Help!!! External pump became submerged!

mille239 · 04/12/2006, 07:16 AM

Has anyone else had an external pump become submerged? My stand is built to hold about 20 gallons in the event of a leak, and as I was working on my auto-top off system last night, I forgot to turn off the RO water feed before bed. I woke up to about 4" of water in my stand, and my Panworld 200 ps pump 75%submerged. Luckily, the GFCI tripped, so there was no fire hazzard, and fortunately it was all fresh water.

A) will the pump work again once it dries out???

B) anyone else have this happen, and what was the verdict?

B) any advice or steps I should take???

Thanks so much in advance!!!!! I'm an idiot.

RichConley · 04/12/2006, 08:15 AM

It probably fried, but you may get lucky. Let it dry out and see what happens.

mille239 · 04/12/2006, 08:42 AM

oh, I hope not.. pumps ain't cheap!! I have a fan blowing directly on it right now, so I'll keep my fingers crossed.

tomasga · 04/12/2006, 08:47 AM

What I have done in the past it the following.

Unplug the pump (it already is but I have to say it)
the I have taken it apart.
disasemble the motor and completely dry out the components inside, coil, carbon pickups, etc... Inspect the unit for damage and
put it back together. then try it.

beintg that you had a GFCI circuit chances are that the pump will live to pump another day as the damage if any should be minimal. Let us know how it goes and if you have any questions please let me know. I am subscribed and will be watching this thread for a result.

thx -tom

OnTheReef · 04/12/2006, 12:49 PM

I had a Dolphin 1800 that got submerged for 2-3 days while I was away on a business trip. When I got back, I completely disassembled the pump and rinsed all the parts in RO/DI water several times to get rid of all the salt, dried the parts with a fake chamois (no lint!) and then blow-dried the components. I reaassembled it and it started right up. Whew! I hope you are as lucky.

mille239 · 04/13/2006, 07:18 AM

Alrighty, well last night I pulled the whole pump apart, and dried off every part I could with a lint-free rag and a hair dryer. After an hour or so I was convinced I had all the moisture removed, and reassembled the pump and plugged it in....... VOILA!!! it worked without a hitch! what a sigh of relief that I didnt need to go out and buy another pump. Thanks for all your help guys, The mental brake-down can be called off.

mille239 · 04/13/2006, 07:20 AM

Lesson learned: Never go to bed with the RO unit filling your top-off container. On a side note, does anyone know where to get an inexpensive water sensor/alarm I can place in the stand, in the event this or some other incident occurs?

LobsterOfJustice · 04/13/2006, 07:52 AM

http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewIt...idproduct=_A21

Glad everything with the pump turned out alright.

tomasga · 04/13/2006, 12:19 PM

Good to see it worked, I have surprised myself in fixing this like that so many times and my wallet always thanks me.

rottface4 · 04/13/2006, 01:09 PM

I have seen people make water alarms out of a smoke detector. If you are lucky you might be able to do a search and find the thread. It was a while ago I saw it.

mille239 · 04/14/2006, 08:04 AM

Thank you, I just ordered the 'screamer' from Marine Depot for a means of letting me know if there is a leak. I wonder, is there a device out there which would call my cell phone in the event of water detection?

04/12/2006, 07:16 AM	#1
mille239 Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Harrison Twp., MI Posts: 1,644	Help!!! External pump became submerged! Has anyone else had an external pump become submerged? My stand is built to hold about 20 gallons in the event of a leak, and as I was working on my auto-top off system last night, I forgot to turn off the RO water feed before bed. I woke up to about 4" of water in my stand, and my Panworld 200 ps pump 75%submerged. Luckily, the GFCI tripped, so there was no fire hazzard, and fortunately it was all fresh water. A) will the pump work again once it dries out??? B) anyone else have this happen, and what was the verdict? B) any advice or steps I should take??? Thanks so much in advance!!!!! I'm an idiot. __________________ -Blair Disclaimer: No trees were harmed in the creation of this post, though a significant number of electrons may have been inconvenienced. Current Tank Info: 120 SPS reef in progress, 120 mixed reef, currently being completely rebuilt)

04/12/2006, 08:15 AM	#2
RichConley Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Bostonian in Chicago going to DC Posts: 9,908	It probably fried, but you may get lucky. Let it dry out and see what happens. __________________ NO TANKS!!!

04/12/2006, 08:42 AM	#3
mille239 Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Harrison Twp., MI Posts: 1,644	oh, I hope not.. pumps ain't cheap!! I have a fan blowing directly on it right now, so I'll keep my fingers crossed. __________________ -Blair Disclaimer: No trees were harmed in the creation of this post, though a significant number of electrons may have been inconvenienced. Current Tank Info: 120 SPS reef in progress, 120 mixed reef, currently being completely rebuilt)

04/12/2006, 08:47 AM	#4
tomasga Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Sunrise, FL Posts: 168	What I have done in the past it the following. Unplug the pump (it already is but I have to say it) the I have taken it apart. disasemble the motor and completely dry out the components inside, coil, carbon pickups, etc... Inspect the unit for damage and put it back together. then try it. beintg that you had a GFCI circuit chances are that the pump will live to pump another day as the damage if any should be minimal. Let us know how it goes and if you have any questions please let me know. I am subscribed and will be watching this thread for a result. thx -tom __________________ --- 75 ALL Glass In wall Reef--- You will ReSpEcT my authoritAYYYYY CRAB.... Click on my red house to see my reef Current Tank Info: 75 in wall, 40 sump, 30 fuge

04/12/2006, 12:49 PM	#5
OnTheReef Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Santa Cruz, CA Posts: 340	I had a Dolphin 1800 that got submerged for 2-3 days while I was away on a business trip. When I got back, I completely disassembled the pump and rinsed all the parts in RO/DI water several times to get rid of all the salt, dried the parts with a fake chamois (no lint!) and then blow-dried the components. I reaassembled it and it started right up. Whew! I hope you are as lucky. __________________ 100 gallon reef tank, 40 gallon sump/fuge combo with RDSB 2x ASM G2 with gate valve mod TLF phos reactor w/Rowaphos, Seachem Nitrate sponge 4x55w 50/50 actinic PC Current USA 0 amm, 0 nitrite, 0 n Current Tank Info: 50 & 100 gallon reef tanks

04/13/2006, 07:18 AM	#6
mille239 Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Harrison Twp., MI Posts: 1,644	Alrighty, well last night I pulled the whole pump apart, and dried off every part I could with a lint-free rag and a hair dryer. After an hour or so I was convinced I had all the moisture removed, and reassembled the pump and plugged it in....... VOILA!!! it worked without a hitch! what a sigh of relief that I didnt need to go out and buy another pump. Thanks for all your help guys, The mental brake-down can be called off. __________________ -Blair Disclaimer: No trees were harmed in the creation of this post, though a significant number of electrons may have been inconvenienced. Current Tank Info: 120 SPS reef in progress, 120 mixed reef, currently being completely rebuilt)

04/13/2006, 07:20 AM	#7
mille239 Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Harrison Twp., MI Posts: 1,644	Lesson learned: Never go to bed with the RO unit filling your top-off container. On a side note, does anyone know where to get an inexpensive water sensor/alarm I can place in the stand, in the event this or some other incident occurs? __________________ -Blair Disclaimer: No trees were harmed in the creation of this post, though a significant number of electrons may have been inconvenienced. Current Tank Info: 120 SPS reef in progress, 120 mixed reef, currently being completely rebuilt)

04/13/2006, 07:52 AM	#8
LobsterOfJustice Recovering Detritophobe Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Cary, NC Posts: 7,443	http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewIt...idproduct=_A21 Glad everything with the pump turned out alright. __________________ If it's worth doing, it's worth doing right. I remember when zoanthids were called things like "green" and "orange" and not "reverse gorilla nipple." Current Tank Info: 180g reef with all the bells and whistles

04/13/2006, 12:19 PM	#9
tomasga Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Sunrise, FL Posts: 168	Good to see it worked, I have surprised myself in fixing this like that so many times and my wallet always thanks me. __________________ --- 75 ALL Glass In wall Reef--- You will ReSpEcT my authoritAYYYYY CRAB.... Click on my red house to see my reef Current Tank Info: 75 in wall, 40 sump, 30 fuge

04/13/2006, 01:09 PM	#10
rottface4 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: West Melbourne, Fl Posts: 192	I have seen people make water alarms out of a smoke detector. If you are lucky you might be able to do a search and find the thread. It was a while ago I saw it. __________________ -Shawn- Current Tank Info: 45 g (30"x24"x15"), 250 w 12k reeflux in a lumenarc, 2 6025 streams, etc

04/14/2006, 08:04 AM	#11
mille239 Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Harrison Twp., MI Posts: 1,644	Thank you, I just ordered the 'screamer' from Marine Depot for a means of letting me know if there is a leak. I wonder, is there a device out there which would call my cell phone in the event of water detection? __________________ -Blair Disclaimer: No trees were harmed in the creation of this post, though a significant number of electrons may have been inconvenienced. Current Tank Info: 120 SPS reef in progress, 120 mixed reef, currently being completely rebuilt)