Mag 9.5 leaking electric charge

signal_4 · 12/26/2009, 12:00 AM

Ok so after moving my tank and in the process of re setting it back up, I changed out the impeller to my mag 9.5 which had gone bad. I hooked up the pump and started to run it and when I stuck my finger in the sump I got a little shock.... Took the mag right off and put back on my backup pump. The mag is from 2005 so warranty is out on it. It wasnt leaking an electrical charge before I changed the impeller. There wasnt any live stock in the tank at the time so nothing got zapped. Does anyone know what the problem/fix might be...thx...

lordofthereef · 12/26/2009, 05:30 AM

There probably will be no safe fix to this. It is one of the most common failures of aquarium equipment. Time to get another IMO.

ChadTheSpike · 12/26/2009, 07:02 AM

I second that...

Also, I have seen several mag pumps develop this problem upon replacement of the impellor.

Did you clean out the hole the impellor goes in while changing the impellor? The ones I have seen get grooves inside of that hole that causes the stray voltage. Its minor, so mung and calcification masks the problem until you clean it, then whamo, it appears...

tcwayne · 12/26/2009, 07:33 AM

Pull the back of the pump off. Look at the mold (the encasement that seals the wires in), do you see any visible cracks in the mold? If so than you can seal the cracks and you should be good. BUT!! I would still keep it as a backup and not solely rely on that pump. It will get you by in an emergency. I had this happen to a Sedra and I sealed it up and it works fine but I keep it as a backup and do not use it for my main skimmer pump.

Also get a grounding probe if you don't already have one!!

RokleM · 12/28/2009, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lordofthereef

Time to get another IMO.

And by another, I'd recommend not another mag pump. A very common theme for these pumps. Every one of mine ended up dead with electrical issues in less than two years. On the other hand, I have yet to have a single failure on any Panworld, Sequence, or Eheim pump (I do next to no maintenance on them where I babied all the mag's). Just my opinion though.

mm949 · 12/28/2009, 01:36 PM

if u look at the motor tag there is a date in the corner...if less than 3yrs its covered under warranty

12/26/2009, 12:00 AM	#1
signal_4 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: corpus christi Posts: 205	Mag 9.5 leaking electric charge Ok so after moving my tank and in the process of re setting it back up, I changed out the impeller to my mag 9.5 which had gone bad. I hooked up the pump and started to run it and when I stuck my finger in the sump I got a little shock.... Took the mag right off and put back on my backup pump. The mag is from 2005 so warranty is out on it. It wasnt leaking an electrical charge before I changed the impeller. There wasnt any live stock in the tank at the time so nothing got zapped. Does anyone know what the problem/fix might be...thx...

12/26/2009, 05:30 AM	#2
lordofthereef One reef to rule them all Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Leominster, MA Posts: 5,299	There probably will be no safe fix to this. It is one of the most common failures of aquarium equipment. Time to get another IMO. __________________ "A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than you love yourself" ~ Josh Billings Visit My Home page for current build thread (click my user name and select "Visit LordoftheReef's Homepage" in the drop down menu!

12/26/2009, 07:02 AM	#3
ChadTheSpike Reef Engineer Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Washington DC Posts: 1,526 Blog Entries: 1	I second that... Also, I have seen several mag pumps develop this problem upon replacement of the impellor. Did you clean out the hole the impellor goes in while changing the impellor? The ones I have seen get grooves inside of that hole that causes the stray voltage. Its minor, so mung and calcification masks the problem until you clean it, then whamo, it appears... __________________ ~Chad "Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies." Current Tank Info: 195 gallons of fun

12/26/2009, 07:33 AM	#4
tcwayne OLDGUY-OG Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: St. Petersburg, Florida Posts: 2,645	Pull the back of the pump off. Look at the mold (the encasement that seals the wires in), do you see any visible cracks in the mold? If so than you can seal the cracks and you should be good. BUT!! I would still keep it as a backup and not solely rely on that pump. It will get you by in an emergency. I had this happen to a Sedra and I sealed it up and it works fine but I keep it as a backup and do not use it for my main skimmer pump. Also get a grounding probe if you don't already have one!! __________________ Chuck

12/28/2009, 01:36 PM	#6
mm949 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: chicago Posts: 1,843	if u look at the motor tag there is a date in the corner...if less than 3yrs its covered under warranty