ER Needle Wheel Replacement

[blakevogt]

Recently I have noticed my Euro-Reef has not been producing as much skimmate... furthermore, the skimmer has not been starting up properly.

The pump is the Sedra KSP-3500 model.

I looked into replacing the needle wheel impeller this afternoon and the Euro-Reef website lists $70+ for a replacement.

Further research indicated I could replace the needle wheel impeller for approximately $30 if I used the replacement impeller assembly with needle wheel for G-Series 3500 Sedra pump (PS-SM3500-RIMP). I believe this is an identical pump to that used on the ER only for the ASM skimmers.

Any advice or experience would be appreciated.

Blake

 

[chadfarmer]

i have an extra sedra 3500 you can try the needle wheel off it

before you buy a new one

 

[blakevogt]

chadfarmer,

huge thanks!

pm sent...

blake

 

[chadfarmer]

i cant receive pms but you can email me

 

[Turf]

it might not even be the needle wheel itself. Mine was doing the exact same thing and I found and I dentical "pond" pump for $30 shipped. Took my neele wheel and endcap off my original pump and replace them on the new one and I say DANG WHY DIDN'T I DO THIS SOONER.

 

[Turf]

here is my post from the seasl website " would consider myself a cheap person at times and this is one of those times. I in no way wanted to pay $70 for a new sedra 3500 (as after a few years of beating mine up it is giving up) so I did some digging.
Here is what I found A $20 REPLACEMENT!!!!

http://www.aquaticeco.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/product.detail/iid/8787/cid/2142

As long as the needlewheel and "cap" on the pump are intact they fit perfectly into/on this 3500 pump. They are exactly the same without the needlewheel.

Note the other prop needs to be replaced with the needlewheel if for no other reason then it has a magnet incased in metal. Then wha-la you have a $70 sedra 3500 for $20"

 

[blakevogt]

Turf,

Sweet!

Let me make sure I understand this correctly; I buy this $20 pump, replace the impeller and endcap with the needlewheel and volute on my current Sedra KSP-3500 and I am set???

I am planning to borrow Chad's needlewheel just to make sure it isn't my impeller and then this pump may be my next online purchase.

Interesting that this model looks identical to the Sedra 3500... I could not find the manufacturer of Sedra Pumps website for the life of me today. The closest I got was Clear Pond and their website didn't mention anything about pumps.

Blake

 

[Turf]

OK. I'm telling you it is that simple. They are made by the same people but the endcap and magnet are a different shape and the magnet has a metal band around it so that is is "for fresh water only." Works like a dream. And as long as your current magnet and impeller are in tact that means the coils in your current pump are going bad. Scouts honor this is your meal ticket.

 

[blakevogt]

Sold... thanks again for the info; you potentially saved me a lot of money.

One last question if you get a chance... from your experience is it more common for the coils in the pump to go bad or the impeller? Is there an easy way to determine which is bad?

Blake

 

[Turf]

Well the impellor is just plastic and other then that it is a magnet and shaft. Magnets don't go bad unless they break.

 

[chadfarmer]

do you still want me to drop it off

 

[blakevogt]

Yes, if you don't mind.

I plan to return the following weekend after I test out your spare impeller in my motor and possibly vice versa.

If you are busy, no problem... just send me an email and maybe we can work out another time.

 

[chadfarmer]

i am going to drop it off dwayne will have it

 

[chadfarmer]

what was the problem (pump or impellor)?

 

[bboersma79]

I am having the same issue, so a follow up to the solution would be helpful. Basically the wheel isn't turning until I blow into the air inlet and then it works fine, for some reason it is not starting up when the pump is turned off/on.

To me it sounds like I need a new pump.

 

[blakevogt]

Huge thanks to chadfarmer for helping out a stranger. I dropped off your spare Sedra3500 at MS last night.

1. Filled a 5 gallon bucket full of water
2. Tested chadfarmers Sedra (worked perfect)
2. Removed my not functioning Sedra 3500 from the sump
3. Tested my Sedra (still had to "mess" with it before it worked)
4. Replaced the needlewheel impeller in my Sedra with chadfarmers (worked perfect)
5. Replaced the needlewheel impeller in chadfarmers Sedra with mine (did not work).

It appears my impeller is going bad...

Replacement impellers can be purchased from a variety of places, but from searching the Internet... saltycritter and thereefstop have the best deal (about $29).

 

[hubris007]

I think this is a fairly common problem. I've decided that i need to try replacing my magnets on the impeller assembly due to poor performance (both magnets have a slight bulge in them). So far the lowest price i've come across for the impeller assembly is 15bucks at fishsupply.com. How hard is it to get the needle wheel off the old impeller assembly?