Protein skimmer pump acting funny

[Spudsly]

A quick update. I called Reef Octopus and it took me a solid two days to get a hold of them but I finally did and the guy helping me was awesome. First thing he asked is "is it possible to pry the pinwheel off the impellar" and as the picture above can attest to... yes it is. So he just told me to two part epoxy it to the shaft and it would be good as new. I let it cure for two days and now it runs flawlessly. Well not flawlessly... on plugging it in it only sometimes runs, maybe because some epoxy got loose and gummed it up or maybe it's the power cable. Regardless, I'm just never going to turn it off again.

I am really happy with the whole experience because he could easily have just told me to buy a new impeller.

 

[this is me]

I think the starting torque is strong enough to sever bonding of the epoxy. This happened to my omega 150 skimmer pump and I thought using super glue would be sufficient. It worked but after a couple times of restarting the skimmer(during water change) the impeller broke and stopped working. I ended up getting another impeller.
Can you get a replacement impeller from RO?

 

[Spudsly]

I can, but since Im just starting up that extra $100 felt like a kick to the teeth. My original purpose of the call was simply to ask if I did buy an impellar and it turned out to be something more severe could I return the impeller and buy the new pump. Instead he basically told me, very adamantly how to fix it. I wasn't thrilled with using two part epoxy in he tank but I found scattered reports of people that had used it without incident. I let it cure an extra day and ran it in a bucket for a while just to be safe(r).

 

[this is me]

I didn't think the impeller would be that much.
I've used this stuff in the past for mounting corals on the rock and repairing leaking acrylic/plastic container without any issue.
https://www.amazon.com/Aquamend-Epoxy-Putty-4-oz/dp/B0002V2JHY

 

[gwdemos]

Fwiw I had a tough time with several water blaster impellers early in my build. Turned out to be a power issue and I re ran electric to give me individual 20 amp breakers at each outlet of major draw (heaters pumps lights ). The water masters have a chip in them that will shut down the pump at high heat. This High heat also can mean impeller shafts expanding or otherwise creating friction in the pump and it reoccurs. I went through several cleanings reinstalled all seemed good then it would happen again. I narrowed it down to a power issue. Not saying it's your problem but worth a consideration.


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[cilyjr]

I think the starting torque is strong enough to sever bonding of the epoxy. This happened to my omega 150 skimmer pump and I thought using super glue would be sufficient. It worked but after a couple times of restarting the skimmer(during water change) the impeller broke and stopped working. I ended up getting another impeller.
Can you get a replacement impeller from RO?

2 part epoxy and super glue are like a vice vs a clamp.

As far as safe. There many 2 part epoxies that are inert after curing (aquastick and waterweld are both 2 part epoxy) that said I can't think of any of the gel epoxy that are recommended for potable water (there must be one) the putty ones(ones we use to secure coral) will NOT hold in this application. West system 2 part is inert after curing (3-4 days not a few hrs)but a can of resin and harder will cost more then the new impeller. I'd look at all the loctite ones in the double syringe and see which are safe for constant wet use/safe for potable water. There has to be one.

I've heard of so many impeller problems with these pumps.greg will recall me mentioning this when he had his water blaster problems.

 

[Spudsly]

Yeah. I ended up using one that says not for potable water. The guy who helped when I called was seemed to think I should just use any two part they sold. I asked if it should be a particular brand/product and he was pretty adamant I could use whatever so long as it was two part. I used the Loc-tite marine epoxy because I could find lots of reports on various reef sites of people who use it. Im definitely nervous about it generally, but I only used very little and let it dry for two days so I'm hoping it works out.

 

[cilyjr]

Honestly you are likely fine. Even west system says not for potable water but I've seen about 1 million potable water tanks on boats and RVs that are made out of it

 

[cilyjr]

The key is proper curing time. Most of this stuff is inert after proper curing. Thing is many think 24 hrs is sufficient when it is more likely a week to 10 days.

 

[reefstarter]

you could take it out and give it a vinegar bath . just leave the cap of skimmer and drain plug off and put it in a rubbermaid tote with 50/50 mix of vinegar and water let it run for about a day that way then rinse it off with clean water and set it back in the sump breaking in a new skimmer can take as long as a month . either be patient or bathe it

 

[Spudsly]

Cool, it seems to be skimming nicely since I epoxied the pinwheel on. I let it cure for 2 days, it recommended 1 on the package. So far my Mojano collection doesn't seem to mind!