Octopus Skimmer Pump problem

[Everyones Hero]

I have an Octopus Recirc skimmer (I think it's an old 150 or 150 equiv.)

This weekend I upgraded my tank so I decided to take apart my pumps & do some minor cleaning. I disconnected the pump from the skimmer, took off the J shaped connection, turned the locking nuts/pane 1/4 turn & took it off, then pulled the one that covers the impeller off.

I pulled out the impeller & cleaned it with water & wiped it off with a towel. I reassembled everything in reverse order.

I hooked everything up & when it was full of water I turned it on & it would sound like it was getting up to speed, then would hang up, get up to speed, hang up, ect. I drained the skimmer & took the pump off/apart & checked it out. Everything seemed to be in place so I reassembled it & ran it dry.

It sounds like the impeller is out of whack & is hitting the side of the pump or something. If you shine a light in it you can see the pump spin fast then slow down then speed up again. It sounds almost like there are rocks in it or something.

Any ideas?

 

[cveverly]

Sounds like the impeller shaft is worn. Could also be wear in the impeller causing the problem.

 

[Everyones Hero]

Darn. You're probably right.

I'm not big into modding but would it be beneficial to upgrade to a needle wheel? Would it fit the impeller housing & where could I find one?

 

[Everyones Hero]

I looked around & found these.

This one looks like the one in the pump:
Though the wheel in the pump is white & this one is black
http://www.aquacave.com/needle-wheel-impellersbr-for-octopus-water-pumps-1757.html

This is a "Pin Wheel" that seems to be for the same pump:
http://www.aquacave.com/pin-wheel-impellerbr-for-octopus-otp-br-water-pump-2427.html

How much will the pin wheel outperform the needle wheel & will either of them fit my current Octopus pump?

Thanks. I just want to get this up & running ASAP.

 

[addicted2reefin]

go w/ the pinwheel

 

[Everyones Hero]

Thanks. That's what I was assuming.

I should have gotten the pump number when it was out. Now I've gotta drain it & get the number. Grr.

How much of a performance gain am I looking at?

If anyone is using a 150 recirculating can you show me where you set your water level or where the foam head starts? I had it dry skimming & it would coat the entire neck/inside of the skimmer cup in green gunk then I tried going wetter & wound up with a litter of skimmate every couple of days.

 

[addicted2reefin]

i have the new stlye 150, i have my waterlevel 1/2way up the neck between the connection and cup. i get a nice coffe skimmate. i have to clean the neck every 3 days, after an hour gunk spots form

 

[Everyones Hero]

That's with the pump running, right? I just want to make sure so I don't turn it on & turn my room into a salt water foam pit.

I think I was running mine with the water level at were the neck connects to the body & where the cup meets the neck. One was too dry & the other was too wet.

I'll spend another year getting it dialed in with the pinwheel.