Help with my Alpha 250

[ricwilli]

My Alpha 250 pump is not working correctly. The impeller is not spinning fast enough to pull air into the skimmer. Please help as I'm dosing vodka and MB7. It was working fine last night but when I woke up this morning, it was not.
I have opened it and cleaned it and still not working correctly.

 

[Jeremy B.]

What is it doing exactly? Does it spin at a constant speed, just slower? I need more information if possible.

Thanks,
Jeremy

 

[ricwilli]

Thanks for the response Jeremy.
Yes, its spinning at a slower constant speed. Not fast enough to make bubbles/suck in air. I tried another hose on the air inlet but that didn't work.

 

[ricwilli]

Any thoughts on this. I don't know how much longer I can be without a skimmer.

 

[Jeremy B.]

Hi Rich,

Do you have the adjustable venturi on the inlet of the pump, or the standard red nozzle first version? It sounds like the air is cut off, or restricted, like the silencer is clogged. Open up the silencer up to make sure nothing is clogged in there. If you have the adjustable venturi, make sure it's not closed or screwed into the right all the way, and is at least open two full turns.

One other test you can do is pull the pump and air venturi line off the skimmer, and just run it in the open sump to test. The impeller will either spin at full speed, or not really spin at all, there isn't any inbetween with them.

Thanks,
Jeremy

 

[ricwilli]

I have the standard first version and I tried running the pump without being attached to the skimmer. Also with a different hose not connected to the silencer. Still doesn't work correctly. One thing I did notice was that I was able to slide the magnet off the shaft. Is it suppose to do that? What I'm thinking is that the magnet is spinning faster than the shaft since there is nothing to hold both together so that they can spin at the same time. Hope you understand what I'm trying to say.

 

[Jeremy B.]

That's it, the impeller has gone out on it. The magnet is press fit onto the shaft, and shouldn't rotate, spin, move, etc. Give Albert @ Proline Aquatics a call at 604-278-1474. Let him know you have been speaking with me on it, and that you need a new impeller assembly under warranty. He should be able to get one right out the door for you.

 

[ricwilli]

WOOOO HOOOO. Albert is shipping me out a new one. He said I can crazy glue the magnet to the shaft so that I can use the skimmer in the meantime.

GREAT SERVICE !!!!!!!

Thanks Jeremy.

 

[Jeremy B.]

Good deal, glad he got you taken care of!