MAG7 issues

Hi all-
It's been a REAL long time since I've been on the forum, mainly since everything in my tank has been doing just fine. But two weeks ago we lost power briefly and the MAG7 I have as my return pump didn't automatically start up again when the power came back on. When I took a closer look I saw that the part of the impeller cover that holds the impeller shaft had broken and when the power failed the shaft came out of alignment and couldn't restart. A nudge put it back in line and started, but there was an unpleasant clicking noise. So I quickly ordered a new part and finally had a chance to replace it yesterday (pesky flu!). Anyway, when I replaced the cover and started things up again there is a horrible vibrating hum coming from the pump. Adding some teflon tape to where the shaft fits in the cover helped some, but not entirely.

So the question is, what could be causing this most annoying noise and, more importantly how can I stop it??? It's not the pump vibrating against the glass of the sump, it's from the physical pump itself.

 

Poor fit or an unbalanced impeller will cause vibration and noise.. Make sure the cap that you screw in to hold the impeller in place is on tight and inline. Or how about the rubber ends that hold the impeller shaft. Are they wore out? Did you replace those too??

 

I had a mag7 a while ago, and the one time it started making noise was when there was a lot of access calcium carbonate buildup in the impeller housing.. If thats a problem, soak the pump in vinegar and water mix until it dissolves.. Hoped this all helps.

 

Did you clean the pump entirely. Sometimes my 9.5 would make noises if little tiny snails got stuck in the there. The impeller cover is known to break easily so you dont want it too tight or too loose. Also, i think theres that small piece that goes on the end of the impeller itself. Are all the pieces in place?

 

All the pieces are in place and I gave the pump a thorough rinsing and brushed it out. I'll try to soak the impeller in vinegar, though I saw no build up on it. Keep the ideas coming, please!

 

Try the vinegar soak. Otherwise the impeller may be needing replacement.

Do you have the pump plugged into a gfi?

 

I'll see if the LFS has an impeller for less than the cost of a new pump online. It's plugged into a regular grounded power strip, no GFI.

 

Well, the guy at the LFS was kind enough to open up a brand new MAG7 so I could look inside, and sure enough the misaligned impeller had worn the housing inside the pump out of whack. New pump for me, it looks like.
The MAG7 had been a great pump for these 4 years or so, but I might be willing to spend a bit more for QUIET. Any recommendations???

 

Well it looks like you got your money's worth..

I don't have any recommendations since I haven't used many different pumps.. Someone else will chime in I'm sure..

 

I actually ordered an Eheim 1260...it's should be here tomorrow (thanks, Premium Aquatics!)...
I figured I'd pay a bit more for a quieter pump...and it cost me the same as a MAG7 would have at the LFS...