http://forum.aqua-fish.net/ A forum devoted to aquarium fish, plants, techniques and fish keeping as a whole. en http://forum.aqua-fish.net/?topic=silly-question-on-filters#1 what happens if an aquarium water pump is operated dry? shawn original post: February 25, 2007, 11:34 am anonymous 2008-05-01 http://forum.aqua-fish.net/?topic=silly-question-on-filters#2 Hi Shawn. Sometimes nothing happens, and sometimes the water pump is damaged and you have to replace it, so to be on the safer side, don’t run the water pump without water. jan 2008-05-01 http://forum.aqua-fish.net/?topic=silly-question-on-filters#3 If you run a water pump dry you run the risk of breaking the impellor inside thus making the pump useless,its a no,no mickey 2008-05-01