My skimmer is being stupid

[coral_reefer_25]

Hey guys....I have a Turboflotor 1000 (in sump model). It's been working great up until the latter part of last week.

Normally, the column is so filled with bubbles that you can't see through the reaction chamber....just looks like a rolling cloud inside of it. Toward the latter part of last week it stopped producing the thick column of bubbles inside the reaction chamber. You can actually see through the chamber...although there is still a good deal of bubbles in there...but there's probably about 80% fewer bubbles inside the chamber than when it is working properly.

Sunday, I took the skimmer out and cleaned it...and the pump. I put it back in the sump and voila! It worked! I tossed it up to the fact that it was dirty and the pump needed to be cleaned out.

Now, today it is doing the same thing it was doing last week.

I'm not very familiar with the Ocean Runner 2700 pump that's running the skimmer, but when I was disassembling it to clean it, the white shaft came out, but the magnet/needlewheel impellar didn't. I tried pulling it out with my fingers, but couldn't get a good enough grip on it, otherwise I would have cleaned it off too. Anyway, I tested the pump before I reassembled everything and it seemed to work great.

Is the shaft supposed to be one piece with the magnet /needlewheel impellar attached?

 

[phudeb]

The shaft can be disassebled from the impeller housing. I would check where the suction part of the pump hooks up to your skimmer. Inside there should be a short tube with holes on it. Use a toothpick or something and clean the hole out. Has the water level in your sump changed any?

 

[coral_reefer_25]

Those holes were cleaned out on Sunday. Nope...the water level hasn't changed. That chamber stays at the same level all the time.

 

[phudeb]

What about the air tube? If you haven't clean it, try to run some hot water thru it. This is if it's not getting enough air.

Could also be that it's getting too much air. Once the air tube is cleaned, have your air valve closed. Then open the valve until you hear whining from the pump. Then slowly close the valve until it stops.

 

[cee]

Remove the impeller and give it a thorough cleaning, including the cavity it sets in. Just get a pair of needlenose pliars to grab it with and pull up after removing the white ceramic shaft (it is extremely brittle and will snap easily). Calcium can sometimes build up on the impellers and slow them down ever so slightly. Also, if you want some really fantastic bubble production, search for the gutter guard modification for these pumps and open up the venturi. Incredible!

Dave

 

[coral_reefer_25]

I'll try running some hot water down the tube and see if that helps. I think it's getting enough air though...but I'll try just to eliminate that option.

I think it may be that the impeller is broken. After looking at some pictures of it online, I seem to recall that the end of my impeller was stuck in the cap that you remove to get TO the impeller. (if that makes sense)

Regardless, I'm going to order one of those (very expensive) things today. If that fixes it, awesome. If not, then I have a spare.

Thanks for the help guys.....Hey, where do I find this Gutter Guard mod?

 

[coral_reefer_25]

Okay guys...I've determined that it is the ceramic shaft that is broken. I've ordered a replacement from Aqua Medic with the bearings/washers for $9.00. Heck of a lot better than the entire impeller at $34.99 most places.

I still want to know about this Gutter Guard mod though...I put the Google on it and didn't come up with anything.