Ice Cap 3k!

[Caleb]

I have been experiencing the same squealing noise since after about a month of having mine. It goes away after cleaning it and applying a small amount of vaseline to the "props" but comes right back after a day or two. My max is only set to 30% and can still hear it from across the room. The controller also malfunctions once and a while and shows the display upside down. ( I should probably reach out to them before my warranty expires) I love the flow it produces though.

[lazylivin]

I didn't watch this video yet, hopefully there is something in there that can help. Caleb I wonder if the bushings need replaced. It shouldn't at 1 month in but you may want to try that if you haven't already. The pump should have came with an extra set.

https://blog.coralvue.com/icecap-3k-maintenance-troubleshooting/

[SweetReefOH]

Brian, I had to order mine thru BRS as my pumps went out last Monday. I didn’t have any backups. It is the Icecap 3K. My system is extremely quiet so that would be why I hear it more. Plus I’ve got it at 70% pulse. It is quite loud for anything over 30%. I’ll check for air bubbles tonight. I know the temp flow pump I’m using at the other ends will sometimes suck air.

[lazylivin]

 I don’t think it’s the air bubbles, usually those work themselves out just after a few minutes. Maybe it really is the quiet house thing.  I will have to shut things down and see what kind of sound I get out of them. You’re still welcome to bring it over and we can plug it in and compared to the ones that I have to make sure there’s no problem. I also keep spare bushings if anybody needs any; not sure if that affects anything

[Wall_Tank]

How many of you are running positive and negative pump directions?   I have the original maxspect gyre that was ordered the week that they released, it has been running continuously since then.   But I only run them in pulse mode in the positive direction.

Positive to negative pulses are really hard on the pumps.

[SweetReefOH]

I use positive pulse. Only have 1. Side glass 4ft tank. Using a temporary 400 gph powerhead on the opposite side to get some current on that end.

[Caleb]

Thanks Brian,
I'll give that a try and swap them out, I bought it from you late February so they may need it.

I also only run mine in the positive pulse

[megerlej]

I run mine on random up to 70 and no reverse. I have noticed if its whining I can turn it up to constant 100 for a short period and the whining goes away for a little while.

[Heinbaughb]

My 3k isn’t completely silent either but it’s a trade off I’m okay with for the price/performance it provides.


120 gallon mixed reef.

[SweetReefOH]

I’m with you Heinbaugh. I do love the flow pattern on it. I’m just thinking for an extra $40 I can get a Neptune 4,000 gph pump that has complete interface with Fusion. It’s hard to make a decision on keeping the Gyre with the noise...

[Heinbaughb]

I decided to take my Ice Cap 3k apart this morning to clean it. It ended up still being very clean, just the mesh covers were collecting dirt. I put it all back together nice and tight and left the covers off. To my surprise, it is now perfectly quiet. I have a hunch the noise I was hearing since the start may have been the various pieces not pushed all the way together, or maybe the covers were causing it. I don't know, but now it's silent.

[Agame43]

  heinbaughb, good catch with your Ice Cap, I was talking with Reeferntraining and he had mentioned having the same issues. I had very similar noise with my Gyre and found about the same thing, the cages and bushings not being pushed together firmly - noise was gone. Good work.

[lazylivin]

That does explain why some experience noise and others don’t. Sounds like it is a funky assembly

[CoralBeauties]

I think alot of noise issues are coming from air inside the pump impellers.  I have one of them that will get noisy and if I look into the turning impeller I can see air working back and forth.  I put the pump in feed mode which stops the pump from turning and all the air escapes out and the pump will then run quite again.  It must be picking up bubbles from the water column.  The pump on the left side of my tank next to my overflow gets trapped air in it daily and has to be released several times a day.  It isnt drawing air from the surface.  The other pump on the other side of the tank doesnt experience this issue at all. If yours is noisy ck for trapped air.
Jeff

[Heinbaughb]

When my gyre gets noisy, I can pause it like you’re saying and I see a lot of air bubbles release. It becomes quiet again but the air returns in a couple hours. I’ve tried moving the gyre lower on the side glass but that doesn’t seem to help. Have you figure out a way to keep the air out of the pump? I usually run it on constant 50%.


120 gallon mixed reef.

[CoralBeauties]

When my gyre gets noisy, I can pause it like you’re saying and I see a lot of air bubbles release. It becomes quiet again but the air returns in a couple hours. I’ve tried moving the gyre lower on the side glass but that doesn’t seem to help. Have you figure out a way to keep the air out of the pump? I usually run it on constant 50%.


120 gallon mixed reef.

No I have not figured out a fix for the air.  I think there must be micro bubbles in the water and the pump is picking them up and collecting them inside the impeller wheel.
jeff

[CoralBeauties]

My pumps have been getting more and more air in them and making alot of noise.  I found a review thread on r2r and posted about the air problem.  The original poster said to clean them and it would fix the issue.  I thought that there was no way this would help.  today I pulled them out and cleaned them.  They just had a heavy slime coating on them and that was all.  Took a tooth brush to them and scrubbed them and believe it or not they are now not collecting air and are quite again.  If yours are getting louder give them a good scrubbing.
Jeff