D5 Pump noise

Bryan Kortez · 17 Jul 2015 at 11:30

Other the last few months my D5 pump with the X-Res pump top combo has started making a fair bit of noise. It's not loud, but it's noticeable enough to be annoying.

I have just stripped down my pump and cant see any damage to the impeller or the impeller housing. The only bit that concerns me is the top of the bearing, it looks a bit odd.

Is this normal or has something gone bad? As far as I'm aware of, the pump has never run dry and it just started happening a couple of months after being put into a build.

Trunkey · 17 Jul 2015 at 11:47

Is the pump getting on a bit, might just be the angle of the photo but the white bit (ceramic?) looks likes its worn,
Mine went noisy just before it died it was well old though.

Bryan Kortez · 17 Jul 2015 at 12:02

Pump is about 6 months old.

I've just cleaned everything over and re-assembled. It's now running in my test loop without the noise. Currently just a high pitch whistle noise from the micro bubbles. Will leave it running for the day and see what happens.

MrMD · 17 Jul 2015 at 12:08

Could just have been vibrations passed through the case due to an imperfect mount?

Bryan Kortez · 17 Jul 2015 at 12:35

I thought it could have been too, but I tested it out of case and it still made the same noise.

Seems to be running fine for now, on pump speed 5 there seems to be not much noise, apart from the water/air bubble movement.

I'm guessing it only takes a small amount of dirt in the pump and it will start making a noise.

Disco_P · 17 Jul 2015 at 12:50

On pump setting 5, unless you use something to dampen it then there will be a lot of noise from vibrations.

Bryan Kortez · 17 Jul 2015 at 13:57

I'll probably be running on pump setting 3 when I get the build fully setup. Really hoping it was just a bit of dirt causing it.

Trunkey · 17 Jul 2015 at 23:18

Just took my failed one apart to compare and I think its the photo angle as my white bit (oh er) looks the same.
Why do they fail as the only moving part appears to be the impeller and my dead one still has good magnet strength.

Good look and I hope it was as you say just a bit of dirt.

Bryan Kortez · 18 Jul 2015 at 14:48

I did a bit of reading about them. Apparently over time (years and years of constant use) the ceramic bearing (the white bit) wear into the socket it sits in within the impeller. As it wears, it causes the impeller to get lower and lower until it eventually starts rubbing against the housing. A sign of that is squeaking when you turn it on etc