I have a new mag 36 for my puffer tank. It has started leaking slowly and is inputing a lot of air into the output line. Any thoughts?
Sounds like you have a leak out of the suction fitting or piping. Is the pump internal or external? If the pump is external check the tightness of the fittings, just be sure not to crack the plastic.
It is runnig external. The fittings are reasonably tight (just enough not to crack housing). All fittings also are watertight using thread seal tape.
How high is the water level over the suction bulkhead feeding the pump? Its possible that the water level is low enough to pull a vortex.
It is external. As in closed loop. The plumbing is as follows. 1" PVC over side of aquarium. runs down to intake on pump. 1" PVC leaves output on pump and goes to abovetank manifold. Manifold has 3- 3/4" outputs using 1" Reducing Tees to 3/4" Loc-lin. One output on right side of tank approx 10" from side of tank pointing slightly down and left. One output on left side of tank approx 10" from side of tank pointing slightly down and right. Last output on left side of tank at the front of the tank pointing slightly down and straight across the front of the tank.
The intank return in approx 12" under water level. If I turn the output level down using a ball valve the air clears up.
Every so often I have to clean the strainer screen on the suction(intake) of the closed loop. If I dont I get air bubbles. Has this closed loop always leaked air. You might need a larger suction piping to the pump to supply the three 3/4 dischage outlets.
#1. I just found that the pump is leaking from the housing where the electrical cord vacates. #2. This is not an old pump. I just bought it yesterday from my LFS and plumbed it today. I opened the impeller housing and cannot find any way to get further into the housing.
That is very odd that it would be leaking at the cord outlet. The chamber that houses the impeller must have a crack in it some where. I would definitly take the pump back and exchange it.
I have had the same problem with the mag drive pumps big and small. I LOVE them but the only way I would use one is submerged. They have a bad prolem about leaking and sucking air arround the seal. I have one set up in a closed loop ATM and if I move the pipe just a small bit it will start sucking air or leaking water. I would take it back and get another name brand. Does anyone have a sugestion on a good external pump? I have not had much experiance with other brands of pumps. Good Luck on getting your problem taken care of.
I just put a sequence snapper on my closed loop, works great. price wise I think is close to the same as the mag, but most will pull less amps but not as much head pressure.
Very few of the Sequence pumps are pressure rated - just asked Fisher12 who did alot of investigating to get a pressure rated pump for his sand filter.
