why is my Quiet One 3000 slowing down?

kypatriot · 08/06/2006, 11:33 AM

I have a Quiet One 3000 on a Rainbow Lifeguard filter system (mechanical filter, heater module, and UV sterilizer). The pump is proximal to the filters - I would have made it distal to them in retrospect, but it's there now.

The pump pushes up a 5' head to the top of my tank, after going through the filter modules. It has been running for 1 year with no problems at all.

Recently, it has been slowing down A LOT. I mean water barely comes out the return, and my pressure gauge on the mechanical filter shows only 5. When it gets to 5, in the past I've needed to clean out the filter.

But recently it gets there very quickly and just doesn't hardly pump. Yesterday I completely broke the whole thing down and cleaned everything I could possibly get to, thinking there was added resistance in the line.

It ran last night, and today it is already barely moving water again. Why has this pump slowed down so much? Could it need an impeller? Do I just need a better pump, and if so, why did it work for a year?

AZDesertRat · 08/06/2006, 12:41 PM

Soak it in straight white vinegar for a couple of hours and it should be as good as new. Calcium builds up on the shaft, impeller and inside housing causing resistance so it does not spin as fast.

08/06/2006, 11:33 AM	#1
kypatriot Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Lexington, KY Posts: 425	why is my Quiet One 3000 slowing down? I have a Quiet One 3000 on a Rainbow Lifeguard filter system (mechanical filter, heater module, and UV sterilizer). The pump is proximal to the filters - I would have made it distal to them in retrospect, but it's there now. The pump pushes up a 5' head to the top of my tank, after going through the filter modules. It has been running for 1 year with no problems at all. Recently, it has been slowing down A LOT. I mean water barely comes out the return, and my pressure gauge on the mechanical filter shows only 5. When it gets to 5, in the past I've needed to clean out the filter. But recently it gets there very quickly and just doesn't hardly pump. Yesterday I completely broke the whole thing down and cleaned everything I could possibly get to, thinking there was added resistance in the line. It ran last night, and today it is already barely moving water again. Why has this pump slowed down so much? Could it need an impeller? Do I just need a better pump, and if so, why did it work for a year?

08/06/2006, 12:41 PM	#2
AZDesertRat Moved On Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: NW Phoenix Posts: 16,621	Soak it in straight white vinegar for a couple of hours and it should be as good as new. Calcium builds up on the shaft, impeller and inside housing causing resistance so it does not spin as fast.