Bubble Magus NAC6A Skimmer Troubleshoot

SneekaPeek

SneekaPeek

New member
Hello everyone!

I have a bubble magus nac6a skimmer and I have been running this beast on my 40r for over a couple years now. Love the skimmer!

I have some questions if anyone would like to help me out.
After 1 and half years this thing has been treating me with all the success in the world. Recently, after powering off the unit RKL standby mode during feeding, to start the unit back up I have to blow into the air intake. It seems like the air gives the impeller a kick to spin correctly. I have cleaned the unit made sure all the parts are together correctly, cleaned the air intake line as well as venturi and silencer with RO and blown out with air compressor. I have made sure this thing is clean spick and span, but obviously did not solve the problem. I have put new needle wheel impellers, 2 to be precise and this has not solved the issue.

Anyone know what to do next? (except buy a new pump...already did that.)
I heard about seaside aquatics uprgrade kit for the sp2000. Has anyone run this upgrade kit and liked the outcome? If I do go with the upgrade kit to kick the atman 2500 pump out the door, am I still able to use the needle wheel and venturi for the sp2000?
Anyone notice the diameter of the old school needle wheel magnets are bigger than the new school ones? could this be the culprit?

Thanks in advance! you guys/girls are truly the best at what you do. :D
 
So the new impellers did not work and the new pump did not work also? Hate to recommend a new pump. Have you tried boiling RO water and then allow the pump to suck the water through the air line?
 
moondoggy4 said:
So the new impellers did not work and the new pump did not work also? Hate to recommend a new pump. Have you tried boiling RO water and then allow the pump to suck the water through the air line?
Click to expand...

I have not tried that procedure, but I did disconnect venturi, air line, and silencer and ran those through warm/hot RO water via coffee maker :) and this procedure has not worked. Ill try that and get back to you.
 
moondoggy4 said:
So the new impellers did not work and the new pump did not work also? Hate to recommend a new pump. Have you tried boiling RO water and then allow the pump to suck the water through the air line?
Click to expand...

I just tried the procedure You have mentioned and tomorrow after rkl standby mode I will post how well it worked.
 
I have the same skimmer for a year now and every time I switch it off its hard to get it back on again without blowing air into the air inlet. Doesn't really bother me that much though.
 
eferna said:
I have the same skimmer for a year now and every time I switch it off its hard to get it back on again without blowing air into the air inlet. Doesn't really bother me that much though.
Click to expand...

Yea see its not for me though, Its for my old man! Italian guy who wants his things done right. He's thinking on buying a new skimmer because he thinks its a pain in the you know what. So im stuck troubleshooting because it has worked for the past year and half with no problems to save him a dollar. the good life :)
 
I have to do the same thing with my SWC 150 BMK. I think the two both use the same Atman 2500 pump. Hmmm...
 
Check to see if the needle wheel impeller has a ceramic washer. My NAC had the same problem when I switched out the mesh wheel for the needle wheel. I ditched the washer and my problem was solved, at least for now.
 
update, everything is in working condition as if I was to buy brand new, but still I can't get this stupid skimmer to fire without blowing into the air line. anyone have ideas?

as well as a pump upgrade, what other pumps can I put in the bubble magus nac6a?
 
The would say the impeller is swollen which is not allowing it to spin. I wonder if the casing on the inside is warped a little bit. His would freeze up the impeller and that little but of air helps get it going.
 
I had a nac6 that I drilled out and added a tunze hrdrofoamer to. Worked even better than stock and used sooooo much less power than the atman did. But atmans are cheap to replace. Hydrofoamers are not so cheap. But definitely cheaper than buying a new skimmer with similar handling capacity. I sold the skimmer awhile ago to a friend. He's currently using it on a120. He said it pulls better than his ASM G3 and of courses uses much less power.
 
usmc121581 said:
The would say the impeller is swollen which is not allowing it to spin. I wonder if the casing on the inside is warped a little bit. His would freeze up the impeller and that little but of air helps get it going.
Click to expand...

Yea I have no idea on what to do, maybe its just a cheap pump and needs to be changed out once a year lol
 
reefermad619 said:
I had a nac6 that I drilled out and added a tunze hrdrofoamer to. Worked even better than stock and used sooooo much less power than the atman did. But atmans are cheap to replace. Hydrofoamers are not so cheap. But definitely cheaper than buying a new skimmer with similar handling capacity. I sold the skimmer awhile ago to a friend. He's currently using it on a120. He said it pulls better than his ASM G3 and of courses uses much less power.
Click to expand...

haha I bet. I never really liked the asm skimmers, but who knows. Maybe I can get a red dragon mod going! FTW
 
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