Pump question

[ktaylor660]

We have been using the Koralia pumps for a while, but recently they have started going out on us. I have tried the maxijet mods and they lasted maybe a month before tearing up. I also currently have 1 maxi jet pro that came with the prop and guard. It is a decent pump, but will stop randomly and then has to be taken out to make it work again. I want something reliable that I'm not going to have to replace all the time. What are you all running?

 

[Rob.D]

I have both Koralia and Ecotech MP40. The only problem I have experienced with Koralia are the front covers breaking allowing the pump to start in reverse. Hydor will ship out new front covers at no charge if you contact them about the problem.

 

[SLUF681]

+1 on the Koralia basket breaking.

 

[k2parkstar]

The ecotechs are pricey but simply the best.

 

[ktaylor660]

never broke a cover, but have had 2 basically burn up, and 3 just stop working. They don't even make a hum when you try to run them. It's like the motor locks up on them. I like the ecotechs, but where the motor is external, I can see my son pulling it off the tank all the time. He does this constantly with our mag-floats.

 

[SLUF681]

You most likely won't ever hear a hum from the Koralias because the wattage is so low on them. How long are the Koralias lasting on average? I've not had any issues with them other than the front cover busting out.

 

[JMMJ13902]

Go for tunze, pricey but will last your lifetime.

 

[ktaylor660]

longest is 2 years so far. We have 1 still working right now.

 

[SLUF681]

Do you have a volt meter by chance? There's not really that much in a Koralia that can go bad. They have a magnetic rotor and the windings are around the outside, therefore they're brushless motors. A low voltage situation would possibly burn the windings up.

 

[Engloid]

Korallia did a modification for the pumps that would start up backwards. It was a new front cover with a rubber piece in it. If the motor starts backwards, the impeller slams forward and the blades hit the rubber piece and stop. If it starts forwards, the impeller is pushed backwards, which is the intended thing for them to do. I have a wavemaker on some korallia's and they sometimes will knock the front cover off at startups.

Another problem I have had with them is that the impellers will go bad. The magnet splits, making it larger diameter, which makes it rub inside the casing, or simply lock up. I think this is caused by the material rusting on the inside of the magnet, causing it to expand. They have typically lasted a couple years for me before doing this, but I haven't actually put them on a calendar to make sure. Last time I had one do this, I went to Korallia and asked for a cheap source to buy them, and they mailed me a couple free of charge. Pretty nice!!