Are Danner pumps any good?

[Zazuk]

I found this at Cyber Deals Forums.

danner 250gph pump $33 shipped petsmart.com has the danner mag-drive 250gph pump for $36. plus shipping, it came to $43. well i head on over to couponcraze.com, go to the petsmart page, and find a $10 off coupon, so my pump came to $33 altogether. Thats a great deal, as I was in the store yesterday, and they wanted $50 + tax, ya right!
Thanks Plague for the info.

Should I go with a Danner or spend the extra cash on an Ehiem?

[Diggrr]

The Eheim pumps are great pumps.
But I've had my Danner for over a year now, with no problems. It comes on with the computer, and runs about 16-20 hours a day. (my wife and I are on opposite shifts.)
I would however, use 1/2 inch fittings on it to make it run a bit cooler. I'ts not blasting out heat and doesn't raise case temps, but it could be better for some longevity. Any pump would do the same thing.
Get it, the price is great and so is the pump.

[Colin]

Danners are fine but I would recommend an Eheim. If you get a Danner you will need to seal the impeller chamber. I would also recommend a hose clamp around the inlet to help prevent cracking.

[Diggrr]

Correct Colin.

I've done both that you've suggested. I added a bit of rtv silicone to the o-ring that's in it, and I've added a large hose clamp to the outlet to stop cracking.
Still, a 50 cent mod on a fourty dollar pump beats the seventy+ for an Eheim pump in my book.
And it's very quiet too.

*edit* by the way, Zazuk, your e-mail was returned as "account innactive". The Danner is far quietter than even my hardrives or cd rom drives. A little foam pad stopped any case vibration...even a dab of rtv or little rubber feet are enough to silence the pump almost completely. I have to feel it to make sure it's on.

[Zazuk]

Forgot about my email change. Went for @home.com to @attbi.com.

[plague]

well youre welcome for the info, mine just came in the mail the other day. I'm waiting on some parts from danger den, then im putting my setup together.

hey digg, can you explain a little more in detail what you did to this pump? well, i understand what you did, but did you have trouble with it leaking, or just read that other people had trouble?

[Zazuk]

Well I ordered the Danner at $31.88 dont think I can go wrong unless it leaks...

[Diggrr]

I've used this pump in three different watercooling rigs. This last time of tearing down, I did notice a crack in the very end of the outlet neck. It didn't leak, but hey those hose clamps are cheap insurance. I just put it out at the vey end of the inlet's neck and tightened as much as I could.

As for the rtv, just carefully remove the four screws around the pump head. You'll find a black o-ring about 2" (50mm) diameter. I took a dab of rtv on my finger and 'greesed' the o-ring with it. Assemble in reverse order.
****Make sure the outlet is pointed the way you want, it can be moved in 90 degree steps****.
When you put the screws back in, Do Not overtighten them. They will break the little plastic posts off pretty easily. I had to superglue 2 of them..:D
Just use nice easy pressure, the rtv will do the rest. Let it sit for maybe 12 hours while assembling something else.
In Danner's defense, I think PetSmart sold me a used pump. It had some teflon tape in the inlet tube, and I think one screw was already broken out for me.:mad:
I also wanted to say that I found a flow restrictor in one side too. Just a half inch piece of tubing inserted inside it. I didn't see it until it fell out into my sink after a test run. Into the trash.

Have fun.:beer:

[Warlord2]

I have a Danner mag-drive 250gph just setting on my desk

this thing was LOUD it sounds worse thin my delta..... and its not just the vibrating

I took it apart and couldnt see anything wrong with it. I wish it was quiet like everyone elses.
What do you think is wrong with it? bad impeller? if so how do you know it is bad?

I did have to use some rtv silicone sence it leaked

[Diggrr]

Pull the impeller and look down into the hole into the core. Maybe swab it out. The only time mine is noisy is when I run it dry...very bad for any magdrive pump, they can also heat up very fast causing a meltdown as well as injuring the bearings at the ends of the impeller shaft. If it's full of water when you run it, and it's clean inside but still noisy, I'd get a replacement impeller either from Danner or the reseller.
By the way, when it's apart there are little black bits sticking on the ends of shaft aren't there? (rubber coated bearings) If one of those is missing, it'll do the same thing.

Just a couple of thoughts....best of luck.

[Warlord2]

yup those little black things are still there

Im going to run it submerged tomarrow to make sure there was not just air in it before

it didnt look like there was anything broken or out of place before, but I will check again tomarrow

PS:do you know how much a impeller would cost?

[Diggrr]

http://www.customaquatic.com/customaquatic/listbrand.asp?brandID=DM&offset=60#
The first place I found with a 2 minute google search was $8.99
Not an endorsement, I just pulled them out of the search engine to give a ballpark figure.

[The Overclocker]

you are all luckier then me, the only pump could get was a 800L pond pump. it is loud and runs very hot

[Diggrr]

Hey Overclocker, while out searching for an answer for Warlord2, I found this site that carries both the MaxiJet for 20 pounds, and the Eheim 1048 for 34 pounds. Maybe this could help the UK mates abit.

www.aquatics-online.co.uk/

[Zazuk]

So is rtv silicone a grease or adhesive?

Also I'm planning to use stainless steel hose clamps at all connections. I'll also use 1/2 tubing as you suggest.

Thanks all for the input.

PS
Any suggestions for what kind of radiator?

[Colin]

Adhesive. A heater core would be my first choice.

[Warlord2]

ok I finaly tested my Danner pump again and it made this ruff radeling sound while it was submerged.

Im trying to take it apart now but am having diffeculties sence I used pvc glue instead of the silicon to seal off the leaks :eek:

Im trying to freeze the pump right now to try and crack the seal without cracking anything else

I will post a update when I get inside the pump

[Naeleros]

I just want to chime in and let you know that I also have problems with a noisy Danner pump. I don't blame the pump directly, though.

I have replaced the impeller and sealed it with RTV. But.. I believe that the real culprit for me is that I have pressure in my water lines. I use a couple of quick disconnect couplers and I am guessing that they add pressure to the line and cause my pump to work too hard.

I think I'm going to switch my entire system around shortly to do it without the couplers.. and see if it helps.

James

[Warlord2]

well freezing the pump didnt help:(

I donno how Im ever going to get the housing off


When I tested the pump in water I had almost no resistances so I dnot think that is the perblem

Im thinking I will just get a ehiem with my next computer upgrade

[Diggrr]

If freezing didn't help maybe running hot tap water through it would. Just fit the pumps hose to a faucet without turning on the pump. Or set in the sink with an inlet under the stream.

It's got to be a bad impeller then. Sorry I couldn't help more.
I guess I've had great luck with mine considering the used condition I got it in. For that much I blame PetSmart, not Danner.

[DodgeViper]

I bought a Danner Mag 5 yesterday. Not sure if I am going to keep it. Went to Petsmart.com and they had it for $51.66. I called the local PetsMart and they wanted $69.99. I ask if they would honor the internet price and was told that they are not the same company. I then told the girl she was full of S--- as I did a search and the address and phone number for my local store was on the site. I then asked to speak to the store manager. He sold the pump to me at the interenet price.

Now the box says it has 1/2" NPT threads. This model has 1 NPT and 1- 3/4" slip on barb. This I do not like. Looking at the plastic barb I may be able to machine a brass 1/2" x 3/8" to fit inside and epoxy the fitting to the plastic, but this is a gamble.

I think the MAG 5 is just going to be returned. The size would work inside my case, but I am after a clean looking system not something I need to reduce/reduce again to fit ½” pipe.

[hpotter]

I'm getting a Mag-Drive 350gph and I was wondering how you attach barbs to it for the hoses. I need it to be 3/8. Do I just epoxy the barbs on or what?

Thanks