Just broke my skimmer!!

[Angela Short]

Title says it all I was cleaning my skimmer out tonight and the air inlet valve was clogged up so after unscrewing it and cleaning I re-plumers taped it. It was no where near a over tight fit screwing it in and about 3 turns from feeling snug "POP" and I knew it was the acrylic. It shot a nice gap at an angle across the top and ran down a seam on the corner. I thought acrylic was suppose to be tougher than that. I wonder about this whole skimmer now as the colection cup broke when I first got it just sliding it in its own locking groves! Some weldon fixed that crack but I am concerned about this one as it is a good size crack and kinda in a presurized area. I swear I wasn't tourquing it down, just a dab of tape and a few twists. I wonder if the guy I got it from ran ozone, can't that weaken the acrylic? Its a Aqua C ev 180 FWIW.

What type of weldon should I order? Thanks.

 

[just dave]

Perhaps the tape was too thick and caused the crack.
Ozone will degrade the acrylic over time making it more brittle. A little acrylic solvent and it should work good as new.

 

[crumbletop]

I'd contact steve (steve@proteinskimmer.com) at AquaC. IME, he will do a great job in taking care of you.

Jack

 

[Angela Short]

Thanks for the replys! I think it can be weilded back good enouph. I am pretty sure the guy who sold out also sold a ozone thingy. Maybe to much ozone exposure over too long a time... Cause I am telling ya I taped it and went to srew it in and it was still real wabbly, like the male threads were way smaller than the hole. I always had a ton of salt creep around the base of the inlet valve so I knew it was loose and needed a dab more tape. I put about 3 more turns of tape but it was not hard at all to screw in. Went kinda easy and then pop it snapped. Maybe I don't know my own strength :lol: Whats a little more glue, its already glued and taped in another spot! I am sure it will be fine. Talk about a spit and duck taped skimmer, now it just needs a bandaid for just the right look!

 

[rcmike]

You really don't have to tighen up on that much at all. Mine was always loose on my Aqua C. I used ozone in my EV 180 and never had a problem. My remora on the other hand has several cracks in it for some reason or other. Maybe there are inconsistancies in the Acrylic they use or something.