Need Some help with External Pump

tank41 · 10/21/2014, 10:10 AM

Hello guys. Have a Coralife Turbo Sea 1270 that I received awhile back that came with a trade I had made with a fellow reefer. To be honest I have never used a external pump and need to make sure this works in order to sell or trade in the future. So the pump was in working order when the previous owner took down his tank. I plugged the unit in and there was no movement with the propeller and no sound. After doing a bit of research i heard something stating that it may need primed. Is this normal not to make any movement or sound while being plugged in to power but not hooked up to a tank or sump? Any suggestions on how I could check it easily without hooking it up to a drilled sump that I do not have. Any suggestions greatly appreciated.
Thanks

ca1ore · 10/21/2014, 10:15 AM

While you certainly ought not to run an external pump dry (i.e. unprimed), it is OK to do so to check the operation. The impeller should spin, though it may simply be that the thing is jammed with dirt or calcium. I'd take it apart, clean it, and then try again.

tank41 · 10/21/2014, 06:37 PM

Hey thanks for the reply. Unfortunately I have done that. Everything was pretty clean to begin with but gave it a good cleaning just to make sure and still no movement.

10/21/2014, 10:10 AM	#1
tank41 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Sioux City, Ia. Posts: 332	Need Some help with External Pump Hello guys. Have a Coralife Turbo Sea 1270 that I received awhile back that came with a trade I had made with a fellow reefer. To be honest I have never used a external pump and need to make sure this works in order to sell or trade in the future. So the pump was in working order when the previous owner took down his tank. I plugged the unit in and there was no movement with the propeller and no sound. After doing a bit of research i heard something stating that it may need primed. Is this normal not to make any movement or sound while being plugged in to power but not hooked up to a tank or sump? Any suggestions on how I could check it easily without hooking it up to a drilled sump that I do not have. Any suggestions greatly appreciated. Thanks

10/21/2014, 10:15 AM	#2
ca1ore Grizzled & Cynical Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Stamford, CT Posts: 17,319	While you certainly ought not to run an external pump dry (i.e. unprimed), it is OK to do so to check the operation. The impeller should spin, though it may simply be that the thing is jammed with dirt or calcium. I'd take it apart, clean it, and then try again. __________________ Simon Got back into the hobby ..... planned to keep it simple ..... yeah, right ..... clearly I need a new plan! Pet peeve: anemones host clowns; clowns do not host anemones! Current Tank Info: 450 Reef; 120 refugium; 60 Frag Tank, 30 Introduction tank; multiple QTs

10/21/2014, 06:37 PM	#3
tank41 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Sioux City, Ia. Posts: 332	Hey thanks for the reply. Unfortunately I have done that. Everything was pretty clean to begin with but gave it a good cleaning just to make sure and still no movement.