Pump impeller vanes keep breaking

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withaknife420

withaknife420

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Greets all I'm new here hope to contribute as best I can, have had many successful crops though so I'm not quite a newbie. Question for you hydro/aeroponics folks:

Anyone ever run into an issue where water pump impeller vanes keep breaking? They all seem to be made the same, crappy plastic impeller with 5 or so vanes on it. Mind you I don't expect my pumps to last forever, but none of them seem to last a full year. Never ran dry, 3 separate pumps to ensure not overloaded, also to not have all eggs in one basket so that only a few plants would be affected at a time if one failed. They are on a timer that runs every 5 mins for 45ish seconds. They still work when this happens but obviously with reduced pressure and not ideal. The brand is Active Aqua but I've searched and searched, they all seem to be built mostly the same (at least for mag drive pumps) with the same plastic impeller.

Wouldn't they be better with a stainless/aluminum impeller, or something less fragile but still not corrosive? Anyone know of a different style pump, or different make that are built better?

Cheers
 
withaknife420

withaknife420

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To give you an idea what I mean, they all look like this with the plastic white vanes at the front.
 
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Aqua Man

Aqua Man

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The tabs breaking off or the cap whole thing? Sounds like you have bought the wrong one. The magnet pull it tight against the housing when you put it in?
 
Aqua Man

Aqua Man

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Greets all I'm new here hope to contribute as best I can, have had many successful crops though so I'm not quite a newbie. Question for you hydro/aeroponics folks:

Anyone ever run into an issue where water pump impeller vanes keep breaking? They all seem to be made the same, crappy plastic impeller with 5 or so vanes on it. Mind you I don't expect my pumps to last forever, but none of them seem to last a full year. Never ran dry, 3 separate pumps to ensure not overloaded, also to not have all eggs in one basket so that only a few plants would be affected at a time if one failed. They are on a timer that runs every 5 mins for 45ish seconds. They still work when this happens but obviously with reduced pressure and not ideal. The brand is Active Aqua but I've searched and searched, they all seem to be built mostly the same (at least for mag drive pumps) with the same plastic impeller.

Wouldn't they be better with a stainless/aluminum impeller, or something less fragile but still not corrosive? Anyone know of a different style pump, or different make that are built better?

Cheers
How many gph?
 
ComfortablyNumb

ComfortablyNumb

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Replace your pumps with a mini version of this and never need another one.
This is so simple, and it's vacuum/gravity powered.

 
ComfortablyNumb

ComfortablyNumb

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Laugh it up fuzzball. It works. Watch it.
A small version with a metal tank for the pressure, an old pressure cooker would work.
Gravity creates a vacuum in the tank and the vacuum pulls the water up from the source.
It is important to plumb the interior correctly.

 
withaknife420

withaknife420

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The plastic tabs themselves, no problems with the rest of the impeller shaft/magnet. My local hydro shop doesn't have the replacement impellers/magnets so instead of waiting for shipping I always just buy a brand new pump (sometimes they'll warranty them for me).

Here's a picture of the one that just happened.
 
20211022 060214
ComfortablyNumb

ComfortablyNumb

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The plastic tabs themselves, no problems with the rest of the impeller shaft/magnet. My local hydro shop doesn't have the replacement impellers/magnets so instead of waiting for shipping I always just buy a brand new pump (sometimes they'll warranty them for me).

Here's a picture of the one that just happened.
If that is regular plastic, it won't last long. If it's nylon, it will outlast the pump.
Have a friend with a 3D printer? Make one that will last.
 
withaknife420

withaknife420

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If that is regular plastic, it won't last long. If it's nylon, it will outlast the pump.
Have a friend with a 3D printer? Make one that will last.
Good idea, thought of this but to get it done in metal instead (some sites online will fabricate items if you send them the design). Can nylon be 3D printed easily?
 
ComfortablyNumb

ComfortablyNumb

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I was looking these up and I found they are made of urethane. Once exposed to Oxygen, it begins to deteriorate. Underwater does not matter, it actually stresses the weakened structure. I would upgrade the pump to a 600 and make sure the impeller is nylon or metal.
 
Brotofsky

Brotofsky

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I’ve run aquariums for yrs and never see that happen to an impeller. Is it possible that some small rocks or clay pellets are wandering your system? Have you found and removed the broken pieces?
 
ComfortablyNumb

ComfortablyNumb

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All I know from pump is what I've just read. Just trying to help out and learn in the process.
I have done a waterfall in a backyard.... similar.
 
Aqua Man

Aqua Man

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Replace your pumps with a mini version of this and never need another one.
This is so simple, and it's vacuum/gravity powered.

I used to take advantage of stuff like this. 45G drum on main floor and 30 or so tanks I the basement that's why its funny to my. Not very feasible and a space hog and eye sore. But it beats lugging water.


So I know it works.
 
Aqua Man

Aqua Man

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Imo try to find a rubber impeller. But yeah only way those are breaking is like gravel or something.
 
Cashmeh

Cashmeh

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Imo try to find a rubber impeller. But yeah only way those are breaking is like gravel or something.
I have some aero nozzles but I worry about burning up pumps with plastic pumps. Wonder if there's a good pump with a metal impeller for cheap somwhere. I would think most plastic impeller pumps are not made for high pressure aero. I'm sure a rock would help but it seems like they would break regardless unless they are good quality. Pretty much the only reason I havnt done some aero yet is fear of burning up the pump.
 
Cashmeh

Cashmeh

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Doing some more research and you need a pump capable of high psi for aero. The cheap pumps with long plastic impeller blades won't work. If they don't list their psi rating, they are junk.

Heres an example of one I might get one day. It can hold easy at 60psi and maxes at 150psi.

I would assume high pressure pumps won't have long plastic blades that can break off.

Id also run two of them incase one fails. Expensive, but if you want good reliable aero, it's not expensive at all lol..

This is helping me too BTW, imma build a cool aero setup one day.

 
Cashmeh

Cashmeh

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Oh geez I didn't see it was aero... wow I'm slow.... small diaohram pump works well.

Now off to my hooked on phonics lesson.
Well it might not be aero, I am just assuming because he said hydro/aeroponics and then talked about pressure drop. I have no idea how aero works but his is on a timer too.
 
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