ASM Skimmer Club!

[Driftdiver]

As I was doing work on my tank, I noticed that my G2 had stopped working. I am in my stand all the time, so at most the skimmer had been non-operational for a few days. I immediately pulled the Sedra 3500 off the skimmer and tried it on another plug as it had been run through my controller. Unfortunately, it did not work. I pulled it apart and found that the needle wheel and impeller were locked in place. I tried a number of different tricks to unlock the impeller, but nothing worked including a 1:1 vinegar bath. However, when all of the growth was taken off the pump, I discovered that there were heat bubbles on the sides of the pump. The pump was NEVER run dry and was in an area of my sump with a constant 6" water level. I am still unable to remove the impeller from the pump.

At this point, I am trying to figure out what happened to the skimmer/pump. Given the heat bubbles in the side, I dont think I can simply replace the impeller and thus I will need to replace the pump. Has anyone else had this problem with their Sedra pump? If so, what replacement pump did you go with.

Thanks for any suggestions or ideas.

 

[BluespotLady]

If it is the impeller, the pump would still run but is noisy and may not work well. When the pump is bad, it just doesn't do anything. I have to replace mine every year or two. Sometimes, just the impeller, but I have had to replace the pump a few times too.

 

[Driftdiver]

If it is the impeller, the pump would still run but is noisy and may not work well. When the pump is bad, it just doesn't do anything. I have to replace mine every year or two. Sometimes, just the impeller, but I have had to replace the pump a few times too.

Is anyone else having such a high failure rate of their pumps? I can accept an occassionally pump failure, but having a problem that requires replacement every year that is crazy.

BluespotLady: Are you replacing it with the same model pump each time? It would seem that if you are having such a high failure rate you would want to try something new.

Thanks again.

 

[das75]

Is anyone else having such a high failure rate of their pumps? I can accept an occassionally pump failure, but having a problem that requires replacement every year that is crazy.

BluespotLady: Are you replacing it with the same model pump each time? It would seem that if you are having such a high failure rate you would want to try something new.

Thanks again.

original Sedra 5000 on my G3, running around 6 years and only cleaned a few times. Zero problems.

 

[spollock818]

porting sedra 3500

porting sedra 3500

Oh my god. I just ported my sedra 3500 on my g1x and all is I can say is that I have way too much air now. This thing is a beast. If I was to say that there was a 50% difference, I would not be lying. I now have to put a valve on the air line. Why hasnt anyone tried this already besides fishoutawater?

Oops, moved pics, here ya go.

Rough it in with a dremel, and smooth out any rough edges with some wet/dry sandpaper.

 

[spollock818]

So here is a video 3 minutes after running it ported

http://s246.photobucket.com/albums/gg103/spollock818/?action=view&current=ASMG1xSedra3500ported.mp4

 

[spollock818]

sorry its a droid phone video


<embed width="600" height="361" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullscreen="true" allowNetworking="all" wmode="transparent" src="http://static.photobucket.com/player.swf" flashvars="file=http%3A%2F%2Fvid246.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fgg103%2Fspollock818%2FASMG1xSedra3500ported.mp4">

 

[cherubfish pair]

I don't understand what you did.

 

[Misled]

Looks like he made a lot larger of a hole for the venturi. This may cause the pump to run a bit warmer. I just drilled mine out.

 

[spollock818]

Actually I dremmeled out the inside of the export. Look in post 744 on this thread and you can see what its about. Warning, just dremmel a little out. I got real agressive and dremmeled the inside of the grey piece thats glued to the body. I don't recommend this as its way too much water volume and air. I run a G1X, and have a sedra 3500. I thing it would of been alright with a sedra 2500 though

 

[spollock818]

Here's a better video in HD. Notice how my water line is not even in the neck. There is too much air now. If I was to redo it over again, I wouldn't take as much off.


<embed width="600" height="361" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullscreen="true" allowNetworking="all" wmode="transparent" src="http://static.photobucket.com/player.swf" flashvars="file=http%3A%2F%2Fvid246.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fgg103%2Fspollock818%2FDSCF2856.mp4">

 

[quaffin1]

ASM G1 needs new pump

ASM G1 needs new pump

I have a ASM G1 skimmer, about 5-6 years old.
the Sedra Power Head, KSP-2500 pump has stopped working.
Tried cleaning, but it is dead.
I don't see a direct replacement for this pump anywhere.
I have very limited space for the skimmer in my sump and really
don't want to change the footprint of the skimmer.
Does anyone know where I could get a replacement?
This is 250gpm pump, I imagine that the larger 3500 pump would have a
larger footprint....
Thanks

 

[shackscs]

Can't remove impeller

Can't remove impeller

I am having a terrible time removing the impeller from my Sedra 9000 pump. I turned the skimmer off one night and then back on the next day and the impeller will not spin.

I can feel the pump hum a bit but no movement of the impeller, I took of the cover and removed the head of the impeller but the impeller itself will not budge.

I soaked it in vinegar and still nothing.

I also used a pair of pliers to try and remove it but no luck. I am thinking I will have to drill a srew a bit larger into the middle of the impeller and pull it out that way? And if I do, where do I get a new impeller?

Any thoughts on what I can do?

 

[miwoodar]

I would try soaking it again. It's probably swollen though. This being a common issue, I'm sure someone will have other ideas that do not involve hammers (my thoughts usually end up towards hammers...not a good thing if you want to keep the pump).


I just joined the ASM club BTW. Used G3 on a new Sicce PSK1000. This is how it looks plug-and-play w/o any tuning.

 

[sirreal63]

Looks great Mike! I am partial to the G3, have had one since 04 or 05, I forget, old age is catching up to me. I haven't tried the PSK1000 on mine yet, though I have used a variety of pumps and found the Sedra the best fit, the PSK2500 wasn't good in recirc. It does look like the 1000 is working very well.

 

[miwoodar]

Thanks Jack. I like it. I was in the process of building a DIY around the PSK1000 when I stopped by an LFS and they were unloading this one for less than the price of the acrylic so I couldn't say no.

It's currently set up as a single pass. I'm guessing that doing a recirc would be too much in your opinion? I have the parts as I was going to use them on my DIY. However, I'm very tempted to leave it as-is given the funk that it's pulling.

 

[sirreal63]

Mike, I bought mine new as a recirc, and it has so many advantages for me that I won't change it to a single pass. I agree that for now, let it do it's thing, you can always recirc it later. It would not be too much but I try to not mess with success.

I will fire mine back up once the tank is moved to the new house and I actually put some fish in it. Three small fish in 120 gallons of water just doesn't give me much of a bio load, I am running an Octo 110 because the G3 could not keep a head of foam...not enough organics to work correctly.

 

[Oblivionis]

I would try soaking it again. It's probably swollen though. This being a common issue, I'm sure someone will have other ideas that do not involve hammers (my thoughts usually end up towards hammers...not a good thing if you want to keep the pump).


I just joined the ASM club BTW. Used G3 on a new Sicce PSK1000. This is how it looks plug-and-play w/o any tuning.

Do you have the air intake tube connected to something? I looks like that in this picture.

 

[miwoodar]

It's a silencer made out of PVC.

Like this...
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showpost.php?p=13961725&postcount=4

 

[Oblivionis]

Awesome. That tube is the loudest thing in the fish room.

Another question:
Is there a difference between G2 and a G3 besides the pump? I have a G2 but wanted to upgrade to a G3 since I have more room above the sump now. I bought an used G3 with a Sedra 5000 from a local reefer but the body is identical to my G2 (which has a Sedra 3500). The seller is willing to refund my money so that's not a problem but the skimmer was sold to him as a G3 so he feels like he was cheated by the person that sold it to him. I just want to verify that there actually is a difference in the size of the body between the G2 and the G3.