My VorTech also stopped working

[TCU Reefer]

I didn't want to hijack the other thread since my pump failed for a different reason.

I don't use a spacer on my pump and just have the black rubber gasket between the glass and the motor. The pump ran very warm and melted a hole right in the center of the gasket which made the pump run very loud. I posted this on the Ecotech forum on RC and they gladly sent me a new orange gasket for free (great customer service).

A few days after I received the new gasket, I would see the propeller side of the pump on the bottom of the tank. I put it back and a few days later, it was at the bottom again.

I posted this on RC and IceCap Service said that this may be because the magnets are losing their strength. The way it was worded, it sounded as if this has happened to several pumps. Of course, they said to send it in so they could take a look at it.

This pump is only a year old so if you find the inner peice at the bottom of your tank, this might be the reason.

 

[melev]

I know your tank has thicker glass than mine (3/4" vs 1/2") but my first VorTech was 18 months old when they asked if I would give up my beta model for the official one.

You don't use the rubber spacer because of the glass thickness, or because they told you not to use it?

I was reading your threads over there, but didn't have anything to add. Hopefully they can get it resolve quickly like usual.

 

[TCU Reefer]

I don't use the spacer because of the thickness of the glass.

Hopefully this doesn't happen to any other club members.

 

[DaveJ]

Vortecs are not without their problems but they seem pretty good about replacing these things. Losing magnetic strength seems like a 'wrong' answer though, I thought magnets were perm or am I wrong there?

 

[Serk]

@DaveJ wrote:

I thought that sounded kinda funny too, so I did some Googling and found this on a FAQ about magnets:


@FAQ on Some Website selling magnets wrote:

So, in this case, heat could apply, strong electrical currents does apply, other magnets does apply, and high humidity apply, so it sounds plausible...

 

[Rick]

The last time I bought new cleaning magnets, I forget the brand. It said in the box not to store the magnets with two side together, it would weaken the magnets. That essentially what you are doing in the way you use these type of magnet holders.

 

[Carabelli]

i had a similar problem with my vortech - i came in one day to find the wet side separated from the driver - i placed them back in line and they stayed for a few minutes and gradually separated - i then adjusted the spacer for a thicker glass so they would grab better. since then, they have been fine - once i have an extra pump for flow, the vortech is going into icecap for a check -
great pumps, but, i think they are still working out the kinks. luckily, the service is top notch!

 

[kwl1763]

This is the problem with all magnets! They really should make everything able to go through 1.5" and provide spacers according to thickness of glass. When I tested a vortech that's exactly what happened. they would slide off no matter what. My glass is a smidge over 3/4" thick. The bad part is the Tunze big magnet is the same way. It barely holds and will slide down if i even brush it!

 

[gmax]

God help you separate the tunze big magnet if they come together on your finger! You do not want a stronger magnet than that, period.