MCP300 Pump opinions
 

I am interested in the MCP300 Swiftech pump.

I have read many reviews and have seen some posts but looking for anyone who actually has one. I had read from some posters on other sites that they had heard it runs hot and is louder than the Eheim 1048. Can anyone substantiate or refute this?

My only concern is the heat really but I do like the fact that the 1046(I have one) is ultra quiet.

Secondly I wanted to know for those who do have the pump what resevoir do they use and what is their opinion on the pump.

Thanks is advance.

I know you are looking for people who own them, and though I do not, I've heard enough bad stuff about them to stay clear. Lots of people are having them fail, leak, crack, or generally act up. You would be well served to look for a different pump.

BO(V)BZ

What a bummer. . .
 

I need a pump that is small but powerful. I have a mid tower and space is a premium. The Eheim 1046 pump is great (knock on wood) but it just fits in there. I have seen threads about the Hydor L30 and Maxijet pumps. Any ideas about those? Anyone ever heard of Sicce and if so do you own one?

Really depressing about the Swifty Pumps they are small, powerful, and relatively inexpensive. But I would hate to have a leak in one of my boxes.

I've heard a lot of good things about the Hydor L30 pump. Also, it's very small, so I'm sure that you could fit it in any place you could fit the Swiftech pump. Also, it has good flow rates and a great head rating for being so small. And evidently it's quiet too =] If you have to have a small pump, that is the one that I would buy.

BO(V)BZ

I am running a MaxiJet 1200. Rated 295GPH @ 0" of head; Max head is 69". I really have no idea what kind of GPH I'm getting at 18" of head and a kinda restrictive block, but I'm thinking 170ish. It makes abit of noise and add more heat to your water than most other pumps, but as long as you go pump-->rad-->block I don't think it's that big a deal. And for only $23 I gave it a shot.

I'm looking at buying a PCI Relay card next and then an Eheim 1048 water pump as My next purchases for My water cooling system, I have a Dog and Cat hair problem and so I'll use a flat Uni (for custom applications 12"x6"x5/8" cut to 7"x6") air filter, Instead of these 2 lame sponge type air filters as the Swamp Cooler blows all that hair and dust around, But It's cool here.:cool:

I just upgraded my Swiftech Q-Power setup with Eheim 1048 and 3/8" od tubing to the later kit, with MCP300 and 1/2" OD tubing......the pump itself seems fine, if a little rattly compared to the silent Eheim.....not too sure what to do about this .... already running with a res....so air should not be a problem.....any opinions pls??

Cheers

Re: What a bummer. . .
 

The MCP300 IS in fact a Sicce Idra pump with an aluminium outlet piece and an aluminium pumphouse cover & inlet.
I used it (the Sicce Idra) in my WC setup before I bought the Eheim 1250 and it tends to leak on the pump cover. Also it makes a rattling noise (the impeller is already fixed to the shaft - no mod possible) whenever there is some backpressure (I use also one submerged in a fishtank with the same rattling noise) and it heats up quite a lot compared to my 1250.
When I first heard the rattling noise I asked for a warranty exchange, and the new pump still makes the noise!

CD :)

PS: Go for an Eheim, you won't be dissapointed!

Throw that MCP300 to the trash, and reinstall your 1048...:D

CD :)

I've got experience with two MCP300's. The first one I had was quiet and was sold with a system. The second one was noisy from the first time I powered it up.

The first thing I notice when I took it apart was the impeller hitting an hour of production clock cast into the face of the pump so I sanded the hour marks off. I also notice the impeller is not centered in the bore of the pump housing so the impeller can still strike the face of the pump on one side if the magnet floats into the pump housing. So I straighten the fixed metal shaft that the impeller rides on and slide a thin nylon washer on the metal shaft as a shim so the impeller cannot get drawn all the way into the pump housing. I found the impeller is not fixed to the shaft so I super glued it. I also put some grease on the impeller shaft. Nice and quiet for near a week of 24/7 use till the grease washes out.

Well. . . .
 

Geeze Louise,

SComp. That is a nice job of tweaking but way too much effort for something straight outta the box IMHO. I am going to go with the Hydor L30. No one has them in the US right now that I could find and Danny from D-Tek said it could be in a couple of weeks. Until then the hard drive on one of my comps may have gotten a boot virus so one of my main comps is down. That is the priority right now so the waiting is no big deal. I have now leak tested the 1048 for a week now and was going to put it in my other box but since the HD went down I am going to gut it and replace almost all of the components. I will post back once I have the L30 in and running to tell the tale. Thanks guys for the posts.

LOL

Hi Zeta09. I hear ya. It was a case of target fixation. I try not to let that happen too often. It really takes longer to tell than it does to do it. I agree it shouldn't have to be done at all.

Well I just bought an AC type water pump that does 200Gph and It only cost $14.00+$1.12(8% Tax)+$8.00(shipping)= $23.12 total on ebay, It's one that does both in-line and/or submersible, neat. 200GPH Submersible Water Fountain Pump - NEW
http://www.artflowdesigns.com/auction/pump200.jpg

The Size is 3.0"L x 1.75"W x 2.5"H and the Flow rate is adjustable - 0 to 200 GPH.

And this place has more pumps, I'd ask first before buying as some may be only Submersible types of course. Fantastic, I'd have bought the 315Gph model, But I'm cash limited right now.