Gen-X Mak4 pumps

BoomerD · 01-09-2004, 12:27 AM

Anyone have any experience or tales to tell about these? I like the advertised flow rates & electrical consumption. Are they noisy? Dependable? Bad heat transfer? Any reported problems with them? just plain junk, or very good? I'm considering using one for the closed loop on the new 180 and would like to know it they're worth the $$$.
Thanks,

Pro_builder · 01-09-2004, 01:22 AM

I have done a lot of research on this pump.
I haven't heard any bad things about them at all. They use a lot less power and make less noise then the Mag Pumps, is all I have heard. Although nobody has had them very long (That I spoke to) so no info on lifetime, or reliability issues.
HTH

PSU4ME · 03-30-2004, 10:33 PM

Does anyone have anything else to say about the mak4 pump? I was thinking about getting.

Thanks

PSU4ME · 03-30-2004, 10:33 PM

Can these pumps handle back pressure?

BoomerD · 03-31-2004, 02:47 AM

They are supposed to be pressure rated pumps. I bought one just before the knee surgery, but still don't have it running yet. Back has been too screwed up to allow me to get under the tank and do the necessary plumbing changes.

joe@inreef · 03-31-2004, 07:41 AM

Extremely reliable.... have sold about 60 of the Gen-x pumps, and have yet to get one back. The Mak-4 is now the PCX 40. You can check the specs on our site. We also carry the PCX-100, similar to the Iwaki 70, and the PCX-30, which is similar to the Iwaki 40.

Hooked · 03-31-2004, 09:48 AM

Well, I guess I'm going to have the dissenting opinion here. I've been running one on a closed loop since September. I thought it was great at first, maybe just a little noisier than I'd like. But I've had a microbubble problem pretty much from the start. At first I thought I had a leak in my closed loop, but I rebuilt the closed loop to remove the SCWD. I still have a problem and it's getting worse. I can fix it by shutting the output side ball valve to about half flow. I looked for threads about cavitation, but didn't find any on this board and only a few on some others; however, I feel pretty certain that is my problem.

As far as other pumps, I just installed my chiller this weekend and I used a a PanWorld/Blueline and it is so quiet. I belive these are Iwaki "knockoffs." I'll eventaully be replacing the Gen-x with one of these when I get some extra cash.

HTH

By the way, if anyone has a solution to my microbubble problem, I'd love to hear it!!!

tommyp · 03-31-2004, 12:39 PM

Mine is a year old or so and going strong. It is louder than I would like because it is in my living room but it is an excellent pump. Great value for the dollar. No bubbles here.

Tom

Cosmic · 04-06-2004, 04:49 PM

When you begin to start seeing microbubbles from your pump, you either need to cut back the flow (As you did), or upgrade all your plumbing to the next bigger diameter PVC. This will cause less friction and less micro-bubbles.

I'm looking into these pumps now as well to run my new honking skimmer. I've looked into the Iwaki RLT40's, but the price is a bit more than I want to spend right now. This pump seems an excellent alternate, but user reviews are the final tell-tale for me.

Any other opinions on the GenX pumps?

Cos

Hooked · 04-06-2004, 05:05 PM

Cos,

I was wondering if larger diameter PVC was a cure. Would I have to upgrade on both side of the pump?

As an additional note, I was at Premium Aquatics Friday afternoon and mentioned the problem with the pump. I also mentioned it was noisy. They have one running on one of the tanks in the office and it is silent, so I think I may have a defective pump. I'm going to swap it out in a couple of weeks for a new one.

I have my output throttled back about half (not what you want to do in an sps tank) and now the bubbles are mostly gone. I say mostly because occasionally it will blow some out again for a short period of time, whereas before it was constant.

I'll let you know what happens when I get a new pump.

Thanks

Hooked · 04-06-2004, 05:10 PM

Oh I almost forgot --have you checked out the Panworld pumps?

Here's a link

http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merch...od e=Panworld

dwall174 · 04-06-2004, 08:45 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Hooked
I've had a microbubble problem pretty much from the start. At first I thought I had a leak in my closed loop, but I rebuilt the closed loop to remove the SCWD.
I looked for threads about cavitation, but didn't find any on this board and only a few on some others;

Have you seen This One
It sounds like you might be restricting the intake some how? Do you have a 90 degree fitting or a plumbing reducer within 6" of the inlet? This could be causing a restriction on the suction side of the pump! This could also be what’s causing a lot of noise from your pump.

Hooked · 04-07-2004, 10:18 AM

Thanks for the link dwall. I do have a 90 close to the intake side of the pump. I'll have to look tonight to see how close. Perhaps that is the problem. My noise is not the same as described in the article you attached. I've read other articles that described the noise caused by cavitation as sounding like gravel going through the pump. Mine is just a very loud hum that I can hear distinctly over all the other pumps and water noises.

tommyp · 04-07-2004, 10:21 AM

Mine hums no 90 it is direct bulkhead to the sump. I have 3/4 to 1" bushings on both input and out.

Tom

Cosmic · 04-07-2004, 11:22 PM

Hey Katrina,
Thanks for that link above on the Panworld pumps. I found the same pump under the Blueline HD series name as well, and bit the bullet and got THIS ONE.
Same company, but manufactured for US distribution possibly?

Comparable to the Iwaki 55RLT, which is more than suitable to run my beckett skimmer

Have you gotten your problem fixed yet?

01-09-2004, 12:27 AM	#1 (permalink)
BoomerD Reef Shark Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Northern California Posts: 5,637 View Gallery Karma Komment	Gen-X Mak4 pumps Anyone have any experience or tales to tell about these? I like the advertised flow rates & electrical consumption. Are they noisy? Dependable? Bad heat transfer? Any reported problems with them? just plain junk, or very good? I'm considering using one for the closed loop on the new 180 and would like to know it they're worth the $$$. Thanks,

01-09-2004, 01:22 AM	#2 (permalink)
Pro_builder DIY Moderator Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Oxford, Iowa Posts: 1,746 View Gallery Karma Komment	I have done a lot of research on this pump. I haven't heard any bad things about them at all. They use a lot less power and make less noise then the Mag Pumps, is all I have heard. Although nobody has had them very long (That I spoke to) so no info on lifetime, or reliability issues. HTH __________________ -Troy 180 gallon Reef, 3- 250 XM 15K MH Electronic ballast, 380 watts VHO Actinics, 2- 5 watt LED Moon lights, 100 gal rubbermaid sump, 75 gallon Fuge, ETSS 600 Skimmer, 4700-5400 gph pump for return, Octopus 3000 controller, Iwaki 40 RL skimmer pump, 2- 65w PC 10K fuge lights, 2 55 gallon barrels, Custom light oak stand and hood, misc pumps, extra 600 gallon rated tank size protein skimmer. Purple tang, yellow tang, pacific blue tang, 2 green chromis, 1 Sand sifting star, snails, hermit crabs, 2 mated perculas, pulsing Xenia, Anenome, mushrooms, ricordia, zoanthids, kenya tree 1 1/2" tall, misc other hitchhiker stuff. DIY is my dream... ...well OK the only way I can afford this Addiction!! Just as the light goes on in my head... ... I break the bulb!!

03-30-2004, 10:33 PM	#3 (permalink)
PSU4ME JoePa lives on!!! Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: PA Posts: 382 View Gallery Karma Komment	Does anyone have anything else to say about the mak4 pump? I was thinking about getting. Thanks __________________ 90 Gallon AGA with a 40 breeder sump (DIY). 2-250 Watt XM 10k's and 2 actinic VHO's. 3-5 inch DSB.

03-30-2004, 10:33 PM	#4 (permalink)
PSU4ME JoePa lives on!!! Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: PA Posts: 382 View Gallery Karma Komment	Can these pumps handle back pressure? __________________ 90 Gallon AGA with a 40 breeder sump (DIY). 2-250 Watt XM 10k's and 2 actinic VHO's. 3-5 inch DSB.

03-31-2004, 07:41 AM	#6 (permalink)
joe@inreef Sponsor Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Tampa Florida Posts: 148 View Gallery Karma Komment	Extremely reliable.... have sold about 60 of the Gen-x pumps, and have yet to get one back. The Mak-4 is now the PCX 40. You can check the specs on our site. We also carry the PCX-100, similar to the Iwaki 70, and the PCX-30, which is similar to the Iwaki 40. __________________ WWW.INREEF.COM 20 years saltwater, over 700 gallons of reef at the house!!

03-31-2004, 02:47 AM	#5 (permalink)
BoomerD Reef Shark Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Northern California Posts: 5,637 View Gallery Karma Komment	They are supposed to be pressure rated pumps. I bought one just before the knee surgery, but still don't have it running yet. Back has been too screwed up to allow me to get under the tank and do the necessary plumbing changes.

03-31-2004, 09:48 AM	#7 (permalink)
Hooked Tuxedo Urchin Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 287 View Gallery Karma Komment	Well, I guess I'm going to have the dissenting opinion here. I've been running one on a closed loop since September. I thought it was great at first, maybe just a little noisier than I'd like. But I've had a microbubble problem pretty much from the start. At first I thought I had a leak in my closed loop, but I rebuilt the closed loop to remove the SCWD. I still have a problem and it's getting worse. I can fix it by shutting the output side ball valve to about half flow. I looked for threads about cavitation, but didn't find any on this board and only a few on some others; however, I feel pretty certain that is my problem. As far as other pumps, I just installed my chiller this weekend and I used a a PanWorld/Blueline and it is so quiet. I belive these are Iwaki "knockoffs." I'll eventaully be replacing the Gen-x with one of these when I get some extra cash. HTH By the way, if anyone has a solution to my microbubble problem, I'd love to hear it!!! __________________ Katrina 90 Gal AGA with 2-250W 10k AB DE MH, 220W VHO, Turboflotor 1000, GEO calcium reactor, Pacific Coast chiller, DIY phosphate reactor and nilsen kalk reactor, sps, clams, zoanthids, rose BTA, ocellaris clown, 2 green mandarins, royal gramma, purple tang, sargassum trigger, flame hawkfish, coral beauty, neon dottyback, purple and blue linckia star, brittlestars, snails, snails, snails

03-31-2004, 12:39 PM	#8 (permalink)
tommyp Neon dottyback Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: VT Posts: 659 View Gallery Karma Komment	Mine is a year old or so and going strong. It is louder than I would like because it is in my living room but it is an excellent pump. Great value for the dollar. No bubbles here. Tom __________________ "I think that you can start the bombs of oceanrunner. They are good bombs for a rollback." 190g (60x30x25) upgrade in progress, 90g basement sump Check it out here!

04-06-2004, 04:49 PM	#9 (permalink)
Cosmic Star Polyps Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: NE Ohio Posts: 173 View Gallery Karma Komment	When you begin to start seeing microbubbles from your pump, you either need to cut back the flow (As you did), or upgrade all your plumbing to the next bigger diameter PVC. This will cause less friction and less micro-bubbles. I'm looking into these pumps now as well to run my new honking skimmer. I've looked into the Iwaki RLT40's, but the price is a bit more than I want to spend right now. This pump seems an excellent alternate, but user reviews are the final tell-tale for me. Any other opinions on the GenX pumps? Cos __________________ ReefKeeping FAQ'S

04-06-2004, 05:05 PM	#10 (permalink)
Hooked Tuxedo Urchin Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 287 View Gallery Karma Komment	Cos, I was wondering if larger diameter PVC was a cure. Would I have to upgrade on both side of the pump? As an additional note, I was at Premium Aquatics Friday afternoon and mentioned the problem with the pump. I also mentioned it was noisy. They have one running on one of the tanks in the office and it is silent, so I think I may have a defective pump. I'm going to swap it out in a couple of weeks for a new one. I have my output throttled back about half (not what you want to do in an sps tank) and now the bubbles are mostly gone. I say mostly because occasionally it will blow some out again for a short period of time, whereas before it was constant. I'll let you know what happens when I get a new pump. Thanks __________________ Katrina 90 Gal AGA with 2-250W 10k AB DE MH, 220W VHO, Turboflotor 1000, GEO calcium reactor, Pacific Coast chiller, DIY phosphate reactor and nilsen kalk reactor, sps, clams, zoanthids, rose BTA, ocellaris clown, 2 green mandarins, royal gramma, purple tang, sargassum trigger, flame hawkfish, coral beauty, neon dottyback, purple and blue linckia star, brittlestars, snails, snails, snails

04-06-2004, 05:10 PM	#11 (permalink)
Hooked Tuxedo Urchin Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 287 View Gallery Karma Komment	Oh I almost forgot --have you checked out the Panworld pumps? Here's a link http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merch...od e=Panworld __________________ Katrina 90 Gal AGA with 2-250W 10k AB DE MH, 220W VHO, Turboflotor 1000, GEO calcium reactor, Pacific Coast chiller, DIY phosphate reactor and nilsen kalk reactor, sps, clams, zoanthids, rose BTA, ocellaris clown, 2 green mandarins, royal gramma, purple tang, sargassum trigger, flame hawkfish, coral beauty, neon dottyback, purple and blue linckia star, brittlestars, snails, snails, snails

04-07-2004, 10:18 AM	#13 (permalink)
Hooked Tuxedo Urchin Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 287 View Gallery Karma Komment	Thanks for the link dwall. I do have a 90 close to the intake side of the pump. I'll have to look tonight to see how close. Perhaps that is the problem. My noise is not the same as described in the article you attached. I've read other articles that described the noise caused by cavitation as sounding like gravel going through the pump. Mine is just a very loud hum that I can hear distinctly over all the other pumps and water noises. __________________ Katrina 90 Gal AGA with 2-250W 10k AB DE MH, 220W VHO, Turboflotor 1000, GEO calcium reactor, Pacific Coast chiller, DIY phosphate reactor and nilsen kalk reactor, sps, clams, zoanthids, rose BTA, ocellaris clown, 2 green mandarins, royal gramma, purple tang, sargassum trigger, flame hawkfish, coral beauty, neon dottyback, purple and blue linckia star, brittlestars, snails, snails, snails

04-07-2004, 10:21 AM	#14 (permalink)
tommyp Neon dottyback Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: VT Posts: 659 View Gallery Karma Komment	Mine hums no 90 it is direct bulkhead to the sump. I have 3/4 to 1" bushings on both input and out. Tom __________________ "I think that you can start the bombs of oceanrunner. They are good bombs for a rollback." 190g (60x30x25) upgrade in progress, 90g basement sump Check it out here!

04-07-2004, 11:22 PM	#15 (permalink)
Cosmic Star Polyps Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: NE Ohio Posts: 173 View Gallery Karma Komment	Hey Katrina, Thanks for that link above on the Panworld pumps. I found the same pump under the Blueline HD series name as well, and bit the bullet and got THIS ONE. Same company, but manufactured for US distribution possibly? Comparable to the Iwaki 55RLT, which is more than suitable to run my beckett skimmer Have you gotten your problem fixed yet? __________________ ReefKeeping FAQ'S

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