Return pump mysteriously shutting down for a split second for no reason

[dangros]

Hi All,
I'm wondering if you can help me w/a very perplexing issue that popped up a few weeks ago.
My return pump, a Vectra M1, has been semi-shutting down randomly over the last few weeks. What do I mean by "semi-shutting down"?
It will stop pushing water for a split second (maybe 2 or 3, there's no way to tell really). It then ramps back up to the set speed as if it were coming out of feed mode. The problem is, it's not in feed mode. I have an Apex Classic controller and have been logging the pump. There's no sign of it being turned off in any way. There's no water leak alarm or feed mode being initiated.
This happens randomly, maybe once a day and or night!
The effect of this is that water drains down into my sump as if it were in feed mode, then, as the pump ramps back up, the skimmer gets a little flooded and the ATO alarm goes off until the pump has finally caught up. It really sucks when this happens in the middle of the night and the ATO alarm wakes us up!
I had just taken it apart for a cleaning about a month ago and it was surprisingly clean, so I dont THINK anything is blocking it.
Has anyone seen this or understand the behavior?

 

[infinite0180]

Are you sure your apex isnt restarting? My apex and many many others was randomly restarting on its own. Neptune came out with firmware that fixed it... its available for download on neptunes site..

 

[dangros]

I thought that initially but if it were restarting, then everything would be coming up differently - such as my skimmer would not be on immediately as it's set to DEFER 15 THEN ON. So it's staggered to prevent flooding on pump restarts.
In fact, the tank just did it again as I write this! Nothing else turned off.
Having said, that it does appear that the version can be upgraded: I'm on

AOS Version

4.53 AB17

 

[dangros]

Ok, I'm now updated to the latest model. Lets see if that does the trick. If not, I'm swapping out the M1 for my backup which is a Varios 6s. I will just need to get the fittings to plumb it into the 1" PVC

 

[jda]

I cannot help with this, but please just have your return pump plugged into the wall to run without any other points of failure. It is too important to risk another piece of "stuff" failing or having an issue. /soapbox

 

[dangros]

I cannot help with this, but please just have your return pump plugged into the wall to run without any other points of failure. It is too important to risk another piece of "stuff" failing or having an issue. /soapbox

I might do this to rule out the apex (if it happens again), but not on a permanent basis. The apex has been wildly helpful at allowing me to automate far too much. I would not have this tank w/o a controller.

 

[ca1ore]

You have the vectra set on a constant mode?

 

[dangros]

You have the vectra set on a constant mode?

I did not change it from the default mode. I control it only via the apex (on/off).
I can/WILL verify - good point!

 

[amazongb]

Had the same problem with my M1, plugged straight into wall and same issue. Replaced it with a COR 20.

 

[User]

It’s the apex

I have had 19 momentary blips (in 3 weeks, that I was there to a witness) that get as far as starting the siphon back to the sump then it restarts. In fact, on Tuesday (I think) I had 4 in 20 minutes. 6 weeks ago, my male percula got sucked down thevreturn because of it. Lost an eye and part of his dorsal fin. That’s when I started noticing the issue

I have monitoring set up, but No record of it turning off in apex, but I set up an alarm that sends me a text when the return pump shuts off. I don’t get that email, bit I do get a pop up notification in fusion app saying ‘alarm off- return pump off’ which means it’s telling me that the return pump has restarted.

Since putting it on an independent circuit, not controlled by apex, it hasn’t happened. That’s been 4 days

Running a jebao dcp18000 dc pump at 71%.

It’s the apex

 

[User]

I might do this to rule out the apex (if it happens again), but not on a permanent basis. The apex has been wildly helpful at allowing me to automate far too much. I would not have this tank w/o a controller.

I’m into the same boat, but I’m ticked that this is happening. That perculas was just getting into mating condition and now he looks pretty beat up

I’m on AB:17. You mentioned an upgrade to the software? Last time I did that, it bricked my lite and I had to get a classic. Lerner me know if the update fixes it

Cheers

 

[dangros]

So this weekend, it appeared that the issue continued. I did 2 things:
1) I locked the pump controller so that it can not be changed. This feature is cool b/c it will remember it upon reboot.
2) Since I have two EB8 power strips, I decided to use move the return pump to the 2nd EB8.

It did not solve the issue. In fact, it was fine all night but just occurred 3 times in the last 10 minutes. I will now plug the return pump directly into the wall but I cant imagine that will change anything. @neilp2006, sorry for the bad news. At this point, I'm 95% sure it's the pump or it's controller.

 

[User]

So this weekend, it appeared that the issue continued. I did 2 things:
1) I locked the pump controller so that it can not be changed. This feature is cool b/c it will remember it upon reboot.
2) Since I have two EB8 power strips, I decided to use move the return pump to the 2nd EB8.

It did not solve the issue. In fact, it was fine all night but just occurred 3 times in the last 10 minutes. I will now plug the return pump directly into the wall but I cant imagine that will change anything. @neilp2006, sorry for the bad news. At this point, I'm 95% sure it's the pump or it's controller.

I’m confused- if it’s still plugged into the apex eb8, it might still be the apex

Since plugging mine directly into the wall- I haven’t had an issue. FWIW

 

[Jimbo662]

Hi All,
I'm wondering if you can help me w/a very perplexing issue that popped up a few weeks ago.
My return pump, a Vectra M1, has been semi-shutting down randomly over the last few weeks. What do I mean by "semi-shutting down"?
It will stop pushing water for a split second (maybe 2 or 3, there's no way to tell really). It then ramps back up to the set speed as if it were coming out of feed mode. The problem is, it's not in feed mode. I have an Apex Classic controller and have been logging the pump. There's no sign of it being turned off in any way. There's no water leak alarm or feed mode being initiated.
This happens randomly, maybe once a day and or night!
The effect of this is that water drains down into my sump as if it were in feed mode, then, as the pump ramps back up, the skimmer gets a little flooded and the ATO alarm goes off until the pump has finally caught up. It really sucks when this happens in the middle of the night and the ATO alarm wakes us up!
I had just taken it apart for a cleaning about a month ago and it was surprisingly clean, so I dont THINK anything is blocking it.
Has anyone seen this or understand the behavior?

I have this same issue with a Varios pump. When it shuts down the temp and ph readings drop on the charts. Are you seeing this too? I just happened to update my apex firmware last Thurs not realizing there was an update for this issue. Will have to watch to see if it continues doing this.

 

[dangros]

It just happened again plugged directly into the wall.

 

[dangros]

@Jimbo662 I have not seen any impact on pH or temp readings. pH occasionally but that is due to the skimmer overflowing b/c it's now too deep as the sump fills up.

 

[User]

It just happened again plugged directly into the wall.

Well that sucks

Mine isn’t going 6 days in the wall no issue.

Probably 24 in the previous 3 weeks plugged into eb8

 

[shanedag]

Did you ever figure this out? I'm seeing exactly the same thing.

 

[dangros]

Unfortunately I did not. I ended up buying an Octopus VarioS pump to replace it. It’s worked fine - which rules out anything but the pump itself.
frustrating for sure.

Did you ever figure this out? I'm seeing exactly the same thing.

 

[Adamc13o3]

I know this is an older thread. I am having the same issue. A Vectra S2 on and Apex. It has to be Apex related because by me it happens every day at the exact same time. I went through my entire Apex and nothing can be set to make it do that. If the OP or anyone else knows how to fix this let me know please. This started happening two weeks ago when I “upgraded” to a newer Apex. This wasn’t happening with my older A2.