Need a new Skimmer!!!

[Bagdis831]

So I went to bed Sunday night after manually topping off my tank (man i love carrying buckets up and down stairs daily) and on Monday morning my Fiance woke me up telling me the tank was making a horrible noises. I got up to look at it and my eshopps s-200 cone protein skimmer was making more noise than a 747 taking off. I unplugged it for a day thinking that might fix the problem. It didn't. Now my problem is that I cannot leave me tank without a skimmer any longer, i have the cone skimmer running right now but I know that it is only a matter of time before my finance kills me from the noise. What does everyone suggest for a Great skimmer for a 120 Gal mixed reef tank that is very very heavily stocked? I am not looking to spend a fortune since my wedding is about a month away now and I was laid off about two months ago (been working again for a month, but still trying to recover financially). But I need something that is going to really pull the gunk out of my tank over sized is better, looking for something that will do around a 300 gallon tank. Thank for the help everyone!!

Greg

Also I think that this might have gotten water in the silencer do you think that would be causing the noise? Better to know if that s that problem before I spend more $$.

 

[Bagdis831]

I was just talking with Kyrstal Clear Aquatics in Auburn and they are now selling the simplicity brand of skimmers, does anybody have any experience with simplicity skimmer. I was reading some reviews, but they are so new the market that I just want to get some first hand impressions if anyone has them.

Thanks.

 

[showard]

Simply unplugging something most likely never fixes the issue... take the pump out of it and check the impeller out. I suspect theres some crud you stirred up when you manually topped off. I would shut it off asap and disassemble and clean the pump no need to go buying things till we are sure its totally dead and even then.. buy a new pump for it definetly cheaper than a new skimmer pm me if you need help im glad to assist.

 

[showard]

Also I am oretty sure krystal clear carries the sicce and atman pumps that eshopps have. I got a new pump for my psk150 a while back cost me 60 and change.

 

[CAPSLOCK]

As above, try to clean (vinegar bath if needed) the pump and see if that fixes the problem. If not and you were otherwise happy with the skimmer, a new pump is the way to go.

 

[Bagdis831]

Thanks for the suggestions, I am going to work on it some more tonight. Now that I will have time again, I'm hoping that a thorough cleaning is all that is needed. I am actually very happy with skimmer produces great skimmate really dark and thick. Just one question about the cleaning, with this cause the skimmer to need to go through another break in period, or will it start up and work the way that it was before the cleaning (less the noise)?

Thanks

 

[showard]

Probably a short break period will occur no worries though it will be quicker than when you first got it

 

[STiTCH87]

As said above, the Sicce PSK pumps are very easy to find. However, if you are ever in the market for a new skimmer, I highly recommend RLSS.

 

[Bagdis831]

Well great news, i was able to get the skimmer to work properly again, there was a lot of water still in the silencer, once I blew all of the water out and cleaned the pump it was working like new again (cant hear it at all). Thanks for the suggestions and helping me save some $$. The skimmer has now moves away from my algae scrubber so there will not be anymore issues with water splashing into the silencer. I really didn't think it was the pump because I know that Sicce make quality pumps and a year is much to short of a life for one of their pumps.

Thanks again.

 

[showard]

Glad to hear of your success! Agreed, sicce pumps are very well built . Happy reefing!!