MTC skimmer club!

[DeepBlueZoas]

Hsa 1000

Hsa 1000

Does any body know what company makes this union they used for the old 1000 skimmers? I've looked everywhere and bought a few different brands and none of them fit. Please help! I can not use the skimmer without it...Have called the company and the number is disconnected.

 

[Desert Sea]

Does any body know what company makes this union they used for the old 1000 skimmers? I've looked everywhere and bought a few different brands and none of them fit. Please help! I can not use the skimmer without it...Have called the company and the number is disconnected.

Look on the threaded collar of the union. A lot of the manufacturers have their name listed on the ring.

 

[anit77]

Pretty sure it's Spears.

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

 

[Tigé21v]

The unions on mine are Spears.(The best unions IMO). Quality, just like everything else with my MTC.
If all else fails, you can go to one of the big box stores and grab a 1" pvc slide repair coupling and see if the nut will fit your setup. If it doesn't, you can just swap out the whole fitting assembly with the one you purchased.

I hate to hear their number is disconnected. I hope they didn't close their doors.
If they did, Jeff can walk away with the pride of knowing anything he built will be around for many years to come. Quality products that are built like tanks.

 

[ca1ore]

The unions on the HSA1000 are Spears ..... BUT, Spears have redesigned them and the HSA used both the older ones and the newer ones. You have to measure the collar. If it’s 2 3/8” then they’re the older ones. If it’s 2 1/2” then theyre the newer ones. Those you can order off amazon. Both have the same part number 497-010.

MTC are closed. Website still runs for now.

I have a lot of MTC parts laying around. What are you looking for specifically?

 

[Reef Reactor]

The unions on the HSA1000 are Spears ..... BUT, Spears have redesigned them and the HSA used both the older ones and the newer ones. You have to measure the collar. If it's 2 3/8" then they're the older ones. If it's 2 1/2" then theyre the newer ones. Those you can order off amazon. Both have the same part number 497-010.

MTC are closed. Website still runs for now.

I have a lot of MTC parts laying around. What are you looking for specifically?

Do you have an external beckett valve?

Enviado desde mi HTC 10 mediante Tapatalk

 

[DeepBlueZoas]

The unions on the HSA1000 are Spears ..... BUT, Spears have redesigned them and the HSA used both the older ones and the newer ones. You have to measure the collar. If it's 2 3/8" then they're the older ones. If it's 2 1/2" then theyre the newer ones. Those you can order off amazon. Both have the same part number 497-010.

MTC are closed. Website still runs for now.

I have a lot of MTC parts laying around. What are you looking for specifically?

I don't have the collar to measure never had it the skimmer came without it. But I measured the diameter of the threads and it's 2 1/8 in. I need the collar and flange piece that screws onto this. I have both the internal Beckett and the external Beckett for it and they both need the same pieces. And are both the same size. So without the collar idk what brand this is it doesn't say anywhere but I do know Spears current 497-010 does not fit I ordered it from Amazon and it is much too small of a collar. Can you still order the older version of the union somewhere? It is glued to the Beckett so can't change it to the new one. Thanks.

 

[DeepBlueZoas]

These are the pictures of the new Spears union collar measured 2 3/8 in and threads measured 2in vs 2 1/8in o. The one attached to the skimmer.

 

[DeepBlueZoas]

Here are the pictures of the one attached to the external Beckett.

 

[ca1ore]

Not sure I am entirely following …. what do you mean by internal versus external beckett? Is your HSA one of the older ones where the beckett pipe goes down the middle of the reaction column? Maybe by external, you mean the beckett installed in the white PVC sleeve rather than inside the clear cylinder? Regardless, you should be able to find the spears union to thread onto the beckett on amazon (spears union 497-010). The collar from that union should be compatible. The other one, measuring only 2", I have not been able to find (and I did look). Perhaps that one you can completely cut out and patch in a different union. Might be helpful if you can show a picture of the entire skimmer.

 

[ca1ore]

These are the pictures of the new Spears union collar measured 2 3/8 in and threads measured 2in vs 2 1/8in o. The one attached to the skimmer.

Is this a new one you just bought? If so, where from?

 

[Desert Sea]

I don't have the collar to measure never had it the skimmer came without it. But I measured the diameter of the threads and it's 2 1/8 in. I need the collar and flange piece that screws onto this. I have both the internal Beckett and the external Beckett for it and they both need the same pieces. And are both the same size. So without the collar idk what brand this is it doesn't say anywhere but I do know Spears current 497-010 does not fit I ordered it from Amazon and it is much too small of a collar. Can you still order the older version of the union somewhere? It is glued to the Beckett so can't change it to the new one. Thanks.

If you can't find a union to match, you can replace the portion you have. If you work carefully, you can use a torch to heat the hub of the half of the union that still remains attached to the skimmer. Warm just the socket of the union and keep away from the spigot end of whatever is cemented into it. Grab the threaded portion of the union, which should be cooler since you didn't warm that portion, with a pair of pump pliers. Gently twist the union until the bond breaks from the cement. It may take a couple times with heating with the torch. Once you get it off, you might just have to clean up the spigot end of the pipe or beckett with some sand paper to get it ready to re-glue on the new union. It sometimes helps to cut a relief cut into the hub of the union to give it a place to separate and "un wrap" from the spigot. Just cut into the hub, don't cut into the spigot.

 

[Chicago]

ok.. back at my MTC .. skimmer... wondering how you guys keep the settings for the flow stable.. mine I am constantly readjusting to maintain just enough for the skimmate to flow over the edge and not allow gallons of water to over flow... i set it perfectly and days later no skimming as the level has dropped.

 

[rottloverr]

I am so glad I found this thread...
I purchased a MTC Power Pro III protein skimmer way back in 2014, then life happened and we never got the system built. After moving into a single family home we are ready to get our system (250DT, 30g frag and about 50g in the sump) up and running. I'm not sure where my skimmer falls in line with the HSA 1000 and MVX but I'd really like to get a manual if anyone knows where I can get one for this skimmer. Pictures included. Any help and advice would be very welcome.

 

[griss]

Couldn't find anything on the internet as far as a manual. I even tried the Internet Archive where I've found a lot of old stuff.

But, it's definitely an external, venturi, recirculating skimmer. Can you post some pictures of the other side (back of it)? You'll need a pump either in the sump (submersible) or one plumbed into the sump to supply water to the skimmer. Then, the Panworld (yellow) pump is what recirculates the water within the skimmer.

 

[rottloverr]

Thank you Griss for posting. I looked everywhere for a manual online and couldn't find one either.

I will post more pictures when I get home from work. Great info! I thought the Panworld supplied water to skimmer. I have a 3 chamber Seamless sump and there will be (2) Vectra L2 pumps in it so hopefully the LFS that is doing the plumbing can hook it up.

Any and all advice is most welcome.

 

[griss]

Thank you Griss for posting. I looked everywhere for a manual online and couldn't find one either.

I will post more pictures when I get home from work. Great info! I thought the Panworld supplied water to skimmer. I have a 3 chamber Seamless sump and there will be (2) Vectra L2 pumps in it so hopefully the LFS that is doing the plumbing can hook it up.

Any and all advice is most welcome.

Actually, if you could post pictures from each side that would be very helpful. I haven't used a venturi skimmer (I've been using an eShopps needle wheel for a while) in a long time. But, hopefully, my old brain will be able to figure this out with you in case you can't find a manual.

 

[Reefing102]

Looking online, it appears yours would be an HSA if this reefbuilders article is accurate about manufacturing

Marine Technical Concepts MVX protein skimmer review | Reef Builders | The Reef and Saltwater Aquarium Blog

Marine Technical Concepts has been around for decades over which time they’ve become known for solid product design and build quality. They may not be the best known manufacturer in the hobby but they…

reefbuilders.com

I’m still looking to see if I can find a manual

 

[Reefing102]

I was also able to find this:

Can’t find a manual though

Edit to add: not sure if it’s worth anything, but here’s the old contact info:

 

[griss]

Based on the pictures, here's what I believe the recirculating water flow would be here.

Starting at the red arrow, water is pulled from the skimmer body at this location (red arrow) into the pump. Water is then pushed out of the pump, up through the pvc (green arrows), to the venturi valves (yellow arrows) and into the skimmer body.

What I'm not 100% sure about, is how the water from the tank/sump enters/exits the skimmer. But, zooming in, I'm going to guess that water is pumped into the skimmer at the purple arrow and flows back to the tank/sump at the green arrow. I'd need to see the picture of the back to be 100% sure but that's what it looks like it should be to me.