Shawn
Administrator
Posts: 16,267 
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Post by Shawn on Oct 7, 2017 9:57:56 GMT -5
A little bit ago I went to add nutes and mooch to the large machines. The Ultra also had a dump, rinse and refill. After the Ultra I went to the Bounty which had no pump sound. I did the one minute test and nada.
I immediately did a dump and rinse and noticed that the pump sponge was clogged up. I rinsed it out and then tested it. Nope still not working. I took it apart and cleaned the pump unit. I put it together and tested it. Whew. It is working again. I think there was so much debris from the roots and nutes that it clogged it.
Two machines had a dump, rinse and refill. Nutes (10ml each) and Mr. Mooch (5ml each) added.
Just a little tip, please check your pumps every few months to make sure they do not seize up from the debris in the water.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 7, 2017 10:04:59 GMT -5
Thanks. Great suggestion and reminder. Sometimes I find after a dump and refill, that the sponge has been pulled away from the pump by strong roots and is far from where it should be!
Great reminder.
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Post by drbanks on Oct 7, 2017 13:49:34 GMT -5
After one too many such scares, I've just decided to have a spare, just in case.
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Shawn
Administrator
Posts: 16,267
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Post by Shawn on Oct 7, 2017 14:09:46 GMT -5
I have spares, just don't want a dead pump lol
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mike
The Pepper King
Posts: 3,661 
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Post by mike on Oct 7, 2017 14:19:35 GMT -5
I have two spares and four basins from older CFL Ultras, although I think I stole pumps from two of them before I bought the spare pumps.
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MaryL
AGA Farmer
Posts: 3,532
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Post by MaryL on Oct 7, 2017 19:23:31 GMT -5
I have spare pumps, but sometimes don't realize there has been a failure until the plant is looking extremely sad.
That said, yesterday was the first time I was able to take apart 2 pumps for internal cleaning, one of which had stopped working, so hopefully that will be like new! |
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Shawn
Administrator
Posts: 16,267
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Post by Shawn on Oct 8, 2017 4:30:09 GMT -5
I have a spare pump here and should get another I think.
Mary, once you cleaned that pump did it work again? I hope so.
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mike
The Pepper King
Posts: 3,661
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Post by mike on Oct 8, 2017 5:18:32 GMT -5
Every week, when I add the Mooch, I lift the deck to check the pump. Of course, that doesn't help the first month. I do check when sanitizing the garden.
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MaryL
AGA Farmer
Posts: 3,532
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Post by MaryL on Oct 8, 2017 15:41:32 GMT -5
I have a spare pump here and should get another I think. Mary, once you cleaned that pump did it work again? I hope so. I haven't checked yet. I just let it all dry and stuffed the parts back into the bowl, unassembled. I need to plant some new gardens and if I do I'll find out soon! |
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Shawn
Administrator
Posts: 16,267
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Post by Shawn on Nov 28, 2017 16:33:21 GMT -5
Last night I heard a weird noise and once again I had to do a dump and refill. THe pump had roots in it.. SO I took the Deck with Jalapeno in tack and placed it in a bin. I dumped the water. Removed and cleaned the pump and all is good again.
The bad thing is that the roots are so big and it is on the side of the pump where the intake is. I did not trim roots this time however I should have. The plant i still producing and looking good.
Just another gentle reminder to listen to your units. Make sure when you do a dump and refill or at least once every two months to check the pump for nute buildup or roots.
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Post by drbanks on Nov 28, 2017 16:36:43 GMT -5
My Bounty with the Jalapeno Grande and Mystery Peppers makes an AWFUL noise when the water gets low. I'm probably going to have to replace it when I terminate this project. Worse still is that the low water alert (both the red indication on the panel and the audible alarm) just don't work, so I have to keep an eagle eye on the thing.
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