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Mag 5 and Aqualifter Noisy?


Burningbaal

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Hi all,

I got a danner mag 5 to use as a return and Tom Aquatics Aqualifter for the sump I'm planning on setting up. Stuck the Mag 5 in a bucket of rock for some flow (overkill, I know) and it was making intermittent vibration noises. enough my wife asked me to turn it off so she could sleep (it was in another room, shared wall). Tried the aqualifter (just to keep the bucket oxygenated) and it made so much noise I wouldn't have been able to listen to music without blasting it. it was probably 5-10x louder than my whole tank (55g) as a whole. Maybe the aqualifter would be quiet once it's moving water and not air? but how much of a difference can it really be!? Maybe the Mag5 will be quieter with head pressure?

 

anyone have any noise issues with Mag5s? anyone know of a quieter aqualifter? I'll be using the aqualifter to prime a DIY cpr-type overflow and the Mag5 as return. looking for 300-500gph at 5' of head (if you think I should get a different pump).

 

the tank is in the kitchen which is open to the living room so noise is an issue, I need to get this under control

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Aqualifter can be loud until it gets water in it as you suggested. Mag 5 should be quiet. Was it vibrating off the bottom of the bucket? Have you cleaned or checked to impeller? Could be dirty or need replaced since its used. I runa mag 18 in my sump and it's dead silent.

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mag 5 was new...brand new, so shouldn't be dirty. It MIGHT have been rattling on the bucket or a rock. I'll try just holding it in the bucket tonight suspended so it touches only water. it had an intermittent rattle like my red sea prizm's pump had (reason we replaced the skimmer). but the skimmer rattled 100% of the time. this is like half second bursts of rattling and then will be silent for a few seconds up to a minute...weird.

 

I'll also try having the aqualifter pump water up out of the bucket (into a cup or something) so see if it's quiet. It'll only run with about 8 inches of tubing, so it shouldn't be strained at all. planning on its output going back into the tank side of the overflow box...does this sound right?

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Yah the aqualifter is meant to be run with water, you are hearing the diaphragm and the tubing just makes it louder. But if all you are doing is priming the overflow it should suffice.

 

Odd that your brand new Mag 5 is loud, though i've heard about that problem with this brand before. I ran a mag 9 before and it vibrated pretty loud, so i had to put it on a mouse pad to keep the sound down. I have not run the Blueline pumps, but i have run a Panworld pump and it was nice pump. The only sound was from the fan. I would suggest an Eheim 1250 or 1260. One of the best pumps on the market, low power usage, silent, and they just plain work and work and work.

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When you are using the aqualifter to prime the overflow it should quiet down. You can put the return tube underwater slightly and it will quiet further.

 

The Mag 5 should be pretty quiet underwater. Replacement impellers are about $16, if needed.

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Aqualifter problem is solved, tried it moving water and was quiet. Took a look at the impeller shaft, the impeller has almost a 1/4" of wiggle room along the shaft...pretty sure that is the cause of the rattling. Maybe I can stick a vinyl washer or two on there?

 

Algae: I know replacement impellers are cheap, but I shouldn't have to buy one for a brand new pump...

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