ?
> What's up with the salt forming externally on the pump when there isn't
> any leaks ?
>
>
> Thanks,
> Chris
>
>
>

[TheRock]

I 'm starting to believe this is the case !
(as the salt creep is getting worse)

Thanks

"adv_aqua" > wrote in message
...
> Mag drives are notorious for leaking air thru the gasket when hooked up
> externally - the manf claim they can run unsubmersed but in reality we at
> Adv Aquarium have found otherwise.
>
> I would recommend a high quality external magdrive pump like an Iwaki.
>
> Pomacanthus
>
>
>
>
> "TheRock" > wrote in message
> news:GbWAf.2033$qG3.1494@trndny04...
>> Hi gang,
>>
>> About 3 weeks ago I started up my closed loop circulation system.
>> Basically like the one shown here...
>> http://www.melevsreef.com/closedloop.html
>>
>> I'm using a Danner MFG Mag drive 9.5 and the SQWD as shown
>>
>> Today the system started sucking air from some where on the system...no
>> leaks
>> and no holes inside the tank above the water line.
>>
>> I've noticed a bit a salt creep around the impeller case on the pump
>> where it seals to the pump body. I can hear the air getting into the
>> pump, and hear
>> air blowing through out the lines and see it going into the tank.
>>
>> How can I find the trouble area ???
>>
>> Has anyone used this pump successfully external to the tank ?
>> What's up with the salt forming externally on the pump when there isn't
>> any leaks ?
>>
>>
>> Thanks,
>> Chris
>>
>>
>>
>
>

[bitz]

air leaks in fittings can be a pain to repair ...Ive got a pvc to poly
threaded adapter which ive replace and tried every damn thing under
the sun to fix and its still sucks air in!!


On Mon, 23 Jan 2006 01:20:38 GMT, "TheRock" > wrote:

>Hi gang,
>
>About 3 weeks ago I started up my closed loop circulation system.
>Basically like the one shown here...
>http://www.melevsreef.com/closedloop.html
>
>I'm using a Danner MFG Mag drive 9.5 and the SQWD as shown
>
>Today the system started sucking air from some where on the system...no
>leaks
>and no holes inside the tank above the water line.
>
>I've noticed a bit a salt creep around the impeller case on the pump
>where it seals to the pump body. I can hear the air getting into the pump,
>and hear
>air blowing through out the lines and see it going into the tank.
>
>How can I find the trouble area ???
>
>Has anyone used this pump successfully external to the tank ?
>What's up with the salt forming externally on the pump when there isn't any
>leaks ?
>
>
>Thanks,
>Chris
>
>

[Wayne Sallee]

Yea I use Dow Corning Silicone Product #111 on a lot of
plumbing stuff. Great stuff.

Wayne Sallee
Wayne's Pets



Mark Henry wrote on 3/20/2006 9:07 AM:
> bitz wrote:
>>
>> air leaks in fittings can be a pain to repair ...Ive got a pvc to poly
>> threaded adapter which ive replace and tried every damn thing under
>> the sun to fix and its still sucks air in!!
>>
>
> I had a similar problem and fixed it by lubricating the threads with
> silicone lubricant before putting them together. Strangely, it dealed
> the connection (and made ti easier to take apart later on).
>
> mark h