Protein skimmer pump acting funny

[Spudsly]

I am just setting up a used external RO skimmer. It seems to run fine but sometimes it seems to lose the aeration from it's flow (or the impellar is skipping or something). I can hear when it's happening which makes me wonder if it isn't the impellar. But if I watch the flow into the chamber it goes from white (due to bubbles) to clear... which implies to me water is still flowing it just lost aeration. Here's a video of it... not very good quality: https://youtu.be/sKhv6MlvrfE. You can't hear the noise that accompanies the loss of bubbles but it's basically a low rumbling. Anyone have ideas about what's going on?

 

[dz6t]

It needs a new impeller.

 

[Spudsly]

Ouch. That's a bummer.

 

[cilyjr]

The impellers are about 25 bucks online

 

[Spudsly]

Really? It seems like they were about 90 (http://www.coralvue.com/bubble-blaster-pump-pinwheel-impeller). Could you post a link where I can get them for 25?

I took it off the skimmer and it seems like the pump is periodically seizing up. I took it apart, maybe this impeller is bent? I don't see anything else wrong.

 

[Spudsly]

The impellers are about 25 bucks online

Is this correct? I can only find it for 90ish dollars.

 

[Jim Tansey]

After cleaning up that pump make sure the ENTIRE air passage is clear both in the tubing and the pump connection. I would try it again after cleaning it may be OK.

Jim

 

[Spudsly]

Ok, I'm going to clean it out. It looked pretty good but maybe inside the pump there's something.

Is the tubing attached to the venturi (if that's the right word... the fitting on the front of the pump) with a sealant? I pulled at it a little bit but wasn't sure it was designed to be removed and didn't want to rip or force it off if it's sealed with some kind of epoxy.

 

[Jim Tansey]

Any one I have ever seen is just expanded over a tapered nub, being on for a while it's likely stuck a bit.

Jim

 

[thomb]

I've had pumps start to stick because the magnet swelled (rust) =gonner. Hard to tell but kinda looks like there's a bit of a bulge in that magnet? Most of the impeller shafts I've seen are ceramic, bending that would be quite the feat of physics :: I've tried to bend them and they just tend to fail spectacularly.

Went through 2 Tunze impellers recently due to epoxy defect - the impeller didn't bond fully to the magnet/shaft so it spun instead of moving water. Where's the 'business end'? I don't see how what you posted would turn it? (kinda like my Tunze's...=gonner -or DIY epoxy job which I'm not bothering to deal with)

I've filed down brand new impeller magnets due to the plastic flashing not being completely removed. Seemed like it was quieter, restarted better afterwards but that could easily be placebo.

 

[Jim Tansey]

If it's swelled to the point of rubbing on the body bore it should be quite obvious, that doesn't look that way. I have had them swell and rub to the point the entire pump was junk.

Jim

 

[Spudsly]

Ok, I'm happy to say so far so good. I put it all back together and it seems to be working beautifully. However, perhaps too beautifully, I can't seem to turn the red knob in any direction that will make the bubbles stop overflowing like crazy. Also the exhaust now spits out tons of bubbles, not sure if that's normal.

 

[Spudsly]

Here's the skimmer now (https://youtu.be/9QS1MeVgk0A). If i plug in the pump it just immediately fills with bubbles and starts overflowing into the cup. There seems to be no setting on the red knob that changes this behavior (though it seems to mildly change how fast it overflows. Here's a video. I read that this can happen if the water is too deep, It's definitely in more water than the recommended amount but I don't think by much (it says 6-6.5 and I think it's 7-7.5). I currently have it sitting on a bucket top to raise it up, but that's the best I can do right now. If the depth is likely the issue I'll find a way to lift it up.

 

[Jim Tansey]

All skimmers differ but that looks to be set way to deep in the sump, if you have instructions check for recommended water depth if you don't have them check on line. I know my skimmers would never function set that deep.

Jim

 

[Spudsly]

Yeah it's about an inch or (maybe) two too deep. I'll try to figure out what I can prop it up with. It's going to be tight with the top of the stand but hopefully it fits.

 

[Spudsly]

Ok. so I continue to mess with this skimmer. The suggested depth is 6-6.5 inches... at 6.5 inches it overflows immediately, I put it to 5.3 as shown in the picture and still wide open it will almost immediately overflow or atleast come close. I actually thought it was fine last night running at 7 inches but I came back from work today to a horrible mess. What's the secret here? For reference my tank is basically new, just started cycling so I guess I shouldn't expect to get much skimmate anyways, but I guess I would have expected to have the opposite problem. I'm above the recommended water height, the valve is 100% open, I don't THINK there's anything in the air lines or anything (though I admit it was a little hard to verify that for sure.

Forgot the picture:

 

[jokersplayground]

The skimmer is most likely still braking in. Give it a few days to a week and it should stop overflowing.

 

[Jim Tansey]

Ya....Your getting there give it a few days.

Jim

 

[Spudsly]

Ok cool. I was a little surprised at how many places talk about breaking in the skimmer and how long it should take but have no description of what "breaking in" looks like. If constant overflowing is just what breaking in consists of then I'll remove the collection cup cap and let it drain back to the sump.

Also I guess I'll lower it back down to 6.5 inches since it overflows either way.

 

[Spudsly]

Finally got enough egg crate to raise this thing to 6.5 inches and now the pump is acting up again. Everything is the worst.