HELP!! Eheim return pump keeps turning off

dcw1sfu · 04/09/2016, 10:04 AM

Woke up this morning and my eheim compact 3000 return pump keeps shutting off. It will turn on for a minute or two and then shut off again for at least 10-20 mins. Any ideas what might be causing this? I disconnected it from my Apex and plugged it directly into the wall and the same issue is occurring.

I have a backup but hoping there might be an easy fix. Oh and its approximately 2 years old.

SALTYwaterDOG · 04/09/2016, 10:35 AM

Sound like it might be over heating. Many pumps are thermally protected. If the pump reaches a certain temperature it shuts down,and when it cools it restarts. If this is the case a new one may be in order. Hopefully it just needs a good cleaning. Good luck

Misled · 04/09/2016, 10:36 AM

As the pump shuts off, feel it and see if it's hot. There could be a thermal switch in it shutting it down when it hit's a certain temp. I'd also check the cord if the first isn't happening.

Nice Dog!!!

dcw1sfu · 04/09/2016, 10:51 AM

thanks guys I just cleaned it 2 weeks ago but only a vinegar bath and didn't completely disassemble. Ill take it apart and clean the impeller thoroughly.

davocean · 04/09/2016, 12:02 PM

Sadly those Eheim compacts just do not live up to the Eheim name and the reputation of original Eheim pumps, I read Eheim bought out whoever originally made them, too bad they did not make the needed corrections.

dcw1sfu · 04/09/2016, 02:18 PM

Well I pulled it all apart and gave it a good cleaning (was pretty clean to begin with). I then submerged it and turned it on and again it shut off. After pulling it out of the water it was extremely hot. I pulled the back plate off and looks like its actually began to melt the plastic. Must be some sort of wire short going on.

Luckily I had a back up and threw that in the tank so I'm up and running again. Guess Ill just keep the impeller for spare parts and trash the rest. Thanks for the help guys.

dcw1sfu · 04/09/2016, 03:34 PM

Ok now I'm a little confused and irritated. I hooked up my backup eheim compact 3000 to my apex eb8 and it fired up like normal. Now 1 hour later it has shut off like the last pump. Tried plugging it directly into a wall outlet and nothing.

Could the outlet on my Apex EB8 be frying my pumps for some reason? Or did I just get extremely unlucky? The backup pump I plugged in was older then the last pump and hasn't been used for a while.

I have a Mag drive 9 I could try as my last backup attempt but im worried that my EB8 outlet might possibly be frying the pumps. Can anyone recomend a way to know for sure? Also is a Mag Drive 9 reliable or should I just go buy a new pump? The Mag Drive 9 was used in my old salt water mixing station.

Misled · 04/09/2016, 04:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dcw1sfu

Could the outlet on my Apex EB8 be frying my pumps for some reason?

No, it doesn't work that way. Plug the mag into the wall outlet. Run it for a bit, till your mind is a bit at ease, then try the Apex. You didn't say if the second pump was hot.

dcw1sfu · 04/09/2016, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Misled

No, it doesn't work that way. Plug the mag into the wall outlet. Run it for a bit, till your mind is a bit at ease, then try the Apex. You didn't say if the second pump was hot.

OK. I don't think the second one was hot in fact when I plugged it in again it was humming but just not pumping water.

I was going to grab a volt meter and check the EB8 for piece of mind.

Is the Mag 9 reliable or should I grab a better pump.

Misled · 04/09/2016, 05:15 PM

Mag drives are good pumps.

SALTYwaterDOG · 04/09/2016, 05:26 PM

A lack of proper voltage can increase the ampridge, causing it to overheat. All though I doubt that's what's going on

dcw1sfu · 04/10/2016, 10:13 AM

Checked with a Volt Meter and the EB8 is fine so just 2 bad pumps. Got the Mag 9 hooked up last night and is running fine again.

On a side note.... Looks like the lower water level as well as lack of surface agitation over the course of the day might have caused my lights to slightly bleach some of the corals and in fact almost all the sps are not looking as good today with very little polyp extension... Oh well I'm sure they will recover,

theatrus · 04/10/2016, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SALTYwaterDOG

A lack of proper voltage can increase the ampridge, causing it to overheat. All though I doubt that's what's going on

This only applies to switch mode power supplies, not for an AC pump.

SALTYwaterDOG · 04/10/2016, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theatrus

This only applies to switch mode power supplies, not for an AC pump.

Please explain?

04/09/2016, 10:04 AM	#1
dcw1sfu Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Posts: 151	HELP!! Eheim return pump keeps turning off Woke up this morning and my eheim compact 3000 return pump keeps shutting off. It will turn on for a minute or two and then shut off again for at least 10-20 mins. Any ideas what might be causing this? I disconnected it from my Apex and plugged it directly into the wall and the same issue is occurring. I have a backup but hoping there might be an easy fix. Oh and its approximately 2 years old.

04/09/2016, 10:36 AM	#3
Misled RC Mod Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Pittsburgh, Pa Posts: 11,440 Blog Entries: 11	As the pump shuts off, feel it and see if it's hot. There could be a thermal switch in it shutting it down when it hit's a certain temp. I'd also check the cord if the first isn't happening. Nice Dog!!! __________________ Jesse I'm not saying I'm Batman. I'm just saying nobody has ever seen me and Batman in a room together.

04/09/2016, 12:02 PM	#5
davocean Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 14,655	Sadly those Eheim compacts just do not live up to the Eheim name and the reputation of original Eheim pumps, I read Eheim bought out whoever originally made them, too bad they did not make the needed corrections. __________________ There's a fine line between owning your tank and your tank owning you! Current Tank Info: SCA 120g RR Starfire, Tunze silence 1073.02 return, 40g sump w/ fuge, SWC Extreme 160 cone skimmer,Geismann reflexx 4xT5, 2x Panorama Pro LED strips, Vortech MP40QD

04/09/2016, 05:15 PM	#10
Misled RC Mod Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Pittsburgh, Pa Posts: 11,440 Blog Entries: 11	Mag drives are good pumps. __________________ Jesse I'm not saying I'm Batman. I'm just saying nobody has ever seen me and Batman in a room together.

04/09/2016, 10:35 AM	#2
SALTYwaterDOG Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: New Ulm Minnesota Posts: 477	Sound like it might be over heating. Many pumps are thermally protected. If the pump reaches a certain temperature it shuts down,and when it cools it restarts. If this is the case a new one may be in order. Hopefully it just needs a good cleaning. Good luck

04/09/2016, 10:51 AM	#4
dcw1sfu Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Posts: 151	thanks guys I just cleaned it 2 weeks ago but only a vinegar bath and didn't completely disassemble. Ill take it apart and clean the impeller thoroughly.

04/09/2016, 02:18 PM	#6
dcw1sfu Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Posts: 151	Well I pulled it all apart and gave it a good cleaning (was pretty clean to begin with). I then submerged it and turned it on and again it shut off. After pulling it out of the water it was extremely hot. I pulled the back plate off and looks like its actually began to melt the plastic. Must be some sort of wire short going on. Luckily I had a back up and threw that in the tank so I'm up and running again. Guess Ill just keep the impeller for spare parts and trash the rest. Thanks for the help guys.

04/09/2016, 03:34 PM	#7
dcw1sfu Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Posts: 151	Ok now I'm a little confused and irritated. I hooked up my backup eheim compact 3000 to my apex eb8 and it fired up like normal. Now 1 hour later it has shut off like the last pump. Tried plugging it directly into a wall outlet and nothing. Could the outlet on my Apex EB8 be frying my pumps for some reason? Or did I just get extremely unlucky? The backup pump I plugged in was older then the last pump and hasn't been used for a while. I have a Mag drive 9 I could try as my last backup attempt but im worried that my EB8 outlet might possibly be frying the pumps. Can anyone recomend a way to know for sure? Also is a Mag Drive 9 reliable or should I just go buy a new pump? The Mag Drive 9 was used in my old salt water mixing station.

04/09/2016, 05:26 PM	#11
SALTYwaterDOG Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: New Ulm Minnesota Posts: 477	A lack of proper voltage can increase the ampridge, causing it to overheat. All though I doubt that's what's going on

04/10/2016, 10:13 AM	#12
dcw1sfu Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Posts: 151	Checked with a Volt Meter and the EB8 is fine so just 2 bad pumps. Got the Mag 9 hooked up last night and is running fine again. On a side note.... Looks like the lower water level as well as lack of surface agitation over the course of the day might have caused my lights to slightly bleach some of the corals and in fact almost all the sps are not looking as good today with very little polyp extension... Oh well I'm sure they will recover,