Return Pump Rattle - At Wits End!

theKoolAidMan · Nov 9, 2018

Hi All. Just set up a Reefer Nano. Went with the Sicce Syncra Silent 2.0 which is what Red Sea recommends. It was extremely noisy. I expect a hum (I have another tank with a Lifegard Quietone), but this made a rattling noise which drives me crazy. LFS swapped it with another Syncra which was the same. Swapped it again for an Eheim CompactOn 2100. Same think (maybe even worse). I've linked to a video below so you can hear it and not think I'm crazy. It's horrible. All 3 pumps have done this and at this point the LFS is starting to lose patience with me, but something just isn't right. I've tried putting it on a foam mat, which didn't help. If I hold the pump in my hands it still makes the noise, though it does get better or worse based on the angle I hold it. It seems quietest at a 45 degree angle. I took all of them apart, inspected the impeller and reassembled. No difference at all. Really frustrated! The Eheim sounds like an old fashioned egg timer rattling and clicking.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/rzNkEVH4xNXitRLU8

Erica-Renee · Nov 9, 2018

Have you tried testing any of the pumps in a different situation. Maybe you have something causing cavitation which causes pumps to rattle.. Also a kinked pipe can cause this. to small or reducer in the input or input smaller then the pumps input port .

ASK lfs to test one of the returned pumps to see if its the pump if not i suggest post more info about your system and pics of your plumbing so we can try to help you solve the issue that appears to not be your pump.. Hope this helps

WVNed · Nov 9, 2018

So if you plug the pump in dry does it make noise?

theKoolAidMan · Nov 9, 2018

Erica-Renee said:
Have you tried testing any of the pumps in a different situation. Maybe you have something causing cavitation which causes pumps to rattle.. Also a kinked pipe can cause this. to small or reducer in the input or input smaller then the pumps input port .

ASK lfs to test one of the returned pumps to see if its the pump if not i suggest post more info about your system and pics of your plumbing so we can try to help you solve the issue that appears to not be your pump.. Hope this helps

I have not tested them in another situation. I suppose I could put it in my other tank to see if it makes the noise. I should note that I tested it with no hose hooked up so it was just a pump being held in the sump and freely outputting water into the sump. Same issues.

There is a photo below. It's the completely stock Reefer setup. No mods.

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theKoolAidMan · Nov 9, 2018

WVNed said:
So if you plug the pump in dry does it make noise?

Is it ok to plug it in out of water?

WVNed · Nov 9, 2018

Yes
It's just an electric motor. 30 seconds will tell you all you need to know.

I watched your vid. It's like something is acting as a soundboard for the pump vibration.

Erica-Renee · Nov 9, 2018

theKoolAidMan said:
Is it ok to plug it in out of water?

NO..

That is strange. I do not know anything about that tank. but i do know pumps are usually there quietest with a bit of back pressure on there output and WIDE open on the input.. This why my Questions.

WVNed · Nov 9, 2018

LOL
welcome the internet
Yes and NO

wesman42 · Nov 9, 2018

It's perfectly fine to run out of water for a short period. Most pumps even have run-dry protection and cut off after a certain period of time running dry.

WVNed · Nov 9, 2018

My last idea. There is not something laying in the sump like a small shell that gets sucked into the pump when on and them back flushes out when off

That would be a real long shot. I have had pumps go noisy but they were touching something or the feet fell off. Moving them remedied it.

theKoolAidMan · Nov 9, 2018

So I took the pump out, removed the hose. This time it was quieter without the hose attached, but still a grinding.rattling noise like the impeller is vibrating. Then hooked the hose back up and suspended it in the main chamber of the sump. Quieter than before, but still loud. Then moved it back to the return chamber and it's like I'm being chased by a chainsaw murderer.

wesman42 · Nov 9, 2018

Can you take a video of it?

WVNed · Nov 9, 2018

wesman42 said:
Can you take a video of it?

There is one in the OP
Decent sound effect for a WW2 bomber in flight for a movie...

I find it unlikely you got 3 bad pumps of 2 different makes. Could it be vibrating the sump against the stand?

theKoolAidMan · Nov 9, 2018

Here is audio/video The only thing the pump is touching are the silicon suction cups to the bottom of the sump

https://photos.app.goo.gl/4dSaKBaDt5eQ6oFw8

theKoolAidMan · Nov 9, 2018

WVNed said:
There is one in the OP
Decent sound effect for a WW2 bomber in flight for a movie...

I find it unlikely you got 3 bad pumps of 2 different makes. Could it be vibrating the sump against the stand?

The sump has the Reefer vibration dampening pags on the bottom and all sides. The sump only touches these foam pads.

WVNed · Nov 9, 2018

I dont know.

ScottBrew · Nov 9, 2018

If the hose is what I think it is, it's pretty stiff, right? The vibration will travel right up the hose and make noise against anything it touches. Put your hand around the hose in various places to see if you can isolate it. If that quiets it, maybe try a piece of silicone hose right from the pump. Some LFS carry the silicone hose, a foot will do if that's the problem. Put a barbed ball valve in to connect the silicone hose to the green hose, that will allow you to dial in the back pressure.

theKoolAidMan · Nov 9, 2018

ScottBrew said:
If the hose is what I think it is, it's pretty stiff, right? The vibration will travel right up the hose and make noise against anything it touches. Put your hand around the hose in various places to see if you can isolate it. If that quiets it, maybe try a piece of silicone hose right from the pump. Some LFS carry the silicone hose, a foot will do if that's the problem. Put a barbed ball valve in to connect the silicone hose to the green hose, that will allow you to dial in the back pressure.

It was, but it's been running a week and it fairly soft now. I did what you suggested but it didn't make much of a difference. It still sounds like the rattling is coming from the impeller. But 3 out of 3 just doesn't seem possible.

ScottBrew · Nov 9, 2018

theKoolAidMan said:
It was, but it's been running a week and it fairly soft now. I did what you suggested but it didn't make much of a difference. It still sounds like the rattling is coming from the impeller. But 3 out of 3 just doesn't seem possible.

I have a similar pump that rattles the same, it's now delegated to my saltwater mixing barrel. My old tank was hard plumbed with PVC right from the submersible pump and there were pieces of paper towel wrapped around the PVC in places where it contacted the stand to reduce vibration. For my current tank, I bought 2 Little Giant 2MD somethings and 1 is quiet-ish and the other is slightly noisier. When they are both running at the same time, the harmonics make it 4 times louder than either pump by itself. The "cheaper" pumps just seem to be noisier.

theKoolAidMan · Nov 9, 2018

I give up. Maybe I just get a Reef Octopus DC pump. Spend the extra $$ and then hopefully not worry about sound. This tank is right next to my desk in my home office and driving me bonkers.