[Reef Engineer]

I know that there are several people that use Gemini pumps on this board and I have a couple of questions regarding them.

Now, I have been using them myself for several years and periodically take them off to give them a vinegar bath so that there isn't too much deposit on them to strain them but I now have four pumps that I cannot, essentially, use and I think it may have been a byproduct of these vinegar baths or perhaps it just happens. All four of the pumps have had the metal impeller wear away the rubber mounting to the point where it cannot be held in place any longer. I still have four more geminis on the tank BUT don't have any replacements any longer.

Do you think that this "preventative maintenance" may have ambushed the pumps and shortened their lives? Has anyone else had this happen? Do you know where I can get the replacement rubber part? I was going to try using some silicone in the rubber housing to see if it would hold but have yet to try it. What do you think the chances would be on this working if I cannot get the replacement parts? The pumps are in fine working order (although two of them - my oldest - make a bit of a squealing noise now) so I really hate to have to get rid of them.

What do you think?

Randy